The comments of the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, on cannabis were welcomed yesterday by the Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus. Mr Byrne had said consideration should be given to the medical use of the drug.
Ms McManus said: "There is a body of evidence which indicates that the use of cannabis can have beneficial effects for people suffering from a range of illnesses such as epilepsy, MS and other degenerative bone and muscle diseases."
Serious consideration should be given to allowing people access to cannabis-based treatments to alleviate the crippling pain caused by these illnesses, she added.