MEDICAL CANNABIS — PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME
193. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I
refer the minister to recent media reports suggesting that medicinal cannabis
continues to cost patients here in WA as
much as $600 a month, forcing some to turn to the black market for pain relief
that is frustratingly legal, yet remains financially out of reach. I acknowledge that the pharmaceutical benefits
scheme is wholly within the purview of the federal government.
(1) Does the
McGowan government favour the inclusion of medicinal cannabis as part of the
PBS either now or in the near future?
(2) If yes to
(1), will the minister commit to actively lobbying his federal colleagues with
an aim to bringing this about?
(3) If no to
either (1) or (2), why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes, subject to meeting all the
normal criteria for funding.
(2) No.
(3) The Minister for Health has
previously written to Minister Hunt on this matter.