Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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205. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work being completed by his Department in respect of medicinal cannabis products; the status of the work being completed to review the evidence supporting cannabis-based products on the part of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, which is to make recommendations to him; if he has received these recommendations; if the way in which a person can make an application to him and the person that can make the application, such as the patient or clinician, has been decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 - 2016. However, I am conscious that some patients believe that cannabis should be available as a treatment for a range of medical conditions and I have initiated a review of policy in this area.

On 3 November 2016 I asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) for expert advice. The HPRA's statutory role is to protect and enhance human health by regulating medicines and other health products. In particular, I requested that the HPRA provide advice on recent developments in the use of cannabis for medical purposes including an overview of products that have been authorised in other countries and an overview of the wider on-going and emerging clinical research in new indications and evidence of efficacy. I have also requested information on the different regulatory regimes in place in countries which allow cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes. I expect to receive an initial report from the HPRA by the end of January. I will then be in a position to consider future policy and progress any legislative changes that may be appropriate.

In the meantime, while cannabis is very strictly controlled under current legislation, it is possible for a doctor to apply for a licence to treat a named patient with a cannabis-based product. To date, one application has been received and following review, a licence has been granted.