Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Health regarding a UWA study on medicinal cannabis safety and efficacy, inquiring about its impact on prescription practices in WA and potential discussion at the federal level. The Minister acknowledges the question and reiterates existing prescription regulations and support for PBS listing contingent on meeting national standards.

AnsweredQoN 451Legislative Council
Asked
10 May 2023
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

MEDICAL CANNABIS —
RESEARCH
451. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to the recent
paper from University of Western Australia's Professor Alistair Vickery A large Australian longitudinal cohort registry demonstrates sustained
safety and efficacy of oral medicinal cannabis for at least two years ,
which was published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Public Library of
Science.
(1) Is the
minister aware of this research and its conclusions —
Oral
MC was demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated for a sustained period in a large
complex cohort of cannabis-na�ve, multimorbid patients with
polypharmacy. There was significant improvement � across all measured clinical
outcomes over two years.
(2) What
impact, if any, will this research have on the way in which we allow medical
professionals to prescribe medicinal cannabis here in Western Australia?
(3) Will the
minister raise this significant piece of local research with her federal and
interstate colleagues when the question of medicinal cannabis on the
pharmaceutical benefits scheme is next discussed?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) Medical
practitioners are already permitted to prescribe medicinal cannabis within the
requirement of the regulations. The state
government supports the listing of medicinal cannabis on the pharmaceutical
benefits scheme whenever these products meet national standards for
quality, efficacy and safety consistent with all other prescription medicines.

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