Australian first medicinal cannabis clinic set to open in Melbourne

AUSTRALIA’S first medical cannabis clinic is set to open in Melbourne later this year with the blessing of the state and federal governments.

AUSTRALIA’S first medical cannabis clinic is set to open in Melbourne later this year with the blessing of the state and federal governments.

Offering treatments for adults and children, CannaLife intends to open a further nine medicinal centres next year in line with legislation that will give doctors authorisation to prescribe cannabis treatments.

Announcing the venture on Friday, CannaLife said the ­dedicated clinics would allow ­patients “immediate access” to medicinal cannabis for conditions ranging from autism, epilepsy and pain management to end of life and cancer.

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The Victorian and federal governments have taken measures to legalise the use of medical cannabis in recent years yet only about 600 people nationwide — and more than 100 Victorians — have had ­requests for its use approved.

CannaLife founder Helen Lyon expects those numbers to dramatically increase with the opening of the clinic.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy. Picture: AAP

“For the specific needs where the traditional treatments haven’t worked, we will liaise with their general practitioner and make a destination to make medicinal cannabis more accessible,” Ms Lyon said.

“The government has done a fantastic job to legalise medicinal cannabis and finally has a system in place, but we have less than 600 people so far who have been treated.

“There is an estimate that there are probably more than 100,000 people using medicinal cannabis illegally.”

“The medicinal cannabis industry in Australia is robust, but it is largely consistent of growers who are producing oils, but that is not providing patient access. Patient access has been the missing link.”

Under federal government legislation, authorised prescribers can approve medicinal cannabis for conditions they deem appropriate, and doctors working at the CannaLife clinics will have responsibility to assess patient suitability for cannabis-based treatments under Australian Federal regulations.

Backed by US company CannaKids, the new Australian company plans to offer treatments in a range of oils, liquids, creams and sprays.

New Australian company CannaLife plans to offer cannabis treatments in a range of oils, liquids, creams and sprays.

A location and opening date for the Melbourne clinic is yet to be revealed, however the privately funded Australian company plans to go public on the Australian Stock Exchange this year 2018.

As revealed by the Herald Sun this month, 13 of the 34 children receiving medicinal cannabis under a Victorian Government trial have abandoned treatment after the drugs failed to work.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy is backing the program, saying that although a third were not helped by the treatment another third saw an improvement in their quality of life, while the “jury is out” on the remainder.

Ms Hennessy on Friday said Victoria made the bold move to legalise medicinal cannabis to improve the lives of Victorians, paving the way for patients to increasingly access new treatments with the support of their doctor.

“Now that the regulatory environment is settled we’re seeing the medical community embrace prescribing medicinal cannabis for suitable patients and conditions,” she said.

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