TGA and Cannabis

[luciddreaming]

Actually the SAS can be used for importing both schedule 8 & 9. substances.

We got the form and then asked both State and Fed Health Ministers for a list of medical

practitioners authorised by the Secretary of the Commonwealth

Department of Health and Ageing under section 19 of the Therapeutic

Goods Act 1989." and a List of Governmant Authorised Suppliers in order to be able to fill out the form....

 

We are still waiting for a reply to that question from any of them.

 

We made a point about that in our brief as it shows the system is unworkable and there fore in breach of the obligations under the treaty.

 

I love how they list THC and CBD as "poisons" when they are actually less toxic than water!!

 

Very good info, thanks for that.

And yeh, I 's at that poison thing too hehe

[Budman2012]

Damn , just had a power outtage and lost a great post ... sheesh , was so carefully worded too

Oh well , Here's a short(er) more crude version heheh ...

 

Interesting documents ...

I agree with Fraz that the first document there is a bit hard to get ya head around ... Somehow I understood most of it

On initial reading I was thinking exactly that , how so many of these important documents are written in Scientific-Speak ... if stoners have some trouble with it how is your average sheeple gonna understand it? let alone politicians and lawmakers heheh

Also I was thinking that they are saying that Cannabis (not just THC) IS medicinally effective ... wow like we never knew that

But that they are only ever interested in producing a synthetic product for mass-marketing ... then Lucid mentioned that it is an "extract" ... Is this the case? ... any more info on this? ...

If they are extracting selective chemicals from Cannabis then is this not "synthesizing" anyway? ... hmmm , now I've confused myself

Damnit , the last post went so well heheh

Righto , that's the only points that I can remember ...

Bye 4 Now ... and Cheerz

 

Budman

[luciddreaming]

Ah don't ya hate that!

 

Yes, Dronabinol is not an extract, it is a synthetic THC. Which apparently is shite.

Sativex is an extract. Which is not synthetic. Synthetic means they've made a chemical from adding other chemicals together.

Non-synthetic means it is produced in nature, by something, somewhere.

Sativex is basically hash/Cannabis oil in spray form.

[Budman2012]

Cheerz man,

Does that mean that Morphine , Codeine etc are not Synthetic also?

Something like LSD also is an extract? ... Cocaine ... etc etc

 

Sorry , just to clear it up

 

I'm a bit fuzzy at the moment ... but aren't they considered synthetic ... they can't just create chemical compounds out of thin air can they?

 

Anyhoo , I'm sure someone will set me straight

Cheerz for all the interesting input

 

Budman

 

P.s. yes , just had another blackout before this post again 2 too many fan heaters , gimme a potbelly stove anyday

[entheofarm]

Notice under Regulation 42ZCU of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990

The Chair of the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC) hereby gives notice that

the next scheduling meeting of the NDPSC will be held on 16-18 June 2009. Substances to be

considered for scheduling by the NDPSC are open for public comment.

 

http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/gazette/g0906pre.pdf

 

NOW THATS FUNNY CAUSE THE NDPSC TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT GOVERNED BY THE THERAPUTIC GOODS REGULATION 1990

 

I wonder what would happen if the NDPSC were FLOODED with emails requesting cannabis be re-scheduled at next weeks meeting?

 

I will go back through the emails I have from the NDPSC and request from them why they have denied bieng governed by the TGA when they actually are.

[Guest niall]

From the pdf you linked to:

 

"1.5 Cannabidiol – consideration of scheduling, including a proposal to include cannabidiol in

Schedule 8 when prepared and packed for therapeutic use (see item 12.1.6 of the February 2009

Record of Reasons)."

 

Does anyone know what status THC has? I believe Sativex is a 50:50 extract of THC and CBD. Extracted from two different strains, isolated, and then mixed 50:50.

 

Smokin.Moose and I have been made aware of GW Pharmaceuticals' "named patient prescription" access scheme. Apparently Sativex can be imported into Australia under this scheme, but so far we're not having much luck with this. If you'd like to apply please you must get your pain specialist or Doctor to email them directly to enquire about the scheme and then they will take it from there:

 

Info@gwpharm.com

 

Just went and looked up (12.1.6 of the Feb 2009 Record of Reasons):

 

"12. Proposed changes/additions to the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons:

....

12.1.6 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)"

 

So I suspect this is specifically for Sativex. They are open for public comment guys so please if you are a legitimate medical user in need of a legal medication please contact the TGA immediately. We've missed the cutoff date, but while they don't NEED to take our submissions into account they may still count for something:

 

"The NDPSC has moved to an E-agenda and is increasingly using electronic documents at its meetings.

Persons making public submissions to the Committee are strongly encouraged to lodge submissions in

electronic format (word or unsecured PDF is preferred) via the NDPSC email address. Accordingly,

public submissions, preferably in electronic format, should be made to:

 

The Secretary

National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee

GPO Box 9848

CANBERRA ACT 2601

e-mail NDPSC@health.gov.au. Facsimile 02- 6289 2500

The closing date for submissions is 21 May 2009.

 

The NDPSC, in making a decision in relation to the classification and scheduling of a substance, must

consider all public submissions made by the closing date that address a matter mentioned in Section 52E

of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Public submissions that simply reserve the right to comment on

a scheduling proposal or are made after the closing date need not be considered by the NDPSC.

"

[entheofarm]

yes from what GW have said, if you get a doctor to write a script they will send it, but no AU doctor will write a script due to the NDPSC not allowing the TGA to re-schedule or DE-SCHEDULE cannabis..

 

No I think it is only Drabinol niall

Edited June 13, 2009 by entheofarm

[luciddreaming]

Well I didn't make any kind of submission, but I e-mailed them about it. I encourage others to do this also, as niall said, it could help change their minds.

Oh and budman

 

Does that mean that Morphine , Codeine etc are not Synthetic also?

Yep. They are not synthetic because they are extracted from the poppy plant.

Something like LSD also is an extract? ... Cocaine ... etc etc

Cocaine is extracted, LSD is not. LSD is synthetic.

 

I'm a bit fuzzy at the moment ... but aren't they considered synthetic ... they can't just create chemical compounds out of thin air can they? scratchchin.gif

What's considered synthetic? Sativex/cannabinoids? No. They can make them synthetically but they get these ones for Sativex out of the Cannabis. And separate THC and CBD from the rest of the chemicals.

Edited June 13, 2009 by luciddreaming

[Guest niall]

No I think it is only Drabinol niall

 

Dronabinol is Marinol aka synthetic THC. So that could be one reason they've got THC on the agenda but not CBD - and they are in the same sentence in the second pdf, so I suspect this is specifically for Sativex as GWP are close to full UK availability and seem to be leading the pack.

 

I've got an appointment with my pain specialist this week so I'm going to mention it, but expect we'll have to just wait and see what happens at this meeting.

[luciddreaming]

Yeh, Sativex sounds the best too. But wouldn't they need THC and CBD on schedule 8 to gave Sativex?