Vic ticks medicinal cannabis
October 7, 2015
MEDICINAL cannabis is set
to be legalised in Victoria (PD
breaking news yesterday), with
locally produced products to be
made available in “exceptional
circumstances” from 2017.
The Guild and the PSA have both
welcomed the move, which will see
pharmacists play a key role.
Victorian Guild president,
Anthony Tassone, said “the Guild
supports initiatives that have the
potential to improve the quality of
life for people who are chronically
or terminally ill and who are not
responding to other treatments”.
And Acting PSA national
president, Michelle Lynch, said
“having pharmacists acknowledged
as best-placed to dispense
medicinal cannabis is welcomed as
it ensures that medicines experts
are available to advise and counsel
patients using these products”.
She said the Victorian move
aligned with PSA’s policy on
medicinal cannabis.
“PSA also supports the
development of an information
and education program to support
pharmacists in the dispensing of
cannabis-based therapies,” she said.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrew
said the government would
prioritise access to medicinal
cannabis for children with severe
epilepsy in early 2017, with other
indications including severe muscle
spasms from multiple sclerosis,
severe pain from cancer or HIV/
AIDS, or severe chronic pain with
the approval of two specialists.
An independent medical advisory
committee will also be established
to provide advice about expanding
eligibility to further patient groups.
An Office of Medicinal Cannabis
will be set up with the state
Department of Health and
Human Services to oversee the
manufacturing, dispensing and
clinical aspects of the framework,
as well as encouraging research
and the development of clinical
guidance in consultation with
health professionals.
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