Medicinal Cannabis Symposium

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation in his capacity as lead minister for medical cannabis on the subject of the Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Melbourne.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The United in Compassion group is headed by Lucy Haslam, whose son Dan died after accessing medical cannabis, bringing the attention of not only Premier Mike Baird but indeed Australians more broadly to the issue of medical cannabis. The group is heading up the third national gathering on medicinal cannabis. It is the Medicinal Cannabis Symposium to be held in Melbourne from the 23^rd to the 25^th of June this year.

There is another part to the event which includes, on 22 June, a medical cannabis course. It was designed by health professionals to be delivered to healthcare professionals at a bargain basement price of $100 per head, which simply covers the catering costs. My question to the minister is: what participation will the government have in this symposium and what promotion will they make of the ability of medical health professionals to go to be educated at this one-day course in Melbourne in June?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her question and her passion and commitment in this area, not just with medical cannabis but other areas like industrial hemp that passed this chamber recently and, I understand, is likely to pass the other chamber either today or the next sitting week.

In relation to a symposium to be held in Melbourne, I will, after question time, ask my office to ask the department if there is any relevance for South Australia. I will also undertake to have the AMA in South Australia informed of the symposium so that they can get information particularly to their professionals, who are the ones who might possibly prescribe medicinal cannabis.