MEDICAL marijuana will get the green light in South Australia if experts assessing an interstate trial find it has therapeutic benefits and is safe, State Parliament has heard.
Health Minister Jack Snelling gave the strongest indication yet that the State Government is genuinely considering legalising cannabis for medical use despite Labor voting against a Greens motion on the issue in the Upper House on Wednesday.
“NSW is undertaking clinical trials of medical cannabis. The SA Government supports the clinical trials and has an SA Health observer on the expert panel,” he said.
“SA will co-operate with NSW in any way they ask us to support their 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, we will bring legislation to the House.”
Mr Snelling said that while the Government did not believe cannabis was a harmless drug, there were recorded medical benefits.
“Available evidence highlights the 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 antispastic, analgesic, anti-emetic, and anti-inflammatory actions.
“Many of these therapeutic uses of cannabis and products derived from cannabis are still experimental.”
Greens health spokeswoman Tammy Franks said her motion called on Labor to show leadership on the issue in-line with the premiers of Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
The Liberals, Xenophon Group and Dignity for Disability supported the motion which passed the Upper House.
“We continue our calls to the Minister for Health to act more decisively on medical cannabis reform to ensure that South Australians do not continue to suffer needlessly or, in extreme cases, leave the state entirely in order to access treatment,” she said.
“A welcome step forward made as a result of today’s debate, however, was a promise extracted from the Government speaker that South Australians will be able to take part in the NSW trials, as sick and suffering patients in Victoria and Queensland can currently do.”
Earlier this month, the State Government said it would take a cautious approach to the Federal Government’s plan to legalise cannabis crops to be grown specifically for medical use on seriously ill patients.
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley announced a proposal to amend the Narcotic Drugs Act to allow the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes, paving the way for state governments to consider a cannabis-growing industry.
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