The West Australian government, in particular, their Department of Health, has recently concluded a 3-year study into the now-previous prescribing regime of medical cannabis.
The outcome of that study has led them to cut down on a lot of the red tape surrounding local GPs to prescribe medicinal cannabis to their patients. Specifically – the removal of requiring a patient to be referred to a specialist before prescribing cannabis.
Roger Cook, the Health Minister in WA had the following to say:
Medicinal cannabis is often prescribed as a drug of last resort for people who are suffering and in terrible pain, this announcement underpins the McGowan government commitment to putting patients first.
The new changes to the medical cannabis laws in WA align closely with those of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Fleta Solomon, the Managing Director of Little Green Pharm (a WA-based cannabis producer) embraced the announcement mentioning it would reduce costs and time pressure for local patients.
When considering many using medicinal cannabis products have serious illnesses and are sometimes financially strained, the previous access regime unnecessarily added a number of months and additional costs to the process.
Even if it may be a small change to the current medicinal cannabis laws, it’s most definitely a welcome one.