campusreview. com. au
INDUSTRY & RESEARCH
Where’ s the weed? Already here
Medicinal marijuana is already a part of healthcare in Australia, but don’ t expect to see a bunch of patients toking up.
By James Wells
Medical cannabis is legal in Australia and has been for a while, a researcher from the University of Sydney says – just not the way you may think.
Clinical associate professor Nick Lintzeris, from USYD’ s Lambert Initiative for research into cannabis-based therapeutics, says there is great misunderstanding among the public about what medical marijuana is – and its legalisation.
Medical cannabis is legal in Australia in the form of Satevix, a drug that can be used to moderate severe spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. It has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since July 2013 and is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration( TGA).
Lintezeris says Satevix, and similar drugs that contain cannabis, won’ t get people stoned, as tetrahydrocannabinol( THC) – the only cannabinoid out of about 100 that has significant psychoactive properties – is removed in most of these drugs.
“ THC itself probably doesn’ t have much of a role in treating [ for example ] epilepsy,” Lintzeris says.“ We know that at least one of the cannabinoids, called cannabidiol, clearly has some role in treating epilepsy.”
When most people think of medical marijuana, Lintzeris says, they think of the California model where people – with a doctor’ s recommendation – can apply to get a card that allows them to obtain marijuana from a dispensary. This is not the Australian model, but if marijuana exists in approved drugs such as Satevix, it’ s legal when properly prescribed, like any other prescription drug, Lintzeris says.
The California model for access isn’ t sensible, he argues, as it’ s easily exploited. To successfully integrate cannabis into healthcare in Australia, a community discussion of possible models between policymakers, consumer groups and health providers is necessary.
One model includes developing drugs, like Satevix, and getting them approved by the TGA and listed on the PBS. Lintzeris suggested compassionate access models may also work in cases where patients with severe conditions – who aren’ t responding to frontline treatment – can access medication that isn’ t licensed yet. Another model is‘ buyer beware’, similar to what’ s applied to alternative medicine such as Chinese herbs. This would mean patients could use medical cannabis if they wanted, but would not be reimbursed through Medicare.
Legalising marijuana completely is also an option, Lintzeris says.
“ The other model is … not making any medical claims about it, just changing the laws so people are not breaking the law for using cannabis,” he says.
Cannabis was used widely in the 19th century but this pre-dated modern medicine and its scientific assessment, Lintzeris explains. He says more research is needed to properly determine marijuana’ s medical properties. ■
15