Pubdate: Tue, 14 Oct 2014
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/71
Author: Tom McIlroy, Legislative Assembly reporter at The Canberra Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

ACT TO JOIN NATIONAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA TRIAL

The ACT will join a Commonwealth-backed national clinical trial of
medical cannabis, set to be led by the New South Wales Government.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher confirmed the territory's
involvement in the trial during an official visit to China, welcoming
a national approach to the issue after discussions with NSW Premier
Mike Baird at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in
Canberra on Friday.

The Canberra Times reported on Tuesday plans for a trial were well
under way.

"The NSW Premier and I discussed the clinical trial at Friday's COAG
meeting and agreed the ACT would be a part of this important
research," Ms Gallagher said in a statement.

"I am pleased that today's announcement means we will now see all
jurisdictions work together on a national approach to this complex
issue."

Ms Gallagher wrote to federal Health Minister Peter Dutton in August
asking for the Commonwealth to lead a coordinated response to calls
for the introduction of medical cannabis, proposing the National
Health and Medical Research Council support an Australia-wide clinical
trial and the Therapeutic Goods Administration consider how medical
cannabis could be licensed for use.

Last month she wrote to Mr Baird asking to join a working group
planning his state's clinical trial, arguing that the ACT's small
population would make a territory trial too small to be effective.

"The ACT Government is sympathetic to those suffering from terminal
illness and the calls by their loved ones to legalise cannabis
products to ease their suffering," she said.

"However health officials have raised concerns about the lack of
evidence to support the use of cannabis for medical purposes, possible
adverse side effects and the need for a regulated clinical trial to
take place before a final decision can be made."

Ms Gallagher said the trial would provide critical evidence for policy
makers to consider for an informed decision.

A nation-wide poll released in July found almost 66 per cent of
Australians support the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard