The president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF) has challenged Health Minister Michael Ferguson to a debate about medicinal cannabis on “radio or television”.
The State Government recently rejected a proposal to trial medicinal cannabis for the treatment of nausea and lack of appetite in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
The trial was proposed by Tasman Health Cannabinoids in conjunction with the University of Tasmania.
As the Government was in the process of rejecting the trial, Mr Ferguson said the necessary cannabinoid products were already available.
“In Tasmania and around Australia a number of cannabinoids that are derived from cannabis are in fact available through perfectly legal and authorised prescriptions for certain medical illnesses, and I think that’s the way it should be,” he said.
The ADLRF’s Dr Alex Wodak said technically that was true, but in practice it was not.
“Nabiximols (also known as Sativex) is only approved [for use for a short period] for stiffness due to multiple sclerosis,” he said.
“It is available in theory but not in practice. If available and approved for other indications, the likely cost ($800 per month) will prevent all but the wealthiest using the drug,” he said.
It’s time to take the politics out of this issue, says Dr Wodak
In a recent op-ed for a Tasmanian newspaper Mr Ferguson said there were a range of reasons for his decision to reject the trial.
“The business representatives did not adequately address concerns surrounding the security, safety and the potential for social harm of the trial, and as such I rejected their push for medicinal cannabis trials in Tasmania,” he said.
Dr Wodak said the Health Minister’s comments were proof that “experts should regulate medicines… not politicians”.
“The problem with medicinal cannabis is that this is a medical issue being decided by politicians. It’s time to take the politics out of the issue,” he said.
Mr Ferguson pointed out that Tasmania was not alone in its anti-cannabinoids stance.
No state in Australia currently allows the production of medicinal cannabis.
“Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Tasmania, and consideration of any use of this substance must be balanced with the continuing misuse of the plant and the requirement to police the black market,” Mr Ferguson in the op-ed.
Dr Wodak said current policy in all states was completely out of line with how they viewed other illicit drugs that also have a medicinal function.
“Australia uses morphine, cocaine, amphetamine and ketamine medically. But the recreational use of these drugs is banned,” he said.
“Australia could allow the medicinal use of cannabis but continue to prohibit its recreational use.”
The physician went on to issue a challenge to Mr Ferguson.
“Let’s have a real debate about medicinal cannabis. I am very happy to meet the Minister privately to discuss this or to debate this issue with him on radio or television. How about it Mr Ferguson?”
A spokesman for the Health Minister responded to say Mr Ferguson would not be taking up the offer of a public debate.
He said Mr Ferguson would be happy to meet with Dr Wodak privately.