❓ Dr. Walker questions the government's approach to prostate cancer in light of research suggesting a link to cannabis use, while the government highlights existing support services and defers to the TGA on medicinal cannabis regulation.
AnsweredQoN 721Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CANNABIS — PROSTATE CANCER
721. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to recent
research suggesting that cannabis use, legal or otherwise, may have a positive
impact on the number of seniors developing prostate cancer.
(1) If, as we are
repeatedly told, the Cook Labor government has no plans to legalise cannabis,
does it at least have plans to tackle the rate of prostate cancer here in WA
given that it is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in our community?
(2) If yes to (1), what are those
plans?
(3) Why does it
appear that prostate cancer and cannabis are being treated as separate issues
here in WA when many other jurisdictions have woken up to the fact that they
are linked and sympathetic issues?
721. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to recent
research suggesting that cannabis use, legal or otherwise, may have a positive
impact on the number of seniors developing prostate cancer.
(1) If, as we are
repeatedly told, the Cook Labor government has no plans to legalise cannabis,
does it at least have plans to tackle the rate of prostate cancer here in WA
given that it is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in our community?
(2) If yes to (1), what are those
plans?
(3) Why does it
appear that prostate cancer and cannabis are being treated as separate issues
here in WA when many other jurisdictions have woken up to the fact that they
are linked and sympathetic issues?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Health.
(1)–(3) The Western Australian government supports several existing services for men with prostate cancer, including the prostate cancer
specialist nurse program facilitated by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of
Australia, the cancer nurse coordination
service administered by Cancer Network WA and the information and support line provided by the Cancer Council. The commonwealth Therapeutic Goods
Administration regulates medicinal cannabis products as therapeutic goods.
Decisions on whether cannabis products may be appropriate for a patient are
made by the treating prescriber dependent on the clinical needs of the patient.
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Health.
(1)–(3) The Western Australian government supports several existing services for men with prostate cancer, including the prostate cancer
specialist nurse program facilitated by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of
Australia, the cancer nurse coordination
service administered by Cancer Network WA and the information and support line provided by the Cancer Council. The commonwealth Therapeutic Goods
Administration regulates medicinal cannabis products as therapeutic goods.
Decisions on whether cannabis products may be appropriate for a patient are
made by the treating prescriber dependent on the clinical needs of the patient.
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