Dr Orla Hardiman , a Consultant Neurologist in the Republic or Ireland, as well as the republic's official multiple sclerosis body 'MS Ireland', have agreed MS patients in the republic are searching out illicit cannabis supplies just to improve the quality of life they endure daily. But in doing so they face arrest and incarceration just for enjoying the same benefits cannabis delivers to MS sufferers from outside the republic.

CLEAR-UK is the only UK political party which overtly supports cannabis

But rather than as is the case in the UK where the consultant neurologist isn't prepared to make the ultimate statement in support of cannabis, Dr Hardiman, who carried out a great deal of her training in the US, suffers no such fears.

"I have a lot of patients who use illegal cannabis to treat the pain and spasticity which is a symptom of MS" she told reporters. "Patients tell me limb stiffness is reduced considerably when they use cannabis, and that they can also walk much better whilst using it" she continued. The treatment works, its cheap and readily available. The real problem is the law.
	As long as cannabis remains illegal it is outside of the spectrum of drugs doctors are able to prescribe for their patients. Even if they know its the best treatment available.
At the Department of Health the primary concern is the fact cannabis is the most widely (ab)used drug in Ireland. Reason enough according to Mary Harney, former Health Minister in the republic, to keep it tightly under wraps. Today however, the Department of Health is examining the issues associated with applying controls similar to those that apply to other controlled drugs that can be misused, such as morphine and methadone, to cannabis-based medicinal products. Which is fantastic news just as long as the irish government isn't allowed to tie the entire decision up in beaurocratic red tape, because that could take ten years to untangle. In the meantime, for Multiple Sclerosis patients in Ireland, the future looks just a little brighter. Isn't it time the UK took a similar decision? Cannazine Cannabis News Dr Orla Hardiman - BIO Orla Hardiman (BSc MB BCh BAO MD FRCPI FAAN) is an Irish consultant neurologist. She is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Neurological Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Dublin A Consultant Neurologist at the National Neuroscience Center of Ireland at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. Hardiman has become a prominent advocate for neurological patients in Ireland, and for patients within the Irish health system generally. She is co-Founder of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, and Doctors Alliance for Better Public Healthcare. Dr.Hardiman is a Council Member of the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and established the bi-annual Diaspora Meeting, a forum for Irish neurologists based overseas to present and discuss their research findings with neurologists working in Ireland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orla_Hardiman