As someone who has very progressive MS and no other treatment has worked for – and believe me there have been many – I would like to be given a chance to try it. Anything that can help me to live like the 42 year old I am instead of the at times 75+ year old I seem to be, for me is worth a go!

I sincerely hope this legislation is passed. After an accident nearly two years ago, I contracted an auto immune disease, which resulted in my body, basically attacking itself. The result was, that I have severe rhumathroid arthritis in eighteen joints ( no pun intended ) and twelve ligaments. It was so severe that I needed help to do everything from getting dressed, to even getting into, or out of a chair, or a bed. Thankfully, modern advances in medicine for my condition have advanced to the point that I can now perform these functions by myself. However, the side effects of taking these medicines make me extremely nauseas and physically ill on a daily basis, along with severe trembling and other lesser effects. To cut a long story short, if this medicine can alleviate some of the side effects of my medication, then I think I should be allowed to see if they work. And by all accounts they do. One last point, to illustrate my condition, is that this comment has taken me almost three quarters of an hour to make, due to the previously mentioned side effects, and anything that might speed that process up would be most welcome, as currently I’m just too slow at typing to enter into any debate.

@Ross Bowe

Cancer—If you or someone you know has ever dealt with cancer, you know just how intense the disease and its treatments can be. Chemotherapy has a range of side effects, including nausea and vomiting, anorexia, and severe pain. THC, a key active ingredient in marijuana, has been approved by the FDA for use in relieving nausea and vomiting and increasing appetite in people with cancer. Some supporters even believe it inhibits tumor growth.
HIV—Some studies have found that marijuana rivals mainstream drugs for alleviating HIV/AIDS symptoms. Those who use marijuana in HIV/AIDS treatment do so to help combat anxiety, depression, nausea, fatigue, and neuropathic pain. When comparing marijuana to other medications, one study found that those who used marijuana rated their anxiety significantly lower than those who did not, although some other symptoms were found to be treated better with other medications.
Chronic pain—Chronic pain is one of the most commonly listed conditions on physician recommendations for medical marijuana. Reports show that there is a cannabinoid receptor in parts of the nervous system that detect and control pain perception. This means that marijuana is capable of giving moderate pain relief, and in some cases, it’s a better alternative than addicting pain killers.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—MS is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that causes weakness, loss of coordination, inflammation, and eventually disability. While studies are still being done to determine how effective marijuana is in treating MS, extensive anecdotal evidence from patients suggests that it can help with pain, spasticity, depression, fatigue, and incontinence.
Glaucoma—Glaucoma causes higher pressure on the eyeballs, and this can lead to vision loss. In fact, after cataracts, glaucoma is the leading causing of blindness worldwide, with more than 60 million victims. Smoking marijuana actually reduces the pressure on your eyes, helping to alleviate glaucoma symptoms.
Epilepsy—Research seems to indicate that marijuana can help control epileptic seizures.  30 million people worldwide suffer from this chronic seizure disorder, and they can have sudden attacks of convulsions. There are some epileptics who are unable to tolerate traditional medicine, but they’ve been able to use pot to control their seizure activity.
Arthritis—When it comes to arthritis, there are 2 common types—rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Both of these cause pain and swelling in the joints. It’s believed that marijuana can help treat the pain associated with arthritis. It also seems to have anti-inflammatory properties, leading some to believe that it could play a bigger role in treating arthritis, not just its symptoms.
There are many more conditions supporters claim can be treated effectively with marijuana, including migraines, asthma, Alzheimer’s, psychological disorders, Tourette’s, and Parkinson’s.

Very Simple Keep outa the drug dealers & Kids hands and let people that need it have it. REGULATE NOW

I think we all need to be grown ups on this situation. I for one think Weed/Hash should be legal, with restrictions of course.

Would love it legalised, tourists in for the weekends, people calmer and danone bring out a new range of yogurts. Coffee shops become hubs of social activity and peoples physical pain alleviated. Dont let the people be overcharged for a product of nature

You might consider having a poll on whether or not Cannabis should be legalized, interested.

Lol everyone will be going to the docs more often, make it legal for god sake, funny the people who criticize weed but think its acceptable for people to drink themselves silly at the weekend ect, pfffft

Get over it, smoked loads of it years ago, very responsible member of society now…if it helps people in pain what the f.ck is the problem. PS I’m not a heroin addict

My wonderful sister Ann died from cancer nearly 9 months ago.She was 47 and had been told 2 years previously it was terminal.The Pain my sis went through is beyond words.Any relief from her constant pain would have been welcomed.I am all for the use of cannabis etc in certain circumstances.I know my beautiful sister would concur…

Portugal have decriminalized it and they have had very little uptake in people smoking it than normal with no social issues what so ever but most importantly their crime rate has dropped significantly.

Sativex costs £125 for a bottle that will last 7-11 days. Cannabis itself could be grown at minimal cost and provide the same benefits. The cynic in me would call this legislation a setback, not progress.

I remember listening to an interview with Terry Thomas the British Actor just before he died of Parkinson’s in which he said that only thing that relieved his pain was cannabis.

