Pharmacy Daily | Vic ticks medicinal cannabis

MEDICINAL cannabis is set to be legalised in Victoria (PD breaking news yesterday), with locally produced products to be made available in “exceptional circumstances” from 2017. The Guild and the PSA have both welcomed the move, which will see pharmacists play a key role. Victorian Guild president, Anthony Tassone, said “the Guild supports initiatives that have the potential to improve the quality of life for people who are chronically or terminally ill and who are not responding to other treatments”. And Acting PSA national president, Michelle Lynch, said “having pharmacists acknowledged as best-placed to dispense medicinal cannabis is welcomed as it ensures that medicines experts are available to advise and counsel patients using these products”. She said the Victorian move aligned with PSA’s policy on medicinal cannabis. “PSA also supports the development of an information and education program to support pharmacists in the dispensing of cannabis-based therapies,” she said. Victorian premier Daniel Andrew said the government would prioritise access to medicinal cannabis for children with severe epilepsy in early 2017, with other indications including severe muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, severe pain from cancer or HIV/ AIDS, or severe chronic pain with the approval of two specialists. An independent medical advisory committee will also be established to provide advice about expanding eligibility to further patient groups. An Office of Medicinal Cannabis will be set up with the state Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the manufacturing, dispensing and clinical aspects of the framework, as well as encouraging research and the development of clinical guidance in consultation with health professionals.

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