Written answers
Tuesday, 29 January 2019
Department of Health
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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290. To ask the Minister for Health the provisions that exist for the cultivation of cannabis plants for use in medicinal products here; if no provisions are in place, his plans for such legislation in view of the increase in prescribing and usage of medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3758/19]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under current legislation - the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016, and the Regulations made thereunder- it is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a Ministerial licence. A related piece of Irish legislation, the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order 2017, limits the purposes for which such licences for cannabis can be issued, for example for forensic analysis or research - including research involving the cultivation of cannabis for use in approved clinical trials.
Furthermore, policy to date has not permitted the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes and no licences have been issued for this activity.
The Department's priority at this time is the sourcing of suitable quality approved, affordable, finished cannabis products for medical purposes, i.e. those products that have been made in a GMP certified facility or equivalent internationally recognised quality standards.
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