❓ Dr. Walker raises concerns about WA hospitals potentially replacing prescribed medical cannabis with opioids. The Minister confirms existing guidelines cover medical cannabis use in hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 1195Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS —
MEDICAL CANNABIS
1195. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent
study from the United States that shows that even in states that have legalised
both medicinal and recreational cannabis, there is still a marked tendency for
hospital staff to refuse inpatients access to their prescribed medicinal
cannabis in favour of an opioid replacement.
(1) Are there any
guidelines for hospitals here in WA on how best to treat admitted patients who
have a medical cannabis prescription?
(2) If no to (1),
will the Department of Health consider formulating guidelines to encourage
hospitals to respect, where possible, the medication properly prescribed by a GP
who potentially knows the patient's circumstances far better than the
hospital team do?
MEDICAL CANNABIS
1195. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to a recent
study from the United States that shows that even in states that have legalised
both medicinal and recreational cannabis, there is still a marked tendency for
hospital staff to refuse inpatients access to their prescribed medicinal
cannabis in favour of an opioid replacement.
(1) Are there any
guidelines for hospitals here in WA on how best to treat admitted patients who
have a medical cannabis prescription?
(2) If no to (1),
will the Department of Health consider formulating guidelines to encourage
hospitals to respect, where possible, the medication properly prescribed by a GP
who potentially knows the patient's circumstances far better than the
hospital team do?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. It has restored my equilibrium after yesterday's
little foray into other matters!
(1) Yes.
Mandatory policy 139/20, Medicines Handling Policy, includes requirements for
cannabis-based products for medicinal use. The policy states cannabis-based
products for therapeutic use are subject to the same regulatory controls as
other schedule 4 and schedule 8 medicines.
(2) Not applicable.
some notice of the question. It has restored my equilibrium after yesterday's
little foray into other matters!
(1) Yes.
Mandatory policy 139/20, Medicines Handling Policy, includes requirements for
cannabis-based products for medicinal use. The policy states cannabis-based
products for therapeutic use are subject to the same regulatory controls as
other schedule 4 and schedule 8 medicines.
(2) Not applicable.
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