The shipments, both from Canada, will be held by Pharmaceutical Packaging Professionals in Victoria and Health House International in Western Australia. They are the first under the Federal government’s policy to allow controlled importation of medicinal cannabis for approved patients. Since the measure was introduced in February, thirty permits have been granted to import cannabis from Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands, with more shipments expected to arrive in Australia throughout May
The arrival of these imports, along with the growth in the domestic supply and manufacture market, gives doctors more options than ever before for treating their patients. Doctors can apply under the TGA’s Special Access Scheme Category B or via an Authorised Prescriber to legally prescribe cannabis products. Beneficiaries will include children suffering from epilepsy, patients dealing with side effects caused by cancer treatment, HIV sufferers and people with motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis, among others.
This is an interim measure while the domestic medicinal cannabis industry, for which legislation came into effect last October, continues to develop. Nine domestic licences have also now been granted – including five licences for cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use, three for cultivation for research, and one for manufacture of medicinal cannabis products.
The ultimate aim is to establish an Australian industry so that doctors have safe, high-quality products that they can confidently prescribe to their patients. However, being mindful of the huge recreational demand for the drug, importers will be using security measures such as CCTV, security guard patrols and hi-tech safes to guard the products.
