QUEENSLAND-BASED pharmacists are being urged to prepare for the critical role they will play in dispensing medicinal cannabis following legislative reforms in the state, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.
Under legislation passed by State Parliament this week, medicinal cannabis will be treated in the same fashion as other drugs of addiction and prescription medications.
Welcoming the decision Qld Guild branch president, Professor Trent Twomey, said the decision to repeal the Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Act 2016, would reduce red tape and improve access to the drug for patients in need.
"This year, the number of approvals for SAS-B medicinal cannabis products increased to over 700 nationally. We can see that doctors are becoming more comfortable to prescribe medicinal cannabis in situations where they deem the product to be appropriate," he said.
"Under the latest changes, medicinal cannabis will be treated the same as schedule 8 medicines or schedule 4 medicines, improving patient access," he said, adding that it was vital for pharmacists to understand the key clinical role they will play regarding dose administration and titration issues regarding various products.
"The Guild encourages all pharmacies to be ready and willing to assist patients with enquires regarding medicinal cannabis products," Twomey said.
Announcing the legislative reform, Qld Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles, described the new laws as "the most progressive in the country".
"This law change will significantly streamline the prescription process by removing state-level approval and will ensure patients have access to the treatment they need sooner," he said.
Miles said he looked forward to the fledgling Australian medicinal cannabis industry progressing plans to take locally made products to market, including several companies working towards manufacturing facilities in Queensland.
Under the new laws non-specialist practitioners will still require a state-based approval for S8 medicinal cannabis.
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