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A medicinal cannabis scheme in the ACT is one step closer, with the government on the hunt for a community advisory board to help shape it. The scheme that would allow doctors to more easily prescribe cannabis will be in place later in the year, but ACT health minister Meegan Fitzharris said the government needed to iron out related economic, legal and social issues first. "Establishing a medicinal cannabis scheme is a priority for the ACT government, and the next stage of this work is to appoint two expert advisory committees," Ms Fitzharris said. On the advisory board will be one representative from ACT Policing, one from the ACT medical research community, one from the higher education sector. The board will also include representatives from Justice and Community Safety and Community Services Directorates. Critically, two board members will be drawn from the general ACT community to provide advice and perspective on the direction of the scheme. Expressions of interest are currently being considered for another panel, which will be made up of members of the medical profession. "Both committees will ultimately help develop a considered and coherent framework for a medicinal cannabis scheme here in the ACT," Ms Fitzharris said. "These committees will help address any issues raised during the establishment of the scheme through the provision of evidence-based expert advice and guidance to government. The government will also look to develop education materials for clinicians and the general public to support the implementation of the scheme." The Therapeutic Goods Administration has already declared medicinal cannabis a controlled medicine, which means it can be prescribed in the ACT with the approval of the Chief Health Officer. The minister said there was no "immediate requirement" to amend ACT laws to implement the scheme. Only registered medical practitioners can apply for the authority to prescribe the drug. Expressions of interest close on March 24.

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