Medicinal marijuana: NSW to run trials for epileptic children, terminally ill adults and cancer patients

Updated

Medicinal cannabis will be used to treat children with severe epilepsy as part of a clinical trial in New South Wales.

The NSW Government will also fund trials of the drug's use on terminally ill adults and chemotherapy patients who suffer nausea and vomiting as a result of their treatment.

Premier Mike Baird said up to $9 million would be spent on at least three trials of cannabis-derived medicines to examine the benefits for patients suffering a range of debilitating illnesses.

All of the trials that have been performed to date have really had flawed research protocols and methodology. Australian Medical Association NSW president Saxon Smith

Mr Baird, who announced the formation of a working group to set up a medical marijuana trial in September, said the Government would consider importing or producing cannabis once it had clinical evidence the drug could reduce suffering.

He said he expected hundreds of patients to take part in the trials.

The NSW Ministry of Health and the Sydney Children's Hospital Network have begun preliminary development work on the paediatric epilepsy trial, which is expected to start enrolling patients in 2016.

The epilepsy trial will be run through the The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.

The state's chief medical officer, Kerry Chant, will lead an expert panel to assess the benefits of cannabis-derived medicines.

Around the World The Netherlands: Despite misconceptions, cannabis is illegal in The Netherlands, but possession of small amounts is not prosecuted and the drug is available from special 'coffee shops', though limits on tourists' access to some of these shops were introduced last year. The Dutch government runs a program to supply cannabis to seriously ill patients through pharmacies and hospitals. The Bureau voor Medicinale Cannabis (BMC) licenses growers who must sell their harvest to the BMC and destroy surplus plants.

Despite misconceptions, cannabis is illegal in The Netherlands, but possession of small amounts is not prosecuted and the drug is available from special 'coffee shops', though limits on tourists' access to some of these shops were introduced last year. The Dutch government runs a program to supply cannabis to seriously ill patients through pharmacies and hospitals. The Bureau voor Medicinale Cannabis (BMC) licenses growers who must sell their harvest to the BMC and destroy surplus plants. Canada: Approved patients can buy cannabis from the government, grow their own, delegate someone to grow it for them or buy it from non-profit 'cannabis clubs', which are unlicensed but generally tolerated by police.

Approved patients can buy cannabis from the government, grow their own, delegate someone to grow it for them or buy it from non-profit 'cannabis clubs', which are unlicensed but generally tolerated by police. United States: Medicinal cannabis use is allowed in 18 states, with the industry worth an estimated $US40 billion a year. In August, Washington will become the second state to fully legalise marijuana after Colorado.

Medicinal cannabis use is allowed in 18 states, with the industry worth an estimated $US40 billion a year. In August, Washington will become the second state to fully legalise marijuana after Colorado. Australia: Marijuana is illegal, even for medicinal use, in all Australian states. In October, an agreement for NSW to lead research on medicinal cannabis was struck between the states and the Commonwealth. Victoria's new Labor Government is working to legalise medicinal cannabis by the end of 2015 for people with terminal illnesses or life-threatening conditions.

Mr Baird said he had spoken to parents and patients "who are increasingly desperate to trial a cannabis-based product to better manage serious illnesses".

"This is a bold plan and one that will utilise the expertise of NSW-based clinicians and researchers, and draw on research developments from across the globe," Mr Baird said in a statement announcing the trials.

"Once we have the clinical evidence that medical cannabis can reduce suffering then the Government will consider a range of supply measures, including importation.

"But if that does not prove successful then the Government will assume responsibility for supply itself."

Police will be given discretion not to charge terminally ill patients in possession of 15 grams of cannabis or less, Mr Baird said.

"Police are already exercising their discretion to people in these sort of circumstances. We are formalising it."

The move has won praise from the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

"All of the trials that have been performed to date have really had flawed research protocols and methodology," AMA NSW president Saxon Smith said.

"You can't compare across the trials because they are all very different products, all very different situations.

"That's why it's so important that the New South Wales Government has taken this step to have this discussion within a medical trials framework."

Labor, Greens say Govt should move faster

The State Opposition also supported the move, but said the Government was moving "far too slow" and creating undesirable "grey areas" for police.

"We have passed the time for trials," Labor's deputy leader in the Upper House, Adam Searle, said.

It is time for the Baird Government to be even less cautious and to go with the international evidence that this will work. Greens MP John Kaye

"The science is in, and we know that people are already running the risk of arrest by using cannabis for pain relief."

Mr Searle said, if elected next March, the Opposition would change legislation to protect people with a terminal illness, and their carers, from prosecution for possessing cannabis for pain relief.

Greens MP John Kaye agreed the process was taking too long.

"We welcome the broadening of the categories of illnesses for which medicinal cannabis will be available, but we have grave concerns that this will take a very long time," he said.

"There will be an awful lot of people who won't have access to medicinal cannabis maybe for three or five years.

"It is time for the Baird Government to be even less cautious and to go with the international evidence that this will work."

The Government's support for medical marijuana trials followed moves by Tamworth Nationals MP Kevin Anderson to develop a bill to decriminalise it earlier this year.

Mr Anderson declared his intention to develop the bill after meeting Daniel Haslam, a 24-year-old bowel cancer sufferer who was using cannabis to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy.

Mr Baird paid tribute to Mr Haslam at today's announcement.

"Our message to Dan is thank you for your inspiration and leadership on this issue," he said.

Trials part of states, Commonwealth agreement

In October, the states and Commonwealth reached an agreement to collaborate on the issue, with NSW to lead research through trials.

Victoria's new Labor Government is working to legalise medicinal cannabis by the end of next year for people with terminal illnesses or life-threatening conditions.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the effectiveness of cannabis-based medicines was "undeniable".

Asked if he would like to see more co-operation between the states on the issue, Mr Andrews said: "It's best to focus on the important positives here - you've got momentum for change, you've got an undeniable campaign and momentum to drag these laws into the 21st century."

In Tasmania, a parliamentary inquiry has been considering the issue, with a report to be tabled in Parliament in the New Year.

Last month, the Tasmanian Government rejected an Upper House recommendation to decriminalise the use of medicinal cannabis on the basis it would prefer to work with other states on a national approach.

Tasmania's State Growth Minister Matthew Groom said in light of that decision, the move by NSW was a positive development.

"The Premier [Will Hodgman] previously advocated in the national context for there to be greater co-operation between the states and the Commonwealth in regards to this issue and we welcome the decision that's been made by NSW and any indications that are coming out of Victoria."

Some Queensland farmers have also been pushing for the opportunity to grow marijuana for medical use.

Topics: alternative-medicine, health, states-and-territories, sydney-2000, nsw, tamworth-2340

First posted