A BROAD cross-section of medical and health representatives, including the national vice president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia(PSA), have been appointed to the government's newly established Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis.
Michelle Lynch, who joined the board of the PSA in 2014 and has been a pharmacist since 1996 working in hospital and community pharmacy, has been appointed as the pharmacy profession representative for the new council.
Pharmacologist Professor Jennifer Martin from the University of Newcastle, and drug toxicologist Professor Wayne Hall from the University of Queensland are also notable appointments with extensive drug expertise.
Patient advocacy representative appointments with a vested interest in the value of cannabis for their patient groups include Liz Callaghan (Palliative Care Australia), Carol Ireland (Epilepsy Action Australia) and Professor Helen Zorbas (Cancer Australia).
Other members of the council have expertise in palliative care and pain, while there are also representatives of the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Department of Primary Industry.
Professor James Angus, Chair of Victorian Independent Medical Advisory Committee on Medicinal Cannabis, will chair the Council with deputy chair Emeritus Professor Anne Tonkin, Chair of South Australian Medication Advisory Committee while Ria Pryce from the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation is the NSW Government nominee.
The Health Department said "the medicinal cannabis scheme allows for the safe cultivation and manufacture of medicinal cannabis products that will be safe to use and have standardised dosing [to] benefit adults and children suffering from painful and chronic conditions".
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Feb 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 17 Feb 17
