Page 744 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 21 March 2017
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On 1 November 2016, the Therapeutic Goods Administration implemented a decision to down schedule medicinal cannabis from Schedule 9 (prohibited substance) to Schedule 8 (controlled drug). This has the immediate effect of making medicinal cannabis (when produced in accordance with commonwealth legislation) a controlled medicine which can be prescribed in the ACT with Chief Health Officer approval.
In order to prescribe cannabis as a controlled medicine, doctors are required to obtain authority from the ACT Chief Health Officer under the same process which currently applies for other controlled medicines such as opiates and amphetamines. Only registered medical practitioners can apply for an authority to prescribe a controlled medicine for one of their patients. An Application for Approval to Prescribe Medicinal Cannabis is available on the ACT Health website.
I note that amendments made to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cwlth) mean that only the Commonwealth Office of Drug Control has the authority to license the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Australia.
I look forward to providing the community with further updates as work towards the implementation of the Scheme progresses. We are working closely with other jurisdictions as well as at a national level to ensure the introduction of medicinal cannabis allows eligible patients safe and legal access to high quality medicinal cannabis products.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Scrutiny report 3
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (10.07): I present the following report:
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee (Legislative Scrutiny Role)—Scrutiny Report 3, dated 14 March 2017, together with the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I seek leave to make a very brief statement.
Leave granted.
MRS JONES: Scrutiny report 3 contains the committee’s comments on three bills, 52 pieces of subordinate legislation, two national regulations, one government response and four regulatory impact statements. The report was circulated to members when the Assembly was not sitting. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Economic Development and Tourism—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (10.07): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. At a private meeting on 21 February this year the committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into a new convention centre for Canberra. The committee, noting
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