Victorian patients given green light to use medicinal cannabis

MORE than a hundred patients across Victoria have been given the green light to use medicinal cannabis for treatment of cancer, chronic pain and other serious illnesses.

DOZENS of patients in Victoria have been given the green light to use medicinal cannabis.

The Herald Sun can reveal 106 people across the state have received approval under the newly introduced federal scheme with dozens of further requests currently being processed.

Among the patients are sufferers of cancer and chronic pain along with other serious illnesses.

In total more than 546 patients in Australia have now been given the tick of approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and are either using cannabis products or sourcing the appropriate drug treatment.

STREAMLINED APPROVAL PROCESS FOR MEDICINAL CANNABIS

DOZENS OF VICTORIANS APPLY FOR MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Federal health minister Greg Hunt welcomed the news after the federal government legislated to allow the use for medicinal cannabis as well as exportation of Australian grown products.

“We’ve removed all federal barriers to access medicinal cannabis,” he said.

“Because of the reforms we have undertaken patients are now accessing medicinal cannabis.”

The Herald Sun understands a broad range of practitioners have helped patients apply for cannabis use and the cohort is likely to quickly increase with approvals taking several days.

Mr Hunt said any Australian patient could apply to use cannabis products through a doctor who will use their “professional judgment” to decide if treatment is appropriate.

State Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said Victoria had paved the way for medicinal cannabis use in Australia after pushing for laws to treat children with severe epilepsy after the government’s election in 2014.

MEDICINAL CANNABIS EXPORTS APPROVED

State Minister for Health Jill Hennessy. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

“Victoria’s legislation — the first in Australia — forced the Commonwealth to take action, and as a result any patient can now apply through their doctor to the Commonwealth to use medicinal cannabis,’’ she said.

However, Ms Hennessy flagged the fight was not yet over with cannabis products not yet listed on the PBS scheme.

According to estimates some treatments will cost up to $1200 a week — more than $60,000 a year.

Ms Hennessy said the state would continue pushing for the drugs to be subsidised.

“The Commonwealth now needs to show it is serious about allowing people to use these life-changing medicines, and make medicinal cannabis affordable for patients through the PBS as soon as possible,’’ she said.

Last week the Commonwealth pushed to established an agreement with state health ministers, streamlining the approval process to see approvals delivered in under 48 hours.

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