"It's the layers of regulation that are the
problem and the inconsistency with which
decisions are made.
"For them to have any understanding of the
legislation is very difficult and for them to
engage lawyers to represent their interests ...
they don't have the financial means to do
that."
She said applicants were being asked for
dossiers of information including published
medical literature and reports from
specialists.
"It's taking a lot longer than two or three
days."
The Federal Government insists turnaround
times for medicinal cannabis are "often as
little as two days" and says any doctor in
Australia can prescribe it.
"Ultimately it is up to their professional
judgement if a patient should receive this
treatment," a spo kesperson for Health
Minister Greg Hunt said.
"Doctors exercise their own judgement on
medicinal cannabis — just as they do with
every other prescription drug in Australia.
"We are making it easier to access medicinal
cannabis products more rapidly, while still
maintaining safeguards for individual and
community safety."
As of August 15, 137 applications for medical
cannabis had been approved under Special
Access Scheme Category B
In addition, 25 doctors had been approved
under the Authorised Prescriber Scheme to
prescribe to a particular patient group without
getting permission from the Therapeutic
Goods Administration each time.
They have prescribed medicinal cannabis
products to 101 patients to date.
Only one import permission has been applied
for under Special Access Scheme Category A
since it became available on June 13.
Patients 'going back to the black market'
Sydney pharmacognosist Justin Sinclair, who
specialises in medicinal cannabis, said an
increasing number of doctors and patients
were coming to him for advice on getting
access to legal products.
"I'm speaking to anywhere between 20 and 30
[patients] within a week and doctors are also
starting to contact me a lot," he said.
The evidence required by state and federal
regulators sometimes did not exist, he said.
"There is a great paucity of evidence in the
literature, at least when it comes to human
trials.
"It's hard to be able to sit there and say 'we're
open for business' when indeed 70 years of
prohibition of cannabis [means] we can't
collect that evidence.
"Patients have actually thrown their arms
up and gone back to the black market."
EDITORS FOOTNOTE:-
Since going to print, it is with much sadness
that Suli Peek gained her wings on Saturday
21 st October @ 10 am
She passed away a criminal in the eyes of the
law, But the Governments are the criminals..
They are murdering these children one by
one.
For those of you who know the whole story..
you'll know.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to family,
friends and all who knew her R.I.P.