Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-03-28 Daily Xml

Contents

Medical Cannabis

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing: how many medical practitioners are currently authorised to prescribe medicinal cannabis in South Australia?

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) (14:34): My understanding is, and I am happy to go away and get better advice if this is wrong, it was only in recent weeks that the federal body, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has opened up a prescribed practitioner pathway. Previous to that, my understanding is that the federal TGA would allow a particular patient and a particular medical practitioner to access medicinal cannabis since the federal government made changes, I think it was last November.

I am not sure how many, since a few weeks ago when that was changed to a prescribed practitioner model, have been authorised in South Australia. I am happy to write to the federal Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is under the control of the federal Liberal government, and ask them how many in South Australia and see if I can find out breakdowns for other states as well for the honourable member.