THERE'S been widespread support for the newly streamlined application process for access to medicinal cannabis in NSW (PD breaking news Fri), which will see the state rely on a single clinical assessment by the TGA.
The move was announced on Fri by NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who said "this approach by NSW to cut red tape and remove barriers is a template for other states to follow.
"Strong safeguards remain in place to access medicinal cannabis but this move ends a duplication of regulatory requirements," he said, with NSW to now have one of the quickest pipelines to appropriate medical access for cannabis.
The Medical Cannabis Council hailed the move, but warned that many doctors were still hesitant to prescribe medicinal cannabis "as they believe it to be a medication of last resort".
However the change will vastly reduce the amount of paperwork required, said the Council's general manager Blaise Bratter.
Cannabis Access ceo Giles Craig said the move would make life easier for patients and doctors.
He said the very tight regulatory regime to date had meant that many needy patients had sought to self-medicate.
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