Medicinal cannabis legislation has passed the second stage in Dáil and is on course to be legalised by Easter next year

It’s after the Government decided not to oppose the bill – put forward from People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny.

Health minister Simon Harris says he has some concerns and will make amendments at committee stage in the new year.

Deputy Gino Kenny says regulation is the key.

He said: “People are using cannabis anyway, they are buying it on the street or growing it themselves, but everything is open to abuse.

“But the pros far outweigh the cons and obviously, under our bill, the person that is ascribed any cannabis-based medicines, they are the only user of it.”