Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis Affordability) Amendment Bill 2017

Overview

This bill would have required the Queensland Health Minister to take steps to make whole plant medicinal cannabis affordable for patients who need it. It focused on pushing the Commonwealth to relax import rules and subsidise overseas-produced medicinal cannabis while Australian production was not yet available. The bill was a private member's bill introduced by Mr Steve Dickson MP and lapsed without becoming law.

Who it affects

Queenslanders with serious illnesses who rely on medicinal cannabis, and their families who often pay for treatment. It would also have placed new obligations on the Queensland Health Minister.

Key changes

• Would have required the Health Minister to take all reasonable steps to make whole plant medicinal cannabis affordable
• Required the Minister to negotiate with the Commonwealth over restrictions on importing medicinal cannabis from foreign manufacturers
• Sought Commonwealth or State subsidies for the cost of lawful treatment with imported medicinal cannabis
• Defined 'whole plant medicinal cannabis' as cannabis containing all the therapeutic compounds found in the plant
• Lapsed and did not become law