Assembly of the Republic working group debates medical cannabis

The debate in the specialty on the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes began this week in the Assembly of the Republic (AR), with the composition of the work group led by Moisés Ferreira, from Bloco de Esquerda (BE). The group will hear from several specialists in the field, starting with João Goulão, from SICAD, next Thursday, February 8th.

The Parliamentary Health Committee, to which the debate in the specialty of bills n.º 726/XIII/3rd BE — Regulates the use of the cannabis plant, substances and preparations for medicinal purposes and 727/XIII/3rd PAN — For the admissibility of the use of cannabis for medical purposes, set up a working group to discuss the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The first ordinary session took place on the 31st of January, in Room 9 of the AR, with the aim of defining the working methodology.

The working group on medical cannabis is led by deputy Moisés Ferreira from Bloco de Esquerda. Photo: DR

Moses Ferreira is the only representative of the BE Parliamentary Group and coordinator of the working group, of which they are also part Christopher Simao Ribeiro, from the PSD Parliamentary Group, Isabel Alves Moreira and Maria Antonia de Almeida Santos, of the PS Parliamentary Group, Isabel Garrica Neto, of the CDS-PP Parliamentary Group, Carla Cruz, of the PCP Parliamentary Group and Andre Silva, representing the PAN Parliamentary Group.

A news from the public stated that, in addition to João Goulão, President of the Service for Intervention in Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (SICAD), the Commission intends to hear from the Director-General of Health, Graça Freitas, and the chairman of the board of directors of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology ( IPO) of Porto, José Laranja Pontes.

Officials from Infarmed, the Order of Doctors and the Order of Pharmacists will also be heard. As far as Associations are concerned, the Group of Activists in Treatments (GAT) and Cannativa — Association for Studies on Cannabis were called, and the hearing of some patients who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes is also planned.

The request for a hearing was also sent to other specialists, in order to obtain the maximum number of contributions for this reconsideration of the bills. THE first session takes place on 8 February, with the hearing by João Goulão, from SICAD, at 17:30.

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Featured photo: DR