Marie Flemings partner welcomes MS cannabis plan

PLEASED: Tom said he hopes a cannabis-based product will be available to people with MS soon

THE partner of a right-to-die campaigner says moves to legalise cannabis treatment for MS sufferers will go a long way to improve their quality of life.

Tom Curran, who has been outspoken in the past on the pain-relieving effect that cannabis had on his late partner Marie Fleming, said he is delighted the State is to legalise medicinal cannabis next month.

During Maries long battle with multiple sclerosis, Tom grew cannabis to help her with her pain.

He said not only did it help with her symptoms, but it also helped to counter some of the side effects of MS.

Next month, Junior Health Minister Alex White will sign a ministerial order allowing the Irish Medicines Board and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) to assess the likely costs and how the medicine might be promoted.

Hopefully, with the legal impediments removed, a cannabis-based medicinal product can soon be available to ease the symptoms of spasticity for people with MS, where other conservative treatments have failed, Minister White said.

Sativex, an oral spray made by GW Pharmaceuticals, is credited with treating muscle spasticity in a high proportion of peoplewith MS.

Mr Curran said he was delighted to hear that medicinal cannabis will be made available in Ireland.

It is a long time coming. I have spoken in the past about the effect that cannabis had on Marie. It really worked with the pain relief and spasms and the mood-lifting capabilities were very good, he said.

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Marie Flemings partner welcomes MS cannabis plan