Ireland: medical cannabis bill moves forward with surprising support

Ireland was set to vote this week on the legalization of medical cannabis. The bill did not have clear support from the various Irish political parties, which were following the Health Committee’s recommendation.

The latter had rejected the text in June, as it feared that this would amount to disguised legalization and lead to a surge in recreational use due to easier access to cannabis. The Committee also called for more evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis use.

Last-minute support for the bill from two major parties (the Sinn Féin and the Fianna Fáil) moved the bill forward, so it is now returning to the Health Committee for amendments—a standard process that usually takes between 5 and 6 weeks.

The topic of the medical cannabis in Ireland has been on the table since 2016, when Representative Gino Kenny introduced the bill.

Regardless of the amendments the Health Committee will propose, Gino Kenny will be satisfied if two main points come out of it: «I think the bill will be heavily amended, but what we want is for medical cannabis to be prescribed by a doctor and for products containing THC to be available.»

He admits, however, that he is not sure what the amendments will entail, describing this stage as «uncharted territory.».

The bill proposes the legalization of medical cannabis to treat conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.

Despite this pending legislation, CBD is legal in Ireland and many oils CBD products are sold—with some success—particularly among older adults. Some of the products come from hemp grown in Ireland.