Health Minister Harris wants farmers to start growing grass
HEALTH Minister Simon Harris hopes to roll out a medical marijuana law next year – and would like to see Irish farmers growing a cannabis crop.
With calls to decriminalise medical marijuana intensifying, RTÉ’s flagship farming series, Ear To The Ground, examined how the crop could be grown in Ireland if it is given the green light by the Government.
Mr Harris told the programme it is a major priority for him. ‘This is not about recreational use and people smoking joints, he said.
‘This is about using it in a controlled way, in a monitored way, with the support of your clinician, a product that could ease your pain and suffering after you’ve tried all the conventional treatments.
‘I think this could be an opportunity for Irish farmers in due course.
‘Obviously, if we’re going to have a Compassionate Access Programme in this country, it is essential we monitor the programme and we know the quality of the product we’re providing to people.
‘Does it make sense to grow your own in Ireland rather than be dependent on importing a product? I think, quite frankly, it does.’ ‘You can’t obviously do that overnight,’ he said, adding that in the immediate future they would be looking to import the medicinal product.