Medical Cannabis

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:21): My question is directed to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Can the minister update the house about South Australia's participation in clinical trials of medical cannabis?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:21): Can I thank the member for Ashford for her question and her interest in this issue. In South Australia, cannabis is a controlled drug under the Controlled Substances Act 1984. The South Australian government does not believe that cannabis is a harmless drug. Available evidence highlights long-term harmful effects of cannabis use, including increased risk of respiratory diseases associated with smoking, including cancer, dependence, decreased memory and learning abilities, and decreased motivation in areas such as study, work or concentration.

There is, however, evidence for therapeutic benefits from cannabis, including anti-spastic, analgesic, anti-emetic and anti-inflammatory actions. Many of these therapeutic uses of cannabis and products derived from cannabis are still experimental. The Australian government's Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates medicines in Australia and assesses medicines for quality, safety and efficacy. Any move to make medicinal cannabis more widely available should be done under the auspices of the TGA and based on science and not by politicians based on emotion.

Some synthetic cannabis products, such as Sativex, an oral spray, are currently included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, meaning they are available for medicinal use. Clinical trials have been conducted on the effectiveness of Sativex for conditions such as multiple sclerosis and pain relief in terminal cancers. Sativex can only be prescribed by medical practitioners under the TGA's special access scheme.

New South Wales is undertaking clinical trials of cannabis. The South Australian government supports the clinical trials and has a South Australian health observer on the expert panel. South Australia will cooperate with New South Wales in any way they ask us to support the trial. The results from that trial will be assessed by experts and they will make a determination about the use of cannabis as a medicine. If that determination is that there are some products that have a therapeutic use and are safe and a change of legislation is required, then we will bring legislation to the house.