Consultation on pharmacist endorsement for scheduled medicines
Summary
Cannabis Council Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists. Cannabis Council Australia is the national peak body for medicinal cannabis, representing a growing and diverse group of licensed producers, pharmacists and clinicians working to support a sustainable sector underpinned by strong safety and quality settings, sound clinical governance and improved patient outcomes.
Medicinal cannabis occupies a complex position within the current healthcare regulatory framework:
- Most medicinal cannabis products are unapproved therapeutic goods accessed through Commonwealth pathways, including the Special Access Scheme and Authorised Prescriber pathways.
- Currently, medicinal cannabis products are either Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 controlled drugs, depending on the dominant cannabinoids.
- Healthcare involving medicinal cannabis has also been subject to issuance of guidance by AHPRA in relation to prescribing and dispensing of medicinal cannabis products, telehealth consultations, and the delivery of such healthcare by organisations with vertically integrated business structures.
- The Therapeutics Good Administration conducted a review of the safety and quality of medicinal cannabis products last year, and earlier this year indicated a longer term commitment to regulatory reform with respect to these products and patient access to them.
Cannabis Council Australia is already working to develop policy and related standards to guide reform, and to this end has recently established a cross-sector Reform Working Group and collaborative relationships with relevant peak bodies.
We acknowledge the intent of establishing a nationally consistent endorsement pathway for pharmacist prescribers. Although the proposal does not appear to have a direct impact on medicinal cannabis prescribing at this time, we will be interested in the results of your consultation given some of the parallel issues with current regulatory frameworks for medicinal cannabis.
