Your view sought on medicinal cannabis

MEDICINAL cannabis could be available from chemists without a prescription from early next year — with the controversial move pitting doctors against patient groups.

The nation’s medicines watchdog has opened public consultation after pressure from a Senate inquiry, epilepsy groups, cancer patients and those suffering chronic pain.

Singer Olivia Newton-John has also called for Australia to loosen rules for medicinal cannabis, after it helped with her pain and sleep during breast cancer treatment.

But the Australian Medical Association argues there is not enough evidence it works, and is concerned it will normalise cannabis use and encourage people who use the illegal form of the drug. “It would be terrible if patients were of the view cannabis, with no evidence to support it, was better than an established therapy,” AMA vice-president Chris Zappala said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said any changes were a matter for the Therapeutic Goods Administration, in consultation with the states and territories.

The TGA has not yet registered any low-dose cannabidiol, or CBD product as safe for use. Before it could be sold without a prescription, companies would have to apply to register their product with the TGA. But a recent TGA safety review found medical evidence supporting CBD use was flimsy, and also warned medicinal cannabis could double the effect of medications used to treat epilepsy.