Ireland Health Minister Pledges to Act on Medical Cannabis

Simon Harris, the Irish Health Minister has spoken out of his desire to help a mother, whose ill child is in need of medical cannabis; a substance currently illegal in the country. Vera Twomey noticed that her daughter, Ava, was showing considerable signs of improvements after using cannabis oil to curtail her very serious seizures. Twomey took her argument all the way to the government stating that improvements in her daughter's Dravet Syndrome only surface when cannabis oil has been ingested. After hearing the mothers' plea, Simon Harris has agreed to take the matter further, ordering a review of the country's policy on medical cannabis, as well as expert scientific advice from the Health Products Regulatory Authority. The news of the government review of medical cannabis comes at the same time Anti-Austerity Alliance-People before Profit TD Gino Kenny announced the Cannabis for Medical Use Bill 2016 which will require Government support to pass.