Historic "Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2015" passes Victorian parliament
Residents of Victoria will be the first in Australia to acces safe and legal medical marijuana when a delivery of government supplied marijuana begins to the first paitient group from early 2017.
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“We are on track to deliver on our promise to make medicinal cannabis available to Victorian patients in exceptional circumstances, with the first cultivation trial about to get underway.” Said Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford
The initial rollout of medical marijuana will be conducted in a small scale, strictly controlled cannabis cultivation trial at a Victorian research facility.
The initial rollout of medical marijuana will be conducted in a small scale, strictly controlled cannabis cultivation trial at a Victorian research facility.
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©Facebook. Premier Daniel Andrews with Cooper Wallace, a medical cannabis user
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The Government is establishing the Office of Medicinal Cannabis to oversee manufacturing and all clinical aspects of the medicinal cannabis framework.
The Office will work with clinicians, doctors and general practitioners to help them understand their role in prescribing medicinal cannabis, and with patients and families to educate them about medicinal cannabis and eligibility for the scheme.
“Children with severe epilepsy will now be able to legally access this life-saving treatment from as early as 2017.” Said Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“It is absolutely heart-breaking to see families having to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer – and now, thanks to our ground-breaking legislation, they won’t have to.”
The Office will work with clinicians, doctors and general practitioners to help them understand their role in prescribing medicinal cannabis, and with patients and families to educate them about medicinal cannabis and eligibility for the scheme.
“Children with severe epilepsy will now be able to legally access this life-saving treatment from as early as 2017.” Said Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“It is absolutely heart-breaking to see families having to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer – and now, thanks to our ground-breaking legislation, they won’t have to.”
The Government is also establishing an independent medical advisory committee to provide advice on matters including:
- Medicinal cannabis products that should be available under the Victorian access scheme
- Possible expansion of patient eligibility
- Other clinical matters
Initially, government production will supply products to the first patient group. A key step to providing ongoing access to medicinal cannabis will be the establishment of cultivation and manufacturing industries in Victoria to support an ongoing and reliable supply of products.
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