2342. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the development of a structured patient registry or real-world evidence programme as part of the future evolution of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43682/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health:

In preparation for the Review into Access to Cannabis for Medical Use, my Department commissioned the Health Research Board (HRB) to undertake an international evidence review as a key input to the process. It was published in 2024 entitled: ‘The Efficacy and Safety of Medicinal Cannabis in Adult Populations'. The Review Group will consider this evidence review in the course of its work.

In terms of a patient registry, Under Regulation 5 of  Statutory Instrument No. 262/2019 - Misuse Of Drugs (Prescription And Control Of Supply Of Cannabis For Medical Use) Regulations 2019, the legislative basis for the MCAP, there is provision to the establishment of a register.

Under the Regulation:

'The Health Service Executive shall establish and maintain a register, to be known as the “Cannabis for Medical Use Register”, which shall contain the information notified to it under Regulation 4(6)(b), and such register may be maintained in electronic form.

(2) The Executive may amend an entry in, or delete an entry from, the Cannabis for Medical Use Register.

(3) The Executive may, before inserting, amending or deleting an entry in the Cannabis for Medical Use Register, require the medical consultant supervising the treatment to provide such additional information as is considered necessary.

(4) The Executive shall assign a number (“CMUR number”) to each person whose name is entered in the Cannabis for Medical Use Register under this Regulation.'

Under Regulation 4(6)(b):

'(6) A practitioner shall not issue a prescription for a specified controlled drug for the first time to a person under his or her care unless—

(b) the practitioner has notified the Executive, in such form as it may require, including electronically, of

(i)   the name, address, date of birth and specified therapeutic indication of the person,

(ii)  the name, registration number and medical specialty of the notifying practitioner, and

(iii) such additional information as the Executive may require.'

2343. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the review of access to cannabis for medical use is examining barriers to clinician participation in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme, including prescribing pathways, education, and administrative processes; if her Department envisages a future role for general practitioners in supporting continuity of care for patients prescribed medicinal cannabis products, including the management of repeat prescribing in appropriate cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43683/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: Under  Statutory Instrument No. 262/2019 - Misuse Of Drugs (Prescription And Control Of Supply Of Cannabis For Medical Use) Regulations 2019, the legislative basis for the MCAP a specified controlled drug  is defined as a cannabis product or preparation—

(a) which is produced from dried, ground or powdered flower of Cannabis,

(b) which is not a medicinal product which is the subject of a marketing authorisation within the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation 3(1) of the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 540 of 2007 ).

This means these products are not authorised medicines with a marketing authorisation that have gone through the normal testing and safety processes required of a medicine. Accordingly in Part 2 of the Regulations restrictions on issuing of prescriptions for specified controlled drugs are set out, including

4. (1) A practitioner shall not issue a prescription for a specified controlled drug other than where—

(a) the practitioner is a medical consultant,

(b) the practitioner’s name and address are included on the prescription, and

(c) treatment with the specified controlled drug remains under the supervision of that practitioner.

There are no current plans to alter the practice of consultant-only prescribing.

Question No. 2344 answered with Question No. 2047.

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-06-09/2343/#pq_2343