THE FOOD SAFETY Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has recalled a batch of CBD oil after discovering that it contains the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

The authority has recalled 10ml bottles of extra strong Euphoria Full spectrum Oil, which has been imported from the Netherlands and has a ‘best before’ date of 31 August 2020, after finding it contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical constituent of the cannabis plant, and products based on it can be legally sold in Ireland.

The compound does not produce the same psychoactive effects that THC produces, so it does not get users high in the manner associated with the recreational use of cannabis.

An Independent TD (or Teachta Dála, a member of the lower house of Irish Parliament) is calling for approval for a new plan in which wetland owned by a semi-State company, Bord na Mona would be re-purposed to cultivate medical cannabis.

Under the new plan, Ireland will be “sowing weed instead of pulling weeds,” according to TD Michael Fitzmaurice, The Sun reports.

Discover how GreenLight Pharmaceuticals Ltd is aiming to advance clinical research, access and education regarding medical cannabis in Europe.

Established in 2014, GreenLight Pharmaceuticals Ltd is an Irish biopharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effective plant-based medicines. GreenLight specialises in phytocannabinoid research and clinical development. The company is based in Dublin but has recently created a UK based subsidiary and has plans to expand its world of medical cannabis in Europe.

When Health Minister Simon Harris recently signed legislation to allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a five-year pilot basis, he opened the door wider for an emerging sector which has significant potential to create jobs and a new revenue stream for the Government’s coffers.

The programme has taken two years to establish, mainly due to difficulties in sourcing a suitable supplier of cannabis with the required quality assurances for export into Ireland.

While this outside supplier will cater to the immediate needs of the sector, the legislation does allow for potential local producers to apply to have their cannabis products assessed for suitability.

As the debate around the positive benefits of medical cannabis now touches most corners of the globe, few things have had as major an impact in getting the conversation this far as parents telling the stories of their children living a better quality of life thanks to cannabis.

It’s been a long time coming, but last week Ireland’s Minister for Health signed legislation to kick off a medical cannabis program in the country.

The program will operate on a pilot basis for five years and access will be restricted to patients with the following qualifying conditions.

• spasticity associate with MS (multiple sclerosis)
• intractable (not easily managed or controlled) nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
• severe, treatment resistant epilepsy

It’s a pretty short list, but it’s a start.

HEALTH MINISTER SIMON Harris has today signed legislation to allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years.

The minister said it is going to take “a little bit of time to fully establish” the scheme, as  supply couldn’t be brought in until the law was signed today.

“I expect patients to be in a position to access the scheme in the autumn,” he said.  

It’s over two years since the minister announced that a medicinal cannabis access scheme was to be established.

Legal cannabis in Ireland? Irish Minister for Health claims there is no plan for legalization

Minister for Health Simon Harris has stated there are no plans to legalize cannabis in Ireland following claims from an alliance of senior doctors that Ireland is ‘sleepwalking’ toward general legalization of the drug.

A report on the possession of drugs for personal use is expected to be brought before the cabinet before the summer, and some doctors are fearful about the direction Ireland is taking regarding drug usage.

While the recreational use of marijuana is now legal in 10 American states, on this side of the pond lighting up a joint is still very much a criminal activity – so how come there’s suddenly been an explosion of oils, serums, masks and moisturisers with cannabis on the ingredients list?

“Cannabis, which until not too long ago was taboo, has now started to emerge as a significant element in the medical and wellness sectors,” says Hugh Winters, CEO of Australian skincare company MGC Derma.

“Since your skin is your biggest organ, it can benefit your skin the most.”