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Ireland: Health Minister Simon Harris would like to see farmers growing cannabis plants in Ireland Lynne Kelleher Irish Mirror Thursday 06 Dec 2018 Health Minister Simon Harris says he would like to see Irish farmers growing cannabis crops as the legislation of medicinal marijuana draws closer. The Emerald Isle may be famous around the world for its green grass but horticulturalists could soon be harvesting cannabis plants instead. Minister Harris revealed he hopes to pass legislation clearing the drug for medicinal use in 2019. And he told Ear to the Ground that he would like to see a homegrown crop of medical marijuana in the future. RTE’s flagship farming series examined how the crop could be grown in Ireland if it is given the green light by the government. Simon Harris is in favour of legalising the sale of cannabis Minister Harris said: “This is not about the recreational use and people smoking joints. This is about using in a controlled way, in a monitored way, with the support of your clinician, a product that could ease your pain and suffering after you’ve tried all the conventional treatments. “This is a major priority for me and I really want to see this happen in 2019.” The minister said he would be open to Irish farmers growing the drug. He said: “I think I could be an opportunity for Irish farmers in due course. “Does it make sense to grow your own in Ireland rather than be dependent on importing a product? I think quite frankly it does.” But he said the Government would be looking to import the product in the short term, adding: “You can’t obviously do that overnight. “There is quite a lead in time and there are patients who need this product as soon as possible. “What we’re likely to do in the first course of action is to try and secure a product. “Then in the medium terms talking about growing our own and securing our own supply in Ireland is the sensible thing to do.” The show’s presenter Darragh McCullough visited a cannabis farm in Phoenix, Arizona to see how the crop is managed. The drug was legalised there in 2010 but it is very tightly controlled and is only available on prescription from licensed dispensaries. The growing facility extends over 15,000 square feet and horticulturists tend the tens of thousands of plants. Temperature, water and nutrients are carefully controlled, and the flowers are processed on site to produce various grades of medical marijuana. Proprietor Lilach Power said they have a wide variety of patients using the product for medicinal purposes. She said: “We see everything from the 21-year-old to the 90-year-old, who comes with the grandkids because she is not moving as much, and everything is in pain, to the 40-year-old who wants to sleep better.” She believes pharmaceutical farming could be successful in Ireland. She said: “I think Ireland needs to put (up) some greenhouses and they’ll be just fine.” Ear to the Ground will be shown on RTE One on Thursday 13 December at 8.30pm. https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/health-minister-simon-harris-would-13706663
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