Cannabis drug may be given to cancer sufferers in Ireland

By Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Monday July 05 2010

THE first pain-relieving medicine containing cannabis extract may be licensed here for patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS) and a number of other conditions.
The drug Sativex is different from other similar pharmaceutically produced medicines because it is derived from botanical material rather than a solely synthetic process.
But although thousands of patients may benefit from it, the drug cannot be prescribed by doctors because it would breach the Misuse of Drugs Act.
It cannot be sold, supplied or distributed because it would amount to possession of cannabis, which is unlawful except for research purposes.
Health Minister Mary Harney revealed yesterday that she was reluctant to loosen controls that could lead to more use of cannabis, the most widely abused drug in the country.
However, she was now seeking expert medical advice on the drug and said she would be open to making a change to the Misuse of Drugs legislation for the use of cannabis-based drugs if the experts deemed it warranted. Patient organisations such as MS Ireland have campaigned for this and similar drugs that are currently banned from being granted licences here.
A spokesman for the Department of Health confirmed that "as part of the legislative process to amend the Misuse of Drugs legislation, officials are seeking advice from clinicians with expertise in this area".
He told the Irish Independent they were also in talks with organisations with a role in the authorisation of medicines or the enforcement of the Misuse of Drugs legislation, such as the Irish Medicines Board, the gardai and the Customs Service as well as other relevant bodies.
However, he said: "It is not possible to put any timeframe on when the process will be completed and a decision made on how it will proceed."
There are around 7,000 people in Ireland with MS. UK authorities recently licensed the drug for MS patients who suffer from spasticity, which leads to muscle stiffness and involuntary movements causing spasms and sleep disturbances.
The medicine is also believed to be used for people who have AIDS or anorexia.
It is administered by spraying on the under-side of the tongue. Although it is unclear how it works, it is thought it can mimic natural pain relievers in the body. It costs around €13 a day, based on eight sprays daily.