Cannabis-Based Medicines Approved in Ireland for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The Department of Health has confirmed that authorized cannabis-based medicinal products have been approved for use in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Ireland.

On Friday, Ireland’s Junior Health Minister Alex White signed regulations to enable authorized cannabis-based medicinal products to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients. The measure means that sufferers of MS will soon be able to legally use Sativex, an oral spray containing cannabis extracts, which has proven to help some patients with spasticity related to MS.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority, formerly the Irish Medicines Board, recommended approval of the product in 2012; however since the law banned all types of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act its use remained against the law. The granting approval enabling this product to be used in Ireland was dependent on changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.

Sativex is currently used by MS patients in eleven other countries in the European Union (EU) including the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany. The drug has shown to ease symptoms and significantly improve the quality of life of people suffering from illnesses such as MS.

“I’m glad that many of the matters that had inhibited the progress of this issue have now been resolved. Hopefully, with the legal impediments now removed, a cannabis-based medicinal product will soon be available to ease the symptoms of spasticity for people with MS where other conservative treatments have failed,” said Deputy White, who has since signing been made Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Last updated: 7/15/14; 2:15pm EST