Medicinal Cannabis

Project Status:

Tabled in parliament

Start Date:

19/12/2014

Tabled in Parliament Date:

06/10/2015

Reference

This inquiry focussed on medicinal cannabis law reform. Cannabis has frequently been used to alleviate certain medical symptoms. Patients who have used cannabis medicinally in this way have reported significant benefits, which led to calls to reform the laws prohibiting cannabis use. NB: This review did not consider recreational use of cannabis, which is unlawful in Victoria.

In December 2014, the Attorney-General asked the Commission to review the law to allow people to be treated with medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances.

The Commission’s March 2015 issues paper identified two areas of investigation:

  • How to define the exceptional circumstances in which a person should be allowed to use medicinal cannabis
  • How the law could be amended to enable patients to obtain medicinal cannabis while continuing to prevent unauthorised access.

Our subsequent investigation drew on nine public consultations in metropolitan and regional Victoria and 99 public submissions.

The final report on medicinal cannabis law reform was delivered to the Attorney-General on 31 August 2015. The report made 42 recommendations for changes to the law to allow people to be treated with medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances. The report was tabled in Parliament on 6 October 2015 and a summary of the recommendations are available in the media release, ‘Medicinal cannabis report published’.

The report, submissions and issues paper can be accessed from the links below.

Since the report was published, the use of medicinal cannabis has been regulated by a combination of state and Commonwealth laws.  Growing cannabis for personal use and the recreational use of cannabis is illegal in Victoria.

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Project Stage

  • Terms of reference received
  • Submissions and consultations
  • Submissions closed
  • Final Report
  • Tabled in parliament

Publications

Publication Date

06/10/2015

Tabled in parliament on 6 October 2015, the Commission’s report on medicinal cannabis contained 42 recommendations covering regulations, patient eligibility, authorisation, drug manufacture, and research. Read More
Publication Date

06/10/2015

Tabled in parliament on 6 October 2015, the Commission’s report on medicinal cannabis contained 42 recommendations covering regulations, patient eligibility, authorisation, drug manufacture, and research. Read more
Publication Date

06/10/2015

Tabled in parliament on 6 October 2015, the Commission’s report on medicinal cannabis contained 42 recommendations covering regulations, patient eligibility, authorisation, drug manufacture, and research. Read more
Publication Date

01/07/2015

The Commission received the following submissions. Read more