Locally-grown medicinal cannabis will be legalised for use in exceptional circumstances in Victoria, under a controversial State Government move to ease the suffering of people with serious medical conditions.
In an Australian first, the Andrews Government plans to embark on a state-based cannabis cultivation trial, following the recommendations of a report by the Victorian Law Reform Commission that has been tabled in Parliament.
The commission has recommended licensing cultivators and manufacturers to produce medicinal cannabis products under laws similar to those governing the state's opium poppy industry.
The products would be prescribed by a specialist and sold at pharmacies under arrangements based on the methadone program, not a grow-your-own scheme.
Commission chairman Philip Cummins said the report was driven by compassion and medical responsibility.
"[it's about] compassion for persons including young children, who are grievously suffering and whose families and loved ones are suffering, and who presently have no effective medical relief," he said.
We were struck by the compelling and moving stories of persons suffering serious illnesses or caring for those suffering such illnesses.
Dr Ian Freckelton QC
"And medical responsibility, so that medicinal cannabis is brought into the medical system, patients are treated under qualified medical supervision with cannabis products made under government-controlled licence to ensure safety and quality control, and dispensed by pharmacies with products of appropriate and known constituents, dosage and purity."
As a priority, children with severe epilepsy would be eligible for medicinal cannabis from 2017.
Labor made an election pledge to legalise medicinal cannabis in a bid to help parents that it said were being forced to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer.
Dr Ian Freckelton QC, who led the review, said the proposed scheme was ground-breaking and innovative.
"We were struck by the compelling and moving stories of persons suffering serious illnesses or caring for those suffering such illnesses," he said.
'Solid research' justifies medicinal marijuana
Dr Freckelton said a significant number of people were already using cannabis for medicinal purposes in Victoria.
"They are doing so illegally, that means there's a fear on their part of being prosecuted and embarrassed," he said.
"They're also accessing cannabis of different qualities and often cannabis that will not be able to assist what they hope will be alleviated by its administration.
Marijuana conditions of use:
Severe muscle spasms or severe pain from MS
Severe pain from cancer, HIV or AIDS
Severe nausea, vomiting or wasting from cancer, HIV or AIDS
Severe seizures from epileptic conditions (if other treatments do not work)
Severe chronic pain where two specialist medical practitioners think medicinal cannabis might work better than other medical options
Source: Victorian Law Reform Commission
"There is now a solid research base justifying this innovative step."
The commission said the success of the scheme would depend on the cooperation of the Federal Government, so manufacturers could be licensed for cannabis cultivation, but would not require legislative change.
"It's fundamental that the Commonwealth participate in the exercise and proper that it should, because it is the Commonwealth that is signatory to our international obligations," Dr Freckelton said.
The commission has made 42 recommendations, including that medicinal cannabis be available for the treatment of five serious conditions, including severe muscle spasms or pain from multiple sclerosis.
Only specialist medical practitioners would be able to authorise treatment with medicinal cannabis and a patient would be monitored by their GP.
The commission said the products should be available in a variety of forms, including tinctures, oils, capsules, sprays and vaporisable liquids, but should not be smoked because of the health dangers.
The State Government plans to establish cultivation and manufacturing industries in Victoria so there is a reliable supply for patients.
It will begin a cultivation trial at a research facility and give the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources new powers to license growers.
Tasmania's poppy monopoly
Tasmania vows to fight to keep poppy monopoly as other states look to cash in.
The Victorian and Queensland state governments have already joined forces with New South Wales to take part in medicinal cannabis clinical trials.
But Dr Freckelton said it was not appropriate to wait years for the results and Therapeutic Goods Administration approval of pharmaceutical products.
"We were satisfied on the basis of those whom we met, many of whom had utilised medicinal cannabis to their advantage, and on the basis of research evidence, that it is an appropriate time for this modest step to be taken to alleviate suffering," he said.
The commission said there would be a rigorous licensing scheme, to lessen the potential for organised criminals to benefit from medicinal cannabis production.
The Victorian Government has accepted 40 of the report's recommendations and two in principle.
An independent medical advisory committee will examine whether to expand the number of eligible patients.
