Huge news for patients requiring medicinal cannabis
In a huge win for those suffering from multiple sclerosis, chronic neuropathic pain and nausea from cancer-related chemotherapy, the first two commercial shipments of medicinal cannabis products have arrived in Australia.
The shipments from Melbourne and Perth are expected to be followed by others throughout the month, as part of the Federal Government’s new policy to allow controlled importation.
Paul Mavor, Director of Health House International, one of the two businesses that received a shipment from Canada on Tuesday told Triple J’s Hack, “It's sensational to be able to get the products that are there to help people, some of whom have no other treatment options.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt told the press that children suffering from epilepsy and patients coming to terms with the side effects of cancer treatments were most likely to benefit from the newly available products.
While the process of acquiring medicinal cannabis is still convoluted, Mavor hope this is a sign that it will become more freely available to those who need it most as more doctors become authorised to prescribe the drug.
Mavor said, "At the moment access is difficult and quite convoluted. It's a real patchwork quilt of laws. Some of the state approvals are really a duplication of the federal approvals.
"In the case of Western Australia they've got really unfair hurdles that requires patients two months to navigate."
What are your views? Do you think this is good news? Or should we be cautious when adopting the use of medicinal cannabis? Share your thoughts in the comments.