Question On Notice No. 216 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 August 2021 by Hon Brian Walker
Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
I refer to warnings issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), specifically in a media release dated 3 May 2021, around the dangers inherent in buying medicinal cannabis products online, and I ask, given the clear risks associated with online, and in many cases black market products of this nature, which the TGA concedes are often viewed as "a simple, affordable option", what steps is the McGowan Government taking to lower the cost of, and increase access to, genuine medicinal cannabis products in Western Australia?
Answered on 2 September 2021
The WA Government:
· Has written to the Federal Government to support the inclusion of medicinal cannabis products on the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the scheme used for funding of medicines in the community setting.
· Continues to streamline and minimise local regulatory requirements over prescribing of medicinal cannabis products.
· Has provided significant funding to cultivators and manufacturers of medicinal cannabis. Increased availability has resulted in reductions in the cost for patients.
· Funds the treatment of children with severe epilepsy syndromes with medicinal cannabis products through Perth Children’s Hospital.