MEDICAL CANNABIS —
PRESCRIPTIONS
1042. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
Health jurisdictions in New South
Wales, Victoria and Queensland have shown compassion in allowing GPs to apply for and prescribe schedule 8 medicinal
cannabis products. The procedure is rather simple in New South Wales,
which requires only the submission of an online form to its department of
health. The minister stated in response to my question without notice 894 on 21
August this year that he has asked for a review of the policy concerning
prescribing a schedule 8 medicinal cannabis product, with ''any changes
to be considered, dependent on new or emerging medical evidence around the
risks and benefits of this therapy''. We welcome a review, but does this
mean no changes will happen unless new evidence comes to light?
The PRESIDENT: Just before
the parliamentary secretary kicks off, I might just say to the member and
everyone that it is always helpful not to have papers right on the microphone,
because it blocks the sound a bit.
Hon ALANNA
CLOHESY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
No, the review, and any potential regulatory
changes, will not be solely dependent on any emerging medical and scientific
evidence on the efficacy of medicinal cannabis.