MEDICINAL CANNABIS MOTION GOES UP IN SMOKE

A motion calling on the Minister for Health Simon Harris to make medicinal cannabis legal for people suffering from a number of painful conditions to use was defeated.

People Before Profit councillor Deirdre Wadding called on the government to immediately legislate to legalise cannabis for medical use in light of the growing body of evidence with regard to the efficacy of this treatment for a number of conditions and in recognition of the plight of some Irish families who are trying to access this treatment which is available in a number of US States and in Australia.

Campaigners wearing t-shirts with cannabis leaves printed on them were in attendance at the meeting. Cllr Jim Moore said the proposal should be reviewed by the HSE health forum or the Chief Medical Officer who could provide Wexford councillors with enough information to make an informed decision. He said: ‘I presume this motion isn’t going to make Simon Harris jump up and down. It’s not going to happen overnight.’

Cllr Keith Doyle said the issue of legalising cannabis is not black and white. ‘ There are two sides to this. There is also the dark side of cannabis. Whatever we do we have to do it right.’

Cllr Johnny Mythen said: ‘People are suffering and it will take years to prove that it does help people with certain diseases.’

Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan expressed concern, saying she doesn’t know enough about drugs or cannabis. ‘ This is a very serious issue. I feel very sorry for people with pain but we can’t just go to the minister.’

Cllr Larry O’Brien remarked: ‘I’m not wearing a t-shirt to say legalise cannabis. We have no right to legalise it.’

Cllr Wadding said there are different compounds in cannabis, adding that medicinal cannabis has absolutely no ‘ high’ effect on patients.

Cllr Tony Dempsey said there is growing evidence of the efficacy of medicinal cannabis, before adding that ‘ the cure can often be as bad as the disease’.

Cllr John Hegarty said: ‘Grapes are not wine. If we are talking about legalising an element of cannabis we shouldn’t say that it’s cannabis.’

Cllr Lisa McDonald described the motion as a statement of intent, adding that some people are self medicating to ease their pain in an illegal way. ‘As politicians it’s our duty to better the lives of the people we represent. It should be put to the health committee in the Oireachtas. The GPs are in a position to administer these drugs. There are ways of doing this.’

18 councillors voted in favour of Cllr Moore’s amendment with 13 voting against.