No longer criminals for medicating themselves

THE legalisation of cannabis moved a step closer to reality this week after Health Minister Mary Harney announced she is open to making cannabis legal for medicinal purposes in Ireland.

This comes after Drugs Minister Pat Carey met with pro-cannabis campaigners and pledged his support for a piece of legislation to have cannabis legalised for medical use.

The benefits of using cannabis for medicinal purposes have been widely debated, but in a number of clinical trials worldwide where patients suffering from various cancers, arthritis, HIV/AIDS and depression were given cannabis as an alternative treatment, many were shown to experience improved quality of life and significant pain relief.