Thread by @AliciaLMaher

1. Did anyone else watch the Health Committee meeting this morning about the Medical #Cannabis Access Programme? To say I am disappointed is an understatement. They clearly have no intention to expand the conditions or to include #ChronicPain.
@DonnellyStephen

2. Lorraine Nolan, Chief Executive of the HPRA said that the were following the Medical Cannabis Access Programme model in Denmark, but she could not answer whether GP's could prescribe cannabis to their patients or whether a consultant was needed (GP's can prescribe in Denmark).

3. She said that the program was running for the last 5 years when it has only been 3 and a half. She also said there was not enough evidence for the use of #cannabis in treating #ChronicPain. This is simply not true.

4. The HPRA stated in their own 2017 report that #ChronicPain was the most researched condition for the use of #cannabis.

In the 2017 HPRA Report they reviewed the following:

5.
The Barnes Report, which included 22 studies in chronic pain, concluded that there is good evidence for effectiveness for pain relief in various formulations and in a number of settings.

6. The JAMA meta-analysis included 28 studies in pain indications and concluded 'that there was moderate-quality evidence to suggest that cannabinoids may be beneficial for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain or cancer pain, specifically smoked THC or nabiximols.'

7. 'The American Academy of Neurology (Koppel et al, 2014) systematic review found strong evidence for oral cannabis extract for reducing central pain or painful spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis.'

8. 'The National Academies report concludes that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.'

9. @DonnellyStephen @roinnslainte
There is more evidence for the use of #cannabis in treating #ChronicPain than there is for the 3 conditions for which it has been approved in Ireland, they are just simply choosing to ignore it!

10. The Medical Cannabis Access Programme is now set to begin mid October but I couldnt believe what I was hearing when they said that there is now going to be only ONE product available, CannEpil. CannEpil is a high CBD, low THC oil designed to treat Drug Resistant Epilepsy.

11. To make it even worse, Professor. Bryan Lynch, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, said he and his colleagues would not be prescribing CannEpil @MgcPharma to their patients as it contains trace elements of THC. @DonnellyStephen

12. @DonnellyStephen If this is the narrative being pushed by those who are supposed to be prescribing, then who, if anyone is going to get access?! I have now emailed all the members that took part today.

13. Some of them asked great questions and I can only hope that some might reply, unlike @DonnellyStephen and @FrankFeighan who are continuing to ignore my emails and seem to have no issue with people being forced to move abroad to access this medication.

#BringAliciaHome
End.