National cannabis scheme
December 3, 2015
Minister for Health Sussan Ley
has announced the establishment
of a nationally-consistent licensing
scheme regulating the controlled
cultivation of cannabis for
medicinal or scientific purposes
that will streamline the process
across the country.
With all regulatory matters
relating to medicinal cannabis
managed nationally, this removes
the need for states and territories
to implement legislation to set up
individual cultivation schemes and
ensure laws were consistent across
the country for growers, Ley said.
“Allowing controlled cultivation
locally will provide the critical
“missing piece” for a sustainable
legal supply of safe medicinal
cannabis products for Australian
patients in the future,” she added.
“The ball is now rolling and we
are making sure that happens as
quickly and smoothly as possible.
“I am confident creating one
single, nationally-consistent
cultivation scheme, rather than
eight individual arrangements,
will not only help speed up the
legislative process, but ultimately
access to medicinal cannabis
products as well.”
The national legislation will be
enacted through amendments
to Australia’s Narcotic Drugs Act
1967 and this would also ensure
Australia could be confident of
its compliance with international
obligations under the United
Nations’ Single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs 1961.
Bipartisan agreement will be
sought from all parties starting
this week with an exposure draft
outlining the proposed legislative
changes for further consultation.
Ley also said a national cultivation
scheme would also align with
the national approaches to the
production and supply of medical
cannabis that were already in place
in Australia under various acts.
Any decriminalisation of cannabis
for recreational use still remained
an enforcement issue for individual
states and territories, the minister
added.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 03 Dec 15To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 03 Dec 15