It’s about time to be quite honest.
I mean who has heard of cannabis related deaths.
Alcohol causes so many diseases and kills people. Tobacco causes cancer and also kills people, yet cannabis has knock on effects which relax you, puts people in happy moods etc, people are less stressed and their isn’t one cannabis related death I can find.

Now if alcohol and tobacco kills thousands a year ;why are they legal?
Cannabis is a known cure for many diseases etc; so why is it illegal in the first place???

This topic would make for an interesting poll. Hint hint journal :)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/06/marijuana-fights-cancer-and-helps-manage-side-effects-researchers-find.html

There is real evidence of THC/CBD shrinking & actually killing cancer cells,there has been much bone fide research by places such as Harvard University on the benefits in some ailments/diseases of Cannabis- this link also shows Real respected research-not the hippie website style research either!
I don’t drink & don’t like the idea of drugs,but I haven’t got my head buried in the sand like some!
If you suffer from MS or Arthritis the anti inflammatory medication does as much damage as it helps,at least with cannabis there are no negatives & absolutely NO Harmful smoke if a Vapouriser is used!

Tobacco kills.Cannabis can heal.

SO AS LONG AS YOU CAN EXTRACT HASH OIL ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE ON LICENCE FROM THE BRITISH HOME OFFICE IN A SECRET LOCATION TO MAKE MEGA BUCKS ITS COOL,BUT TRY THIS AT HOME YOURSELF WITH ONE HOMEGROWN PLANT AND WE WILL LOCK YOUR ASS IN GAOL,

weed is a beautiful thing it shouldn’t be legalised and moderated …

it should be FREE

Legalising heavily patented derivatives while failing to reconsider the laws surrounding their parent compounds is not a step forward.

This product IS cannabis, it’s the whole plant extracted and delivered in an alcohol tincture for umpteen times the price of what you could grow it for at home.

“It will be tested for the use in treatment of cancer pain” this is great but in other news scientists since the seventies have found cannabis to seeks out and destroys cancer cells…

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/06/marijuana-fights-cancer-and-helps-manage-side-effects-researchers-find.html

We must have the right to grow our own medicine!

http://beyondchronic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Grannys-List-July-2012.pdf

Mick Wallace hired James O Reilly to do research on it last week ….gospel

nobody has ever gone home and thrown their wife down the stairs after a few joints. alcohol, now that’s a different story.

This documentary is very informative;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSKJrgGqx_E

The over riding issue with the debate over legalise / don’t legalise is the lack of education on the plant itself.

There are umpteen studies on the benefits of marijuana to help treat or relieve the symptoms on many illnesses.
One of the more common uses is to juice the place – in this form there are zero ‘stoned’ effects – this effect only happens when the plant is heated. Juicing simply makes the plant drinkable (although by all accounts it’s not the nicest taste) most people mix it with the likes of carrot and ginger to make one hell of a nutrient rich smoothie.

Whatever about legalising marijuana as a smokable plant, which I am 100% behind, it should certainly be considered legalising it from a pure medical stand point.

The US government actually of a patent on the plan – but as a plant had millions of DNA possibilities they are finding it hard to do anything with it.

Watch a documentary called The Union on YouTube. Like all documentaries certain aspects should be taken with a pinch of salt but it might open the door to doing more of your own investigation.

Drugs should be legalised. I’m convinced it’s the religious right who are behind the efforts to keep it illegal. See here for Portugal’s experience http://tinyurl.com/2djx9ny

Great news for those who suffer with MS, AS and chronic pain.

End of story. It’s not the same debate as legalizing it fully.

smoke our way out of the recession,even the states are loosening up,its medicinal mannnnn,now who’s got the weed?is it my turn to roll?

The two of them – cannabinoid containing prescription medicines and smoking marijuana – can not be compared whatsoever; why are so many people lacking common sense? Few quick points about this: there are plenty of opioid-derived medicines available for doctors to prescribe to the sick yet none of us would head out to score some heroin or opium on the street or produce it at home to use – regardless of assured purity. Secondly, smoking marijuana could hardly be considered a sensible choice (especially for the already sick) due to the undeniable health risks associated with smoking – be it plain tobacco or marijuana! Granted, there are, of course, other ways such as vaporisation but who but the most dedicated aficionado uses a vaporiser here and now, in Ireland? But it surely would be an option for the terminally ill and dying. Another point to be considered is quantifying the compounds to be at their most efficacious. Hardly possible to do this by simply “rolling one up”. Another last point to consider is that Ireland is in a pandemic state regarding drug and alcohol abuse with more and more people advocating legalisation of “soft” and hard drugs – care of physical health and pain relief is one thing but wanting to get high, stoned or just wanting to get out of it to escape ones psychological dissatisfaction (which is also an issue – psychological dissatisfaction – that has become pendemically prevalent in Irish society) is an angle I strongly disagree with.

Except for medical reasons, this is a terrible idea. This country has no idea of moderation and to introduce full legalisation of another addictive substance boggles the mind.