The Department of Health has issued approval for a British company to start clinical trials in the Republic to examine the effectivness of a cannabis derivative in the treatment of terminally ill patients.
Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled drug and as such is subject to tight restrictions in its prescription and use.
There have been calls both here and in Britain to allow its medical use in patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.
It is understood that the Department recently received an application for a clinical study of the use of cannabis in such patients. As the application fell within the conditions of the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Minister for Health was advised by officials in his Department that there was no reason not to grant a licence.
Subsequently, the Irish Medicines Board issued the necessary permit under the 1987 Control of Clinical Trials Act.
The Irish Times understands that the research is being conducted in a hospital setting in the southern half of the State.