Two Tasmanians now legally using cannabis to treat ailments
By Helen Kempton, Mercury 28 th November 2017
In October, a leading manufacturer of medical
cannabis warned Tasmanians frustrated by the
complex process of having it prescribed that
it could be dangerous to buy the pain-
-relieving medication from the black market.
TWO Tasmanians have created medical
history by becoming the first patients in the
island state to be legally prescribed cannabis
to treat their ailments.
In September, the Tasmanian Government
introduced a Controlled Access Scheme under
which patients could be prescribed medicinal
cannabis after referral by a specialist.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson today said
two patients were now able to access medical
cannabis products under prescription, while
approval for a third patient was pending.
Mr Ferguson said in the case of the third
patient, more clinical information was
needed.
The three referrals have been assessed by the
Tasmanian Medicines Access and Advisory
Committee.
“A lot of work has gone into ensuring that
Tasmanian patients are able to access
unregistered cannabinoid products safely,
after other treatment options have been tried
unsuccessfully and with the support of
specialist medical practitioners,” Mr
Ferguson said.
“It is important that a rigorous process is in
place to examine applications to the
Controlled Access Scheme, and anybody who
thinks they may benefit from these products
should discuss their situation with their GP.”
The CAS is supported by the Tasmanian
branch of the Royal Australian College of
GPs, Epilepsy Tasmania and the AMA.
The managing director of AusCann — a
business partner of Tasmanian Alkaloids,
which gained a licence in July to grow
cannabis to produce pain--relieving drugs —
says those wanting the drug should go through
the proper channels.
PRESSURE BUILDS FOR
CANNABIS TO EASE PAIN
LEGAL
Both doctors and patients were confused by
the CAS and patients had little choice but to
get product from the black market.
It has been said that “The process seems to be
more aimed at restricting access than
supplying,”
A call has been put out for another Upper
House inquiry to be held into CAS and for an
independent committee to be formed to
review its progress.
Editor:- this is totally unacceptable, that only
2 people since the 1 st September have been
prescribed.
We know of many people in need of this and
fit the criteria, Jeremy Bester to name just one
and he was declined.
I have had a phone call from an ABC
journalist wanting to know if we knew who
those people were as they want to interview
them to see what criteria they met to be
prescribed.
If I was a betting man, I would say that these
2 prescriptions have gone to terminally ill
patients only, and while we are happy for
them, it’s just proving the CAS is an
unworkable system, while Minister Ferguson
wants people to continue taking
pharmaceutical drugs which DO NOT
WORK…….
Wake up liberal Government of Tasmania