Cannabis extract drugs could appear on Irish market

Irish GPs could soon be able to prescribe drugs with extracts of cannabis.

The Department of Health is asking the public for its thoughts on plans to allow Sativex, a cannabis-based drug for MS sufferers.

The drug is already permitted in several other EU member states.

Gordon McArdle, a campaigner for medicinal cannabis, says the government should allow cannabis in its natural form.

"If we can do this already with methadone, there's absolutely no reason we can't do this with medical cannabis," he said.