A national deal on a New South Wales trial of medicinal marijuana could open the door to its expansion to other states and territories, with several premiers expressing support for a nationwide approach to the issue.
The ACT Government said it would take part in the research, which was announced by the NSW Government last month with the formation of a working group to consider how the trial would be conducted.
An agreement brokered at last Friday’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting could also have implications for other states, such as Tasmania and Victoria, where medicinal marijuana has been the subject of recent public and political debate.
The Victorian Government said the agreement paved the way for a nationwide approach to medicinal marijuana.
It has appointed an expert advisory committee, chaired by Monash University Professor John McNeil, which will meet next week.
“Victoria is playing a leadership role on this significant issue, but we have a far greater chance of success by partnering with NSW and other jurisdictions,” Victorian Health Minister David Davis said.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said his Government would collaborate on a national approach.
However, he has been criticised for failing to take the lead on the issue after the state rejected a commercial application to trial the growth of medicinal marijuana earlier this year.
Tasmanian Opposition spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the state had missed the chance to become an industry leader.
“What we’ve got is leadership being shown by both the New South Wales and the Victorian governments while the Tasmanian Government has sat on its hands,” she said.
“What we have seen now is the opportunity for a trial to be held here in Tasmania lost to these bigger mainland states.”
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the trial should provide “solid evidence” to inform future decisions.
“The NSW Premier and I discussed the clinical trial at Friday’s COAG meeting and agreed the ACT would be a part of this important research,” Ms Gallagher said.
The NSW working group is due to deliver its report by the end of the year.