Medical marijuana may soon be available for patients in Ireland after the minority government approved a new amendment allowing use of the plant. The bill, drafted by Ireland’s People Before Profit group, still has another round of approval by the government before it can become law.
The bill, which was presented to the Dáil Éireann, Ireland’s Lower House Parliament, intends to legalize the use of cannabis products for those suffering from chronic pain and other ailments with doctor recommendation. Health Minister Simon Harris said he would not prevent the bill from progressing to Committee Stage, where high-ranking government officials will decide on full legalization of medical marijuana use for people suffering from chronic pain, cancer, epilepsy, fibromyalgia and MS.
Harris told Ireland’s RTÉ's "News At One" that he had spoken with a number of patients who have benefited from medical marijuana use and suggested Ireland needs to take a deeper look into pot policy in countries that have already started to relax marijuana laws for medicinal purposes.
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