Some leading Australian medical bodies are failing to take account of wider public health considerations in debates about medicinal cannabis access and reform.
In response to a Federal Government-commissioned review into medicinal cannabis, groups including the Australian Medical Association have called for an immediate halt to the prescribing and dispensing of most medicinal cannabis products.
“This is a misguided proposal,” Penington Institute Acting CEO and Director of Research Dr Jake Dizard said.
“A halt of this nature would cause significant distress and potential harm to many thousands of patients who rely on medicinal cannabis to manage their health.”
“There’s very little high-quality public data backing up the assertion that prescribed medicinal cannabis products are causing widespread harm.”
“‘Significantly restricting’ access would potentially impede good medical practice, which should involve a balanced and patient-specific assessment of benefits and harms and ensure continuity of care.”
Dr Dizard warned that in their rush to clamp down on medicinal cannabis, medical groups are not properly attuned to wider health concerns.
“Medicinal cannabis reform is necessary, but the focus is too narrow.”
“These groups are disregarding the broader health impacts of slashing access to medicinal cannabis.”
“In additional to patient distress and potential clinical harms, reducing access will push many people back to the illicit, unsafe cannabis market.”
“We must be looking at this through a much wider public health lens,” Dr Dizard said.
In its own formal submission to the review of medicinal cannabis access, Penington Institute:
- BACKED reforms that enhance safety while maintaining patient access to medicinal cannabis through a medical framework.
- OBSERVED there’s little evidence increased access to prescribed medicinal cannabis has led to an increase in health harms.
- WARNED that sudden or ill-conceived changes to curtail patient access to medicinal cannabis could “displace current patients into the unregulated, unsafe illicit market”, and
- URGED more research be undertaken to properly evaluate the evidence underpinning any proposed reforms.
Dr Dizard said peak bodies like the AMA contribute an important clinical perspective to national health debates, but broader health and social realities shouldn’t be ignored.
Dr Dizard is available for interview via Ryan Sheales media@penigton.org.au
0402 351 412