Medicinal marijuana fails to gain traction

THE UPTAKE of medicinal marijuana has stalled, with no doctors in Toowoomba or South West Queensland applying to prescribe the drug, months after laws allowing its use came into effect.

Patients with a range of medical conditions legally have been allowed to access medicinal cannabis products in Queensland since March, but Queensland Health has received just five applications from doctors across the state wanting to prescribe.

The numbers have not shifted since May when The Chronicle made inquiries to coincide with the first shipments of medicinal cannabis being imported into Australia.

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki threw his support behind the medical marijuana bill when it was unanimously passed in Queensland Parliament at the end of last year, at the time citing evidence that concluded medicinal cannabis helped alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, spasticity that can be associated with multiple sclerosis and the relief of nausea and vomiting symptoms brought on by chemotherapy.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the department had “taken a number of steps to ensure medical professionals have access to thorough, consistent and easy to access information on this important topic.

“The department held a medicinal cannabis forum in March 2017 to provide information to clinical staff. With the support of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, a webinar was also held for interested medical officers.”

Doctors are also required to get approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration before prescribing.