The Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2015 (the Bill) for the
legalisation of medicinal cannabis for exceptional circumstances will
very likely passed be in March 2016. The Bill paves the way for enabling
eligible patients to access medicinal cannabis lawfully.
The Bill proposes a system for the regulation, cultivation, production
and dispensing of medicinal cannabis in Victoria, as well as patient
eligibility and authorisation
- Specialist medical practitioners will be able to apply for
authorisation to issue a medicinal cannabis authorisation for eligible
patients (with conditions prescribed by the legislation). Applications
must include details of each registered medical practitioner (other than
the applicant) whom the specialist requests be authorised to issue a
medicinal cannabis authorisation to the eligible patient.
- Any registered medical practitioner will be able to apply for
authorisation to issue a medicinal cannabis authorisation to other
patients in exceptional circumstances (may be further defined in future
regulations)
- The Bill will establish an Office for Medicinal Cannabis within the
Department of Health and Human Services and the appointment of an
Independent Medical Advisory Council
- Other eligible patient groups will be able to access commercially
produced products in future (most likely from 2018), most likely
including cancer patients
We anticipate that there will opportunity for the cancer clinical sector
to provide input into the regulations and guidelines connected to the
scheme, and will keep you posted about any such opportunities.