Hon Wilson Tucker asks the Minister for Health to consider research identifying a gene predisposing individuals to cannabis use disorder, to better inform the public of associated risks. The Minister states the Department of Health will monitor developments and review their potential use in public health approaches.

AnsweredQoN 1521Legislative Council
Asked
28 November 2023
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

CANNABIS USE DISORDER — RESEARCH
1521. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon
Dr Brian Walker, who is away on urgent parliamentary business with COVID.
I refer the minister to the
breaking news that scientists at Yale University in the United States believe
they have identified a gene that predisposes some individuals to cannabis use
disorder.
Given that this research would
potentially allow us to better inform the public of any risks associated with
cannabis use, will the minister encourage her colleagues in the Department of
Health to give it serious consideration going forward; and, if not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Dr Brian Walker for
some notice of the question and Hon Wilson Tucker for asking it on his behalf.
On behalf of the house, I wish Hon Dr Brian Walker all the best. I am sure he
could find a piece of research that shows that cannabis oil would assist with
the symptoms of COVID!
In
response to the member's question, as with other areas of emerging
evidence, the Department of Health will monitor future developments based on these new data and, in turn, review
their potential use in public health approaches.

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