The search for potential sites to grow medical cannabis in NSW is set to begin, following the Federal Government’s approval of the plant’s controlled cultivation for medicinal or scientific purposes.
NSW Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward said the approval would make Australia a world leader in this field, and that the NSW Government would scout for potential sites across the state that could be suitable for cultivating cannabis for medical or scientific purposes.
“We do not want patients or carers having to play pharmacist, this collaborative approach ensures we have a way forward,” Ms Goward said.
“It is important to get the scheme right. We look forward to further consultation occurring with other state and territory governments, this is an issue that is beyond politics.”
The scheme could also open up a whole new industry for NSW’s regions.
Clinical trials
The NSW Government has also committed $9 million to clinical trials that explore the use of cannabis and cannabis products in providing relief from a range of debilitating or terminal illnesses.
The trials include:
- Adults with a terminal illness, focusing on improving quality of life, and symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting.
- Children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, through a partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
- Adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, where standard treatment is ineffective.
NSW has also confirmed its place as a world leader in medicinal cannabis with an investment of up to $12 million over four years to establish the NSW Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation.