Patients in Ireland can now receive prescriptions for cannabis. Previously, patients in need couldn’t secure a reliable supply of medicine for their conditions.
People with multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, and chemotherapy-induced nausea can access their cannabis medicine through the new Medical Cannabis Access Program (MCAP). The MCAP program was implemented in June and is a five-year pilot program.
The MCAP Has Made Medical Cannabis in Ireland More Affordable
With a prescription, patients can be reimbursed for the costs of their cannabis medicine. This is crucial because previously, cannabis as a medicine could be “prohibitively expensive” for many people. This change could mean that many desperate families don’t need to use the black market to provide their children treatment for conditions such as epilepsy.
Photo by Orlando Allo on Unsplash
“This step forward will greatly assist patients who, under the supervision of their consultant, need to avail of medicinal cannabis products to alleviate the effects of their severe medical conditions. I now hope the program continues to go on and grow and expand further, to best meet the needs of patients and families around Ireland.”
The Minister for Health in Ireland, Stephen Donnelly TD
The MCAP Has a Lot of Restrictions, Creating a Barrier for Many Patients
However, the MCAP program does not include several conditions, including those suffering from chronic pain or neurological conditions. It also requires an appointment with a medical consultant, who must be a clinician registered on the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical consultants maintained by the Irish Medical Council.
While medical marijuana access remains complicated, there is hope for people suffering from conditions not included in the program. In theory, patients can use Ministerial approval to access treatment for any condition. This requires written approval from the Minister of Health; the patient’s doctor must submit the application with endorsement from a specialist. Currently, only 63 patients have accessed medical cannabis through this method.
Many Individuals Could Benefit From Medical Marijuana in Ireland
There are approximately 12,000 people with Parkinson’s, 8,000 people with MS, and 13,000 people with fibromyalgia in Ireland. This is in addition to 40,000 people who have epilepsy. Treating these patients with cannabis could generate €1.1 billion by 2028.
Despite criticism, many officials seem to be against making medical cannabis more accessible to chronic pain sufferers, though only time will tell how it will all pan out.
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