A hemp plant. The cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis was legalized in Australia on February 24 2016 (Hendrike)
Australia has become the most recent Western nation to legalize medicinal cannabis after legislation was passed on February 24, 2016 by the Australian to legalize cannabis for medicla purposes.
Health Minister Sussan Ley described the legislation as the “missing piece” needed to provide Australian patients with a reliable source of legal medicinal cannabis for managing chronic conditions.
The legislation, which received bipartisan support in Australia’s parliament, will create a national medicinal cannabis regulator to oversee the cultivation of cannabis and the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products from the cannabis plant.
Commenting on the passing of the legislation, Ms Ley said:
“This is an historic day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis products so genuine patients are no longer treated as criminals.”
“This is the missing piece in a patient’s treatment journey and will now see seamless access to locally-produced medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.”
Ms Ley added that the amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act are consistent with Australia’s international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The Health Minister added that the new legislation would not make cannabis legal for general cultivation or recreational use.