Draft regulations to allow doctors prescribe a cannabis-based painkiller are expected to be ready in the middle of this year.

The latest timetable from the Department of Health follows long delays in making the drug Sativex available through presription for the relief of certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis or cannabis-based medicinal products are currently unlawful except for the purposes of research.

Draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations are being prepared to enable authorised cannabis-based medicinal products such as Sativex to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients.

Irish Independent