Working Together on Potential of Cannabis-Derived Products

Health Ministers around Australia will work together to explore the appropriate use of cannabis-derived products for medicinal purposes.

This was one of the key agenda items at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council in Melbourne.

Representing the Tasmanian Government at the meeting, I was pleased that we were able to find agreement from the Australian Government and all states and territories to work more collaboratively on this issue.

Health Ministers have “agreed to work collaboratively to share knowledge and information on issues relating to the use of appropriate therapeutic products derived from cannabis for medicinal purposes”.

This is an appropriate outcome, which reinforces the Tasmanian Government’s position of supporting the appropriately-regulated use of cannabis-derived products in medicines where they can be demonstrated to be safe and of proven therapeutic benefit.

The sharing of information will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of the potential for cannabis-derived products to help treat symptoms of a range of conditions.

At the same time, we reinforced our opposition to the recreational use of cannabis, noting the significant body of evidence linking it to mental illness.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health