Blog / Industry News

Marijuana legalised in Australia for medicinal use

The Therapeutic Goods Administration and Australia’s federal government ruled in September 2016 that marijuana will become legal for medical use only starting from November 2016.

The use of marijuana for medical use will be strictly monitored and will only be considered for patients with a handful of severe health condition. Marijuana for recreational use will remain illegal in Australia.

This seems to be a logical development, since the Australian parliament supported and passed a change to the Narcotic Drugs Act which allowed for marijuana to be grown for scientific research. This means that medical marijuana will now be used legally while more quality studies and clinical trials are conducted in the country so more can be learnt about the plants’ medicinal uses.

Australia now joins the ranks of countries like North America, Canada, Netherlands, and France who have legalised marijuana for medicinal use. This win is good news for the medical community and the patients who struggle with debilitating chronic and acute medical conditions who will greatly benefit from the relief that medical marijuana can bring.

Research has shown that marijuana can reduce pain and inflammation in those with cancer or chronic pain conditions like migraines, fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel disease. It can also help to decrease nausea and increase appetite in people with cancer and HIV.

It may take some time to roll out this new law as accurate guidelines need to be established and proper education must be provided to doctors and patients who may be sceptical about prescribing and using medical marijuana. However, the patients who are suffering severely will be granted early access and won’t have to wait in line for long.

Sources
http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/medicinal_marijuana_to_be_legalised_in_australia