Page 150 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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policy in relation to road safety issues, which is where I thought Mrs Dunne was about to go. Obviously as the Minister for Mental Health, this is an issue I have to consider as well.
What we know is that a range of illicit substances is linked to mental health conditions. Whether it is legal or illegal drugs, they are linked to a range of co-morbidity factors. Alcohol, other drugs: heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, these are all associated with mental health problems.
In terms of the specifics around cannabis, I have been seeking specific advice from ACT Health on this. The evidence around cannabis being a causal factor for mental illness is mixed. That is the official advice I have from the directorate. They say that there are studies which can show causality.
Mr Hanson: Not according to the AMA it is not.
MR RATTENBURY: This is the official advice I have from ACT Health. There is a range of studies which make that point; there are others which do not, which say that that is not the case. This is an area where, because of the moral fear that has been generated by so many over such a period, there has been a lack of research in this space, because researchers cannot actually get access to the drugs.
Mr Hanson: There has been an extraordinary amount of research. That is not true.
MR RATTENBURY: Mr Hanson, you had your say in Saturday’s newspaper. Why don’t you listen to the answer?
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, allow the minister to continue.
MR RATTENBURY: Where do you go with some of the inane commentary that comes from the other side of the chamber?
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members on my left, the minister has the floor and he will answer the question in the time he has left.
MR RATTENBURY: As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted from the other side of the chamber—(Time expired.)
MRS DUNNE: In addition to research in relation to demand for mental health services, minister, what research has been done on the demand for rehabilitation services as a result of a possible legalisation of cannabis in the ACT?
MR RATTENBURY: The thing about the issue is that we need to be prepared for that situation. It is important, as part of any move to legalisation—if that is what this Assembly passes—that the services are available. Right now, because of the illegality
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