Medical Cannabis

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. David Ridgway, who I understand now has carriage of medicinal cannabis issues, a question on the topic of the SA government's support to the medicinal cannabis industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The Office of Drug Control, a federal body, has recently published a list of 11 companies with manufacturing licences and 15 companies with import licences around the nation. It only includes all those businesses that have consented to be listed, and does not include all licensed operators. My question to the minister is: can he update the council on which of these companies that have medicinal cannabis manufacturing licences are operating, or intend to operate, in South Australia, and can he outline what state government supports have been given to these companies?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for her question and her ongoing interest in medical cannabis. Just as a matter of update, I will provide the honourable member with a few facts in relation to this particular sector. As of 31 October 2019—so less than a month ago—20,300 applications Australia-wide have been approved for legal access to medical cannabis through the Special Access Scheme category B by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Clearly, there is a large number of people wishing to access this.

As of 8 November 2019, across Australia, 81 medical cannabis licences are current: 26 for cultivation and production, 18 for research and 37 for manufacture. Two cultivation and production licences, two manufacture licences and one research licence have been approved in South Australia. Other applications are under assessment by the commonwealth Office of Drug Control.

As of 30 October 2016, we know that changes to the commonwealth Narcotic Drugs Act established a national licensing scheme for the cultivation, production and manufacture of medical cannabis. The act is currently under review and the review report was tabled in federal parliament on 5 September 2019. The final report contains some 26 recommendations to improve the cultivation and framework. Minister Hunt has accepted all 26 recommendations, which broadly aim to reduce the regulatory burden on industry and promote and allow greater flexibility in the administration of the legislation to support industry innovation and development.

I know the honourable member is more interested in South Australia. We recognise the importance of the safe and legal patient access to medical cannabis in South Australia. Recreational use of cannabis—often referred to as marijuana—still remains illegal. In South Australia access requires a medical specialist to prescribe the product and dosage and the commonwealth Therapeutic Goods Administration's approval or notification. There are no other state-based approvals required. No authority is required for patients aged over 70 or who are notified palliative care patients or patients who are not drug dependent for regular use of medical cannabis for a period of less than two months.

The potential for the industry's development was recognised by the Australian government's introduction of regulations, and in particular there are some good opportunities in South Australia. There are a number of companies, and I don't have that list in front of me at the moment, that are wanting to manufacture the products from medical cannabis. LeafCann is one, but I don't have any of the details in front of me. At this point I will take that part of the question on notice and provide an answer to the member.

I will also say that this is something that I will refer to later in the debate today in that this is a classic example of why we need to look at genetically modifying plants in South Australia. This is a medical opportunity, a bit like opium, where we can grow a product and there is a great wellbeing benefit for the broader population. As far as the detail of the actual companies, we do provide some support, but I think, in fairness to the honourable member, I will bring back a reply for her detailing which companies have sought to grow the product and what sort of support the government is giving those companies.