Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements in place and the situations in which cannabis can be provided on a medicinal basis; the number of persons receiving same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9761/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In June 2019, I signed legislation to underpin the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP). The programme will run on a 5-year pilot basis and is restricted to prescribing of cannabis-based products at medical consultant level, for those patients with certain medical conditions who have exhausted all other available treatment options. The 3 medical conditions are:

- spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;

- intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;

- severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.

To date three products have been added to Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019. While the MCAP is not currently operational, engagement is ongoing with the HSE in regard to progressing same. For more information relating to the Programme please visit the Department of Health's website.

Pending full operation of the MCAP and for medical indications not included in the MCAP, Doctors may continue to utilise the Misude of Drugs Act Section 14 Ministerial licencing route to prescribe cannabis-based prodects for their patients. In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.

This information, including the clinical guidelines, can also be found on the Department's website at the following address:

It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. I have no role in this clinical decision-making process.

To date, clinicians for thirty-five individual patients have received a Ministerial Licence under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.