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-06/locally-grown-marijuana-to-be-legalised-in-victoria-medical/6830892
Locally-grown medicinal cannabis will be legalised for use in exceptional circumstances in Victoria, under a controversial State Government move to ease the suffering of people with serious medical conditions.
In an Australian first, the Andrews Government plans to embark on a state-based cannabis cultivation trial, following the recommendations of a report by the Victorian Law Reform Commission that has been tabled in Parliament.
The commission has recommended licensing cultivators and manufacturers to produce medicinal cannabis products under laws similar to those governing the state's opium poppy industry.
The products would be prescribed by a specialist and sold at pharmacies under arrangements based on the methadone program, not a grow-your-own scheme.
Commission chairman Philip Cummins said the report was driven by compassion and medical responsibility.
"[it's about] compassion for persons including young children, who are grievously suffering and whose families and loved ones are suffering, and who presently have no effective medical relief," he said.
We were struck by the compelling and moving stories of persons suffering serious illnesses or caring for those suffering such illnesses.
Dr Ian Freckelton QC
"And medical responsibility, so that medicinal cannabis is brought into the medical system, patients are treated under qualified medical supervision with cannabis products made under government-controlled licence to ensure safety and quality control, and dispensed by pharmacies with products of appropriate and known constituents, dosage and purity."
As a priority, children with severe epilepsy would be eligible for medicinal cannabis from 2017.
Labor made an election pledge to legalise medicinal cannabis in a bid to help parents that it said were being forced to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer.
Dr Ian Freckelton QC, who led the review, said the proposed scheme was ground-breaking and innovative.
"We were struck by the compelling and moving stories of persons suffering serious illnesses or caring for those suffering such illnesses," he said.
'Solid research' justifies medicinal marijuana
Dr Freckelton said a significant number of people were already using cannabis for medicinal purposes in Victoria.
"They are doing so illegally, that means there's a fear on their part of being prosecuted and embarrassed," he said.
"They're also accessing cannabis of different qualities and often cannabis that will not be able to assist what they hope will be alleviated by its administration.
Marijuana conditions of use:
Severe muscle spasms or severe pain from MS
Severe pain from cancer, HIV or AIDS
Severe nausea, vomiting or wasting from cancer, HIV or AIDS
Severe seizures from epileptic conditions (if other treatments do not work)
Severe chronic pain where two specialist medical practitioners think medicinal cannabis might work better than other medical options
Source: Victorian Law Reform Commission
"There is now a solid research base justifying this innovative step."
The commission said the success of the scheme would depend on the cooperation of the Federal Government, so manufacturers could be licensed for cannabis cultivation, but would not require legislative change.
"It's fundamental that the Commonwealth participate in the exercise and proper that it should, because it is the Commonwealth that is signatory to our international obligations," Dr Freckelton said.
The commission has made 42 recommendations, including that medicinal cannabis be available for the treatment of five serious conditions, including severe muscle spasms or pain from multiple sclerosis.
Only specialist medical practitioners would be able to authorise treatment with medicinal cannabis and a patient would be monitored by their GP.
The commission said the products should be available in a variety of forms, including tinctures, oils, capsules, sprays and vaporisable liquids, but should not be smoked because of the health dangers.
The State Government plans to establish cultivation and manufacturing industries in Victoria so there is a reliable supply for patients.
It will begin a cultivation trial at a research facility and give the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources new powers to license growers.
Tasmania's poppy monopoly
Tasmania vows to fight to keep poppy monopoly as other states look to cash in.
The Victorian and Queensland state governments have already joined forces with New South Wales to take part in medicinal cannabis clinical trials.
But Dr Freckelton said it was not appropriate to wait years for the results and Therapeutic Goods Administration approval of pharmaceutical products.
"We were satisfied on the basis of those whom we met, many of whom had utilised medicinal cannabis to their advantage, and on the basis of research evidence, that it is an appropriate time for this modest step to be taken to alleviate suffering," he said.
The commission said there would be a rigorous licensing scheme, to lessen the potential for organised criminals to benefit from medicinal cannabis production.
The Victorian Government has accepted 40 of the report's recommendations and two in principle.
An independent medical advisory committee will examine whether to expand the number of eligible patients.
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