Australia to legalise growing cannabis for medicinal purposes

A ban on growing cannabis for medical purposes will be lifted by the federal government, but it will be up to state governments to decide if the drug is legalised for the terminally ill and sufferers of chronic pain.

“This Government is incredibly sympathetic to the suffering of those Australians with debilitating illnesses and we want to enable access to the most effective medical treatments available”, Ms Ley said.

The absence of a mechanism for safe, legal and sustainable supply means patients and researchers have turned to overseas supplies of medical cannabis.

“I have heard stories of patients who have resorted to illegal methods of obtaining cannabis and I have felt for them, because with a terminal condition, the most important thing is quality of life and relief of pain”, she said in an interview on the ABC’s local radio AM, on Saturday.

“I’m hoping that it will involve a few sort of medical amnesty which could happen immediately but I guess I’m waiting to see the finer detail”, she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Ms Ley said the changes will deliver a safe, legal and sustainable supply of locally produced product for the first time.

A number of state governments are expected to put their hands up to grow the crop once the regulation process is finalised, with the industry likely to recoup millions for struggling state economies, particular if Australia overcomes legal roadblocks to legally export the drug to other countries.

Labor leader Bill Shorten announced on Friday evening that the opposition also supported similar changes. Under Australian law, decriminalization and medical trials come under state government jurisdiction.

In a statement, the ACT Government said Commonwealth legislation had been “the missing link in state and territories being able to provide cannabis for medicinal use”.

Ms Ley said the planned changes addressed the issues that those who supported the cross-party bill, including Coalition members Sharman Stone and Senator Ian MacDonald, had identified. A final version will go before the parliament by the end of the year.

Under current laws, the use and production marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug and possession, sale, growth, and usage of such are punishable by law.

“Federal laws have always prevented the ACT from setting up a formal model for cultivation and supply of medicinal cannabis”, he said.

Ms Ley will meet with state and territory health ministers next month to discuss how the changes will work.

The plan calls for the Commonwealth to become the national regulator of medicinal cannabis and for the government to establish rules for licensing one or more producers.