Changes to Controlled Access Scheme for Medicinal Cannabis

Media release – Sarah Courtney, Minister for Health, 16 March 2021

Improvements to Tasmania’s Controlled Access Scheme for medicinal cannabis

We’re investing more into the essential services Tasmanians need, including our health system, so Tasmanians can get the care they need when they need it.

In the first term of the current Liberal Government, Tasmania led the country in calling for a national, evidence-based response to provide safe access to medical cannabis.

The opening of Tasmania’s Controlled Access Scheme in 2017 marked a significant step forward in this policy area, and, as noted around the time of the launch, the scheme was not restricted by age or disease, which allowed broader access than other states.

I am pleased the Premier today announced that the Government will be making improvements to Tasmania’s Controlled Access Scheme.

Changes will be made to increase access to unregistered medical cannabis products in Tasmania, which will include authorising Tasmanian General Practitioners to prescribe medical cannabis products, and allowing more pharmacies across the State to be able to dispense these products.

Subject to necessary approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Tasmania will also adopt the national streamlined online application pathway and 48 hour authorisation timeframe.

The Government is aware that changes have been made across the other states and territories to expand their schemes in recent years, which is why the changes to the Tasmanian scheme have been made to be consistent with the models adopted in other jurisdictions.

Importantly, the Controlled Access Scheme will also remain in place, and will be reviewed, to ensure there is continued subsidised access by Tasmanians with a serious illness, which has not responded to conventional therapies, when prescribed through the medical specialist pathway.

The Department of Health will shortly be undertaking targeted consultation with key stakeholders regarding the changes, with the commencement of the new access scheme to commence from 1 July this year.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Health spokesperson, 16 March 2021

Removal of Unfair Medicinal Cannabis Restrictions Welcome

The Greens welcome the Premier’s announcement today about access to medical cannabis.

It is welcome news for many people suffering chronic pain and other conditions unable to be managed by conventional medicines. For too long, too many Tasmanian patients have been forced into illegally accessing cannabinol products for chronic conditions.

After being forced into reform three and a half years ago, then Minister for Health Michael Ferguson made it as difficult as possible for patients to access medical cannabis. Mr Ferguson’s Controlled Access Scheme was so controlled hardly anyone could access it.

We are pleased that as Premier, Peter Gutwein has been able to unpick these ideologically-driven restrictions. It’s the evidence-based thing to do; it’s the compassionate thing to do.

We look forward to receiving more information about how the state scheme will work alongside the national counterpart, and how affordable medical products will be.

Further information will need to be provided by the Government on whether Tasmania will join the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s single national online scheme, or continue to lag behind by imposing state-based restrictions.

Tasmania should take up the Commonwealth’s standing offer to participate in the online scheme, in full, and commit to the condition of processing applications within 48 hours.

It is critical medical cannabis is affordable and accessible. No patient should be stopped from accessing treatment due to where they live or how little they earn.