THE Australian Government is planning to fast track the process for doctors accessing medical marijuana for patients, by authorising controlled importation by "approved providers from approved international sources" for interim supply in Australia, until domestic production of cannabis meets local needs.
Currently, doctors must import the drug themselves as local production is only just starting to be developed following legislation to approve domestic production late last year (PD 25 Feb 2016).
Health minister Greg Hunt announced the changes to importation regulations yesterday, saying the imports would improve the "timeliness of supply" before domestic cultivation began.
"We have listened to the concerns of patients and their families that are having difficulty accessing the product on prescription whilst domestic production becomes available," he said.
The Office of Drug Control will implement the new policy effective immediately, with Hunt saying he expects that within the next two months Australia will have a store of imported medicinal cannabis products so that approved patients can have greater confidence in the supply arrangements for their doctors.
Hunt noted that supply of medicinal cannabis products will remain a controlled process, with strict conditions placed on importers and suppliers around handling, secure storage and accounting for cannabis products.
Destruction of unused medicinal cannabis products must occur 12 months after importation, and quarterly records relating to the source, supply, storage and destruction of the items must be provided to the health department.
For more information see the Office of Drug Control website at www.odc.gov.au.
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