The NSW government will begin a medicinal-cannabis trial at the Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital for patients with advanced cancer in the coming months.
Researchers are finalising the necessary arrangements to enrol the first patients soon, a spokeswoman for the governments Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation said.
The researchers are importing a leaf product, Bedrobinol, which is produced in The Netherlands and will be vapourised.
The government said it had to obtain a legally produced, standardised product from a country that was able to export to Australia.
This was needed while the NSW government awaited a federal licensing scheme to begin in November.
This scheme will enable the cultivation of cannabis in Australia for medical and related scientific purposes.
The Newcastle Herald reported last week that a dozen children in the Hunter-New England region would receive medicinal cannabis to treat severe epilepsy.
This NSW government trial has begun at John Hunter Childrens Hospital, led by Dr John Lawson.
It involved the use of Epidiolex, an experimental product, which GW Pharmaceuticals developed.
Dr Lawson said it contained cannabidiol, which was non-psychoactive.
In other words, it does not include THC the cannabis compound that gets people stoned.
Charlestowns Tim Harding questioned why the government chose a foreign company to supply the cannabis for the trial at John Hunter Childrens Hospital.
Mr Harding, whose daughter Arielle suffers from drug-resistant epilepsy, said he hoped Epidiolex worked because the kids need it.
But I dont think its the ideal situation. This is a British company, he said.
Theres loads of credible companies here, who have been trying to get into this market for a long time, with credible products to sell.
I dont understand why we need to go so far afield to achieve something we could have done far cheaper here.
The governments spokeswoman said GW Pharmaceuticals was a world leader in the research and development of novel cannabis-based prescription medicines and has more than 17 years of cannabinoid research experience.
Mr Harding also raised concerns about supply and price of medicinal cannabis, when the changes take effect in November.
Were getting concerned about the actual amount of acres that theyre going to allow companies to grow.
He said if the government did not enable enough cannabis to be grown to meet demand, theres an artificially manufactured price hike.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Medicinal-Cannabis Trials At Calvary Mater Newcastle And John Hunter Hospitals
Author: Damon Cronshaw
Contact: Newcastle Herald
Photo Credit: Jonathan Carroll
Website: Newcastle Herald
