Cannabis Australia: Independent medical committee established to supervise medical marijuana rollout in Victoria

Andrews government has revealed that an independent medical committee with 16 people will supervise the medicinal cannabis rollout in Victoria. The committee will also advise the next group of patients who will be provided access to the drug. The government committed $28.5 million in this year’s budget to make medical marijuana available next year to children suffering from severe epilepsy.

As per the Government, the medical advisory committee would be lead by professor James Angus and he would also be trying to expand the scheme to other areas. Premier Daniel Andrews took to Facebook to discuss Victoria’s secret medical marijuana facility where the trials have entered phase two.

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“Last month, I visited a secret facility. I can't tell you where it is, but I can tell you what's going on there. It's where we're growing Victoria's first crop of medicinal cannabis – a crop that will improve the lives of hundreds upon hundreds of kids suffering from severe epilepsy,” Andrews posted on Facebook.

Experts there are trying to expand the medicinal cannabis scheme to patients with other medical conditions.

“I can also tell you that, as of today, our trial is entering phase two, and experts are looking at how our medicinal cannabis scheme can be expanded to other patients with different conditions. The bottom line is this: we're going to save a lot of lives,” he wrote.

The rollout of the scheme is on track though the government refused to reveal the exact date from which the products will be available in 2017. However, until the scheme is up and running, parents will find themselves in a tricky situation.

They may still have to make enviable choices and go against the law to procure medicinal cannabis to help reduce their children’s suffering. Such families will be helped by the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.

“I've got every confidence that Victoria Police exercise their powers sensibly and willingly, but until we have a product that we're able to safely and lawfully provide to support these patients, it is very, very difficult,” Health Minister Jill Hennessy told the ABC.