Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset I must stress to the Deputy that the Health Research Board (HRB) did not conduct a clinical review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP).

The HRB, at the request of the Department of Health, was requested to ascertain whether there is sufficient evidence to broaden the scope of the 3 conditions which could be treated with cannabis-based products under the MCAP. The exercise consisted of an initial evidence gathering and a subsequent evidence synthesis, the results of which were published in January.

The HRB’s publication does not make any recommendations, as explained above that was not its purpose. A clinical review group will examine the findings of the evidence synthesis publication to determine if there is sufficient evidence to expand the range of conditions covered by the MCAP. In these circumstances it is appropriate to wait for the recommendations of the clinical review group.