Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the efficacy of medicinal cannabis for managing crippling symptoms where other pain relief and medicines have failed, and

(ii) the urgency and importance of making medicinal cannabis accessible for patients;

(b) applauds the bravery of those families acting to ease the pain of their loved ones despite the anachronistic classification of medicinal cannabis;

(c) affirms the critical need for a framework that makes medicinal cannabis accessible through a doctor, legal, available and affordable; and

(d) urges the Australian Government to heed the voices and deeply moving stories of over a quarter of a million Australians who have called for legal and accessible medicinal cannabis.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Turnbull government is incredibly sympathetic to the suffering of those Australians with debilitating chronic illnesses and we want to ensure that they get access to the most effective medical treatments available. In October this year the government announced that it will amend the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 to allow the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes and to facilitate access for patients to a safe, legal and sustainable supply of locally produced products. The regulation and approval of new medicinal cannabis products will continue to be managed under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. There are a number of pathways that allow doctors to prescribe an unapproved medicine, such as medicinal cannabis, to patients in need. The government strongly supports evidence based medicine in ensuring that new treatments are clinically trialled and proven. The government plans to strike the right balance between patient access, community protection and our international obligations.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The genesis of this motion comes from Haslam family. Dan Haslam was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 20. He suffered from debilitating nausea and had relief from medicinal cannabis when all other antiemetic medication had failed. It is a story that is consistent with stories of many other Australians, right around the country, who are forced to behave like criminals and are subject to criminal penalties for accessing what is, effectively, a medication that relieves their pain and suffering.

It is encouraging that the government is finally taking some steps, in this regard. The concern is that the legislation being proposed will address the issue of a supply but not the issue of patient access. The test of any legislation will be whether a doctor or a specialist can prescribe this medication from their practice and ensure that the person gets the medication as they do any other medicine.

Question agreed to.