Ireland - The law on Ketamine

[STUMPYWICKLOWBUZZER]

what are laws regarding ketamine in southern ireland

[Joe Duffy]

Ketamine is used in the Republic of Ireland as an anaesthetic in paediatric and geriatric patients, thus I imagine it would be considered a prescription only medicine and falls under the laws that pertain to such substances.

[Abrad]

Since Irish drug law is almost identical to UK law I would wonder if they have bothered to update it to include ketamine as a scheduled substance or whether it was overlooked.

A carefully worded email to the Dept. of Justice may answer this question.

[Lunar Loops]

As far as SWIS is aware in Ireland ketamine is authorised as a prescription drug by the Irish Medicines Board.

Maximum legal penalties (although every SWIMmer knows they never get applied) are:

Republic: Posession can result in 7 years and/or unlimited fine and supply can result in life and/or unlimited fine.

Northern Ireland: Posession can result in 2 years and/or unlimited fine and supply can result in life and/or unlimited fine.

[podge]

Originally Posted by Abrad

A carefully worded email to the Dept. of Justice may answer this question.

Iv done that, i got a reply saying that my question would be better suited to the minister for health and that i would recieve a reply from Mary Harney herself.

I still havent recieved a reply....its been a couple of months since the initial e mail.

[Abrad]

Mary Harney herself?
Umm...

[podge]

Here the most recent e mail i recieved :

04 July, 2007

Dear Mr xxxxxxxxxd

I am directed by the Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., to refer further to your letter dated 30 May, 2007, concerning the classification of the drug ketamine.

The Minister has arranged to have a copy of your letter referred to Ms. Mary Harney, Minister Health and Children, for attention and direct reply to you, as its contents are more appropriate to that Department.

Yours sincerely,

_____________
Private Secretary

[Stiney]

Shroomonger is correct, Ketamine is covered under the Irish Medicines Board Act (1995). It is illegal to possess unless you are excluded under the exemptions listed in Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations (2003). It was previously controlled under the Poisons Regulations Act (1982) so it's been controlled to some extent for quite a while. Basically unless you are a medical professional and hold the relevent license you can't (legally) touch it.

On a personal note I would be extremely uncomfortable if people were to start e-mailing Mushroom Ban Mary asking about the legal status of different substances, lets not give Jabba Da Harney any ideas now.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good post

[rocksmokinmachine]

Ketamine was made a class C drug recently in the UK. The ROI usually follows. I would assume it is illegal and if not it soon will be.

[Abrad]

Of course the Dail is on recess atm so no doubt she is off using taxpayers money to gorge herself