Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
THE USE OF cannabis-based CBD products for medicinal reasons is no longer a taboo or unreported subject in Ireland.
From high-profile campaigns like Vera Twomey’s to numerous other personal stories, like those of Noreen O’Neill and Brendan Flynn, the push for greater access to cannabis-based medical products is a visible one.
Also clear to see is that cannabis-based products are legally being sold in health food and specialised stores more and more across the country.
But while access to the products is becoming easier, there is still confusion among the public about their legality and dispute among doctors about their effectiveness.
There is also a lack of oversight on the products that are on sale leading to doubts about their reliability.
So what is the story?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical constituent of the cannabis plant and products based on it can be legally sold in Ireland.
CBD does not produce the same psychoactive effects that THC produces, so it does not get users high in the manner associated with the recreational use of cannabis.
CBD-based products have been used by patients suffering from a range of conditions including epilepsy, chronic pain, spasticity, insomnia and anxiety.
There is increasing clinical evidence about its success as a treatment but CBD is not currently authorised as a medicinal product by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland.
This means that it is not considered as a treatment option and CBD products can not be prescribed by doctors.
A recent decision in the United States, however, could point towards future changes here.
In June, a CBD-based drug called Epidiolex was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a treatment for childhood epilepsy.
That trial was conducted on 120 children with Dravet Syndrome, the same condition Ava Twomey’s daughter Ava suffers from.
CBD products in tablet form. Niall Carson / PA Images
Niall Carson / PA Images / PA Images
CBD for sale
But while similar approval may take some time from the HPRA, CBD products will continue to be sold in Ireland, even if they are not being prescribed by doctors.
For Professor David Finn of NUI Galway, this does present some issues.
Finn is a professor of pharmacology and co-director of the Centre for Pain Research at NUIG.
He supports greater research into the use of medical cannabis and points to the positive evidence on childhood epilepsy in particular.
But he does have concerns about both the effectiveness of CBD as a treatment and how it is being marketed.
Advertisement
“People are kind of treating CBD as type of nutritional supplement or a health food, and it’s a drug,” he explains.
Cannabidiol is a drug that we’ve know about since the 1960s and like all other drugs it is going to have effects on the body and some of those effects may be beneficial, and there’s evidence for that.Some of the published evidence is strongest for epilepsy, particularly for childhood epilepsy, and for inflammatory pain and maybe anxiety as well. But there may also be side effects.
“It seems to be fairly well tolerated overall, so there isn’t any strong evidence for severe side-effects, but there is some evidence for mild to moderate adverse effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and some fatigue and dizziness. As well as potential interactions with other drugs the patient may be taking.”
Finn also shares some concerns about the unregulated CBD products that are currently on sale in Ireland and a lack of oversight.
“It’s very hard to know exactly what the composition of some of the products is.”
Some of them aren’t tested rigorously for quality control. So there can be batch to batch differences. There will be some cannabidiol in there but how much is in there is an open question.
“Some of these preparations are referred to as CBD oil or cannabis oil, which usually means it’s an oil extracted from the plant. But the cannabis plant is extremely complex, it has over 700 constituents in it, about 114 of these are cannabinoids.”
So that’s the issue. It’s very hard to guarantee to patients that they’re taking the same thing each time they go and buy these preparations. What they buy from a pharmacy in Cork might be different to what they get from a health food store in Dublin.
Among the concerns would be that the products have trace elements of THC from the extraction process. Products with THC at levels greater than 0.2% would be illegal.
Finn stresses that he is not saying CBD products on sale here contain THC, only that there is often no testing to show otherwise.
Vera Twomey (centre) protesting outside the Dáil. PA Images
PA Images
Demand
But the owners of a new store in Dublin are confident that its products are sufficiently tested and are what they purport to be.
CBD Relieve Ireland in St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre opened last week and claims to be “Ireland’s first dedicated CBD store”.
Marketing manager at the new venture Joe Dunne says that the store sells CBD in a variety of forms such as vaping liquids, droplets, body oils and body creams.
The store sources all of its products from CBD Relieve in the UK, a business that Dunne says has been working with Britain’s medicines regulator.
“They’re working closely with the MHRA in relation to the proper wording and terminology that can be used on the stands and on the fliers and leaflets.”
All their products are independently lab tested as well to ensure product quality and to ensure that there is no THC, or under the level of THC that is allowable by EU regulations.
“The majority of the products don’t have any THC but they’re definitely always within the limits.”
Dunne says that CBD Relieve Ireland is separate from the UK company which shares its name and that they met with five or six CBD companies before settling on a supplier.
“It’s not like just selling an iPhone cover or another retail product, we had to be 100% sure that who we’re dealing with knows what they’re doing, knows where they’re going and has all the evidence to back up their products.”
The store does not sell its products to under 18s and Dunne adds that people who come in are encouraged to consult with their doctors before they buy.
He adds that staff in the store do not give medical advice and that any advice they do give is based on feedback from customers of the products in the UK.
“We have to be very careful with the advice we give because we’re not doctors, we’re not pharmacists, it’s not sold as a medical product either, it’s basically sold as a food supplement. So it’s a supplement that will either help or assist someone’s normal day-today well-being.
What you do is you work with the information you have with relation to customers, so we would work based upon what CBD Relieve UK’s feedback has been from their customers, and they have a lot because they’ve been operating two to three years.
