Conference on medical cannabis at the European Parliament: Ireland takes center stage

Last Wednesday, a conference on medical cannabis was held at the European Parliament, organized by the GUE/NGL (European United Left–Nordic Green Left), a left-leaning political group in Parliament. The event consisted of two panels featuring 14 speakers, with representatives from 11 countries. Although this meeting was already shaping up to be historic, to the best of our knowledge, no official French representative was present, despite the speech by Bertrand Rambaud, founder of the UFCM.

On the other hand, the’Ireland, which is expected to legalize medical cannabis In mid-April 2017, the issue took center stage. One of the speakers highlighted Ireland’s long history with medical cannabis. Graham de Barra, director of the organization Help, Not Harm pointed out that an Irish doctor, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, was the first person in the 1850s to publish scientific articles on cannabis in Western medicine. «Today, Ireland remains a hub for cannabinoid research,» explained de Barra. «However, medical cannabis is currently prohibited under criminal law.».

Every speaker emphasized the urgent need for regulation at the national or European level. The lack of large-scale research and training for physicians was also highlighted. For de Barra, the primary objective of regulatory policies should be «to provide adequate health care to patients, ensure quality, and invest in clinical trials.».

Most of the speakers focused on patients' needs and the—sometimes incredible—results of cannabis-based treatments, as well as the beneficial effects on the economy.

Dominique Lossignol, a Belgian oncologist and pain management specialist, explained that most of his colleagues still think cannabis is a «Rastafarian drug.» «They think it’s for reggae.» He emphasized that even if cannabis doesn’t work for all patients, “if it works for someone, we have an obligation to give it to the patient.”.

On the economic front, Saul Kaye, an Israeli pharmacist and activist, described how his country benefits from the world’s oldest medical cannabis program. Addressing potential lawmakers in the room, he explained: «It’s no longer a question of if, but when and how. Every decision you make will have an impact on the value chain you can create. This is an industry that’s booming all over the world—an industry that’s going to make a lot of money. What you need to consider is whether you want to be part of this initiative or whether you want to block it.».

A poignant testimony comes from Vera Twomey, the mother of little Ava, who suffers from Dravet syndrome, and who is behind the upcoming legalization of medical cannabis in Ireland. She described her journey with medication—11 unsuccessful treatments and a grim prognosis from doctors regarding her daughter’s ability to walk or talk—until she tried treatment with CBD oil derived from the strain Charlotte's Web and a 90% reduction in epileptic seizures during the first month.

What will come out of this conference? First and foremost, a call by Stefan Eck, a German parliamentarian, to legalize medical cannabis in Europe, and a reminder that cannabis prohibition makes no sense as long as alcohol and cigarettes remain legal. It will also result in a renewed commitment among stakeholders to continue moving forward and to update laws regarding medical cannabis and cannabinoid research in their respective countries. And for those who were absent, a bit more delay.

The video of the conference may also be found. Bertrand Rambaud's remarks begin around the 53-minute mark.

Via Leafly