Australian Medical Association NT against legalising cannabis in the NT

LEGALISING cannabis in the Territory will add unnecessary stress and pressure on the NT’s ‘already overstretched Territory hospital EDs and mental health services’, say experts

AMA NT is worried about the impact on the mental health of Territorians if cannabis is legalised

• PUSH to legalise cannabis use in the Northern Territory
• GUNNER Government should investigate legalising cannabis

LEGALISING cannabis in the Territory will add unnecessary stress and pressure on the NT’s already overstretched hospital EDs and mental health services, say experts.

Australian Medical Association NT president Dr Rob Parker said he didn’t support the Medical Cannabis Users Association of NT’s proposal to legalise cannabis for medicinal and recreational adult use in the Territory.

Dr Parker feared if the drug was legalised, there would also be an increase in the number of Territorians presenting to NT EDs with psychotic illnesses due to substance use.

To back up his claim, Dr Parker referenced research from the Colorado Department of Public Safety – which showed in 2000, prior to legalisation in Colorado, there were 575 hospitalisations with possible marijuana indications per 100,000 hospitalisations.

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This figure skyrocketed to 803 such hospitalisations per 100,000 in 2001-2009 – and again in 2010-13 in the era of medical marijuana commercialisation, increasing to 1440 per 100,000 hospitalisations.

“Since indigenous Territorians already have two to three times the prevalence of psychotic illness due to substance use compared to other Australians, you may postulate the implications for such a significant increase in severe mental illness affecting Territorians – and its impact on the already overstretched Territory hospital EDs and mental health services – as a result of such a measure,” he said.

Health Minister and Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said there were “no plans to legalise cannabis for recreational use”. Dr Parker applauded Ms Fyles’ position.

“AMA NT is very supportive of the Minister’s stance,” he said.

MCUA NT has launched a petition calling on the Gunner Government to legalise cannabis for medicinal and recreational adult use.

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MCUA NT member Renae Haygarth said legalisation would make medicinal cannabis affordable and accessible for Territorians who needed it.