Indopedia All Things Marijuana
As a medical marijuana bill finally makes its way through the Irish Dáil (lower House of Parliament) after a year of delays, the first medical license in Ireland to treat chronic pain with whole plant cannabis has been issued.
On Nov. 17, Ireland’s Department of Health granted a three-month license for THC to an unnamed patient. The recipient of the medicine suffers from severe chronic pain and medical professionals in Ireland are calling the prescription an “important development.”
It is the second time in Ireland’s history that someone has obtained permission for medical cannabis containing THC. The first license came in December of last year when 3-year-old Tristan Forde obtained access to treat a severe form of epilepsy.
Medical cannabis in Ireland is currently illegal, however, a patient’s consultant can apply to the Minister of Health on a case-by-case basis in extreme circumstances.
“It is the first time that the Department of Health has recognized that THC can be used for the treatment of chronic pain,” said William McLoughlin, the national secretary of chronic pain Ireland (CPI).
Health Minister Simon Harris announced in February that cannabis…
