After 4 years of legalization and still very restricted access, a first clinic specializing in cannabis will open its doors in Ireland. The medical dispensary will cover “all conditions that can be treated with medical cannabis”, not limited to those recognized by the Irish Medical Cannabis Access Program, according to the company’s press release Medicann.
Currently, the Irish Medical Cannabis Access Program covers three conditions – spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy – and very few patients.
A step forward for medical cannabis in Ireland
Irish patients have been able, since August this year, to register their interest in a medical cannabis prescription through the online dispensary.
Interested individuals can schedule a virtual appointment with Medicann, who will then conduct an assessment through its secure health portal to determine whether or not individuals may benefit from a prescription for medical cannabis in the form of flowers, oils and topical creams. Under the government’s Medical Cannabis Access Scheme, eligible patients can also apply for funding to cover the costs of medical cannabis.
Gary Whipp, chief executive of Medicann Ireland, said he noticed the potential of medical cannabis to improve citizens’ quality of life from the start of its legalization in the UK in 2018.
“We have provided access to this natural medicine to eligible patients for the past four years,” Whipp said. “As the first clinic to launch in Ireland, we know that patients have been waiting for local access to this medicine, and we look forward to helping patients better manage their condition and improve their quality of life under the guidance and help from our specialist doctors here at Medicann. »
The Medical Cannabis Access Program was first launched after Health Minister Simon Harris signed legislation on June 26, 2019 to enable it to operate on a five-year pilot basis. At the end of these five years, the program will be reviewed.
“The goal of this program is to facilitate access to cannabis for medical reasons, when conventional treatment has failed,” Mr. Harris said at the time. “Ultimately, it is the consulting physician, in consultation with their patient, who will decide whether to prescribe a particular treatment, including cannabis-based treatment, to a patient in their care. »