Despite doctors not being able to prescribe CBD, Dunne claims that customers to the Irish store have been coming in and saying that their doctors have been advising them to explore it as an option.
“Since we’ve opened last week we’ve had huge amounts of customers in inquiring, having a look.”
“Feedback from in there is that people are telling the staff that their doctors have recommended that it can help with x, y and z. So there are a hell of a lot of doctors referring them to come in and have a look and try it out.”
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
82 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Ah here, enough of the posters. Does anyone know what the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is? Every MEP will vote on it in the next term, and it will have a huge impact on our lives.
I actually do. But point well-made. These are the issues that’ll weed-out the invested candidates from those many public faces already bounced out of national politics and who would run for a train if there was a vote in it!
If she cannot oversee a poster campaign she could never be trusted with matters political. What this whole poster charade proves- especially with Mary Fitz- is that many political aspirants are, quite simply, clueless. Give up now Mary and save yourself and the electorate needless stress.
To be fair, the first person to deface Mary Fitzpatricks poster was Mary Fitzpatrick by including a Fianna Fail logo. She may as well have sellotaped a brown envelope to it.
Bertie hung her out to dry twice – once on the morning of the election when he had 30,000 leaflets printed up and distributed to her voters so as to make sure she came last on the ticket. Typical Bertie.
Personally, I don’t think she’s political material. Her father was a TD too, but she strikes me as naive.
What has happened to all the poster inviting us to public meetings ? After I had such a full diary of events last weekend, I was really looking forward to another busy weekend of engagement with our wannabe politicians & discussion of important social issues. If I didn’t know better I would think the meetings were just a cynical ploy to stick up posters early.
Putting up posters in Tallaght- evident that FF EU candidate strategy is greedy. Posters advertising “public meeting” for early April remain in- situ. Guarantees prime prominent spots for election. Leopard and spots.
Tad biased there Maire, no? How’s the campaign going? It’s gas. All parties clearly have a social media strategy. Us Joe Soaps are soooo easily manipulated like…well that’s the attitude of the politicians or their mouth pieces on here.
Lots of posters being removed in Waterford today by the council. This afternoon they were strictly enforcing the law and removed a load of posters. Most were Fianna Fail or Labour, plus the odd Independent.
Is this the lady who can never get elected but keeps running in both National and Euro?
Would be interested to know what’s the split on male to female candidates as there seems to be a fair split at least based on posters in Dublin.
Must be said some look very young and wonder what qualifies them to represent us all in Europe. Although I see one or two ‘older ‘candidates proudly describing themselves as Councillor – wouldn’t have thought that’s something you’d want to be highlighting…..
Her poster with the writing on it about being too low is also illegal for another reason: it is on a prohibited pole. Posters cannot be erected on poles displaying traffic signs. That poll clearly has a sign about buses and a no right turn sign, so cannot be used for postering.
Her posters are everywhere around Dublin, all over the place. One must question her wisdom in associating with FF. Frankly, she will do nothing for us, if elected, but secure her own pension. The neck of these main party candidates is shocking.
Is this a joke about Clondalkin if us full of posters of other parties FG Kenneth Egan labour Bonner and SF Boylan so where is the voluntary ban keep them up Mary
FF don’t care about blinding people with low hanging posters or endangering people in traffic — when Bertie suggested an option of suicide it reflected its moral code and Modus Operandi. This woman does not care about anybody but herself and the pursuit of power.
As usual all the self-righteous finger-pointing is at Fianna Fail, conveniently blind to the fact that throughout Dublin Bay South the Labour posters are almost all illegally low. But then, Labour don’t do dynastic politics either… Quinn, Humphreys, Upton, Ashe… Oh to be as virtuous as Labour!
Art often attempts to capture the hubris and blind stupidity of politics and politicians. From Greek Tradegy, to Shakespeare, and right up to the latest instalment of House of Cards.
As is often the case, what seems farcical excess in art is over shadowed by reality.
How focused on oneself do you have to be, not to notice what is around you?
Posters make her and martin looking like complete idiots which clearly are nothing changed in fianna fail the all idiots party supported by idiots and voted for by bigger idiots who put country in mess it is in now
Posters should be banned outright, what purpose do they serve, except for littering. I don’t know anyone who has changed their vote because of a poster. When they take them down, they leave thousands of cable ties behind them.
150 rounds of drinks ordered at the Dáil's bars on the day TDs failed to elect a new Taoiseach
43 mins ago
973
14
Dublin
What exactly is 'affordable' housing ... and how much should it cost?
6 hrs ago
2.4k
Darndale
Discovery of human hand in yard of Dublin primary school not thought to be malicious
Updated
12 hrs ago
54.3k
Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work.
We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).
We and our 152 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Accept All enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage .Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent. You may exercise your right to consent, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. Some vendors may process your data based on their legitimate interests, which does not require your consent. You cannot object to tracking technologies placed to ensure security, prevent fraud, fix errors, or deliver and present advertising and content, and precise geolocation data and active scanning of device characteristics for identification may be used to support this purpose. This exception does not apply to targeted advertising. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 104 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 136 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 106 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 78 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 77 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 37 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 33 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 127 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 60 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 75 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 82 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 38 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 43 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 25 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 86 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 96 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 68 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 50 partners can use this feature
Always Active
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 84 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 64 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say