The first medical cannabis products to be imported into Australia under the recently enacted federal guidelines have arrived in Melbourne and Perth, which means approved patients no longer have to wait for their medicine to be imported, the Australian Broadcasting Company reports. Until now, medical cannabis was only imported into the country on a case-by-case basis – now pharmacists will be able to have a supply on hand.
Creso Pharma and Health House received three types of cannabis oils from Canada’s CanniMed.
David Russel, Creso Pharma COO, called the deliveries “A ground-breaking moment” for both Australian patients and the medical industry.
“The Australian market has been catching up with community expectations while the regulatory framework around medicinal cannabis was being developed. Now these products will allow patients to have the option of medicinal cannabis treatments if it is prescribed by their physician,” he said in a statement. “This is particularly important given the unmet but often immediate need to access a timely medicinal cannabis supply across Australia.”
Health House was one of the first companies granted a license under the import regime, enacted in February.
Paul Mavor, director of Health House, said the import scheme makes it “far easier for patients to access the products they need when they are prescribed by a doctor.”
“We’re excited to be playing a key part in the Australian government’s efforts to improve access to medicinal cannabis around Australia,” Mavor said. “Being able to supply Australians with some of the world’s best medicinal cannabis oils is a tremendous achievement not just for us, but for the local market.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt has indicated that importation of medical cannabis products would be allowed until local cultivation and processing can catch up to demand.
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