Medicinal Cannabis Users Association says patients forced to access relief on black market

Tasmanians who source medicinal cannabis from mainland clinics are turning to the black market to provide pain relief, as local stocks run dry.

TASMANIAN medicinal cannabis patients are struggling to access supply from the mainland increasing calls for product grown in the state to be available to locals, rather than exported.

There are currently just 19 patients listed with Tasmania’s Controlled Access Scheme.

But four times as many access medicinal cannabis from Therapeutic Goods Association approved clinics on the mainland – separate from the Tasmanian Health Service.

Stock is low with reports many needing medication are now accessing the black market because the current regulations mean an individual can only be prescribed a specific strain.

If that runs out then they are left without any pain relief until it is back in stock or they are forced to go through the convoluted process of being approved for another strain.

Medicinal Cannabis Users Australia says if there were delays in sourcing conventional medications the situation would be treated as an emergency.

“Government needs to support the supply chain,” MCUA president Deb Lynch said.

“Many of these patients have given up conventional medication with toxic side affects in search for a better quality of life. A shortage of legal product is forcing more patients back to the green and black market.”

Medical cannabis users are forced back into green and black markets for pain relief. Picture: Juan Mabromata

As at the end of 2020, the TGA had approved 85,000 cannabis prescriptions – up more than 100 per cent on the year before.

One Tasmanian patient told the Mercury he had been sourcing medicinal cannabis for eight years but had run out of his medication twice lately and for about three weeks.

“I was on high doses of opioids due to injuries in my military career,” he said.

“So being without medication is traumatic and leaves me depressed and in some cases suicidal.

“I get so frustrated as it seems the doctors and pharmacists just shrug their shoulders. If I was still on pharma medications I would never run out. I cannot see the difference.”

Medicinal cannabis is grown in Tasmania but at this stage all of the product is exported overseas and not available for local patients.

A Tasmanian Government spokesperson said there was no anticipated shortage of cannabinoid products supplied through the Tasmanian Health Service.

“Like other medicines, the Department of Health has contracts in place for the supply of cannabinoid products to minimise the impact of any medicines shortages,” they said.

A Parliamentary inquiry recommended the Tasmania Government join other jurisdictions and participate in the TGA’s single national online application pathway for accessing unregistered medicinal cannabis to reduce the need for state-based approval.

The government has not yet acted on that recommendation.