Australia runs out of medical cannabis and speeds up imports

While the use of the Medical cannabis is becoming more widespread in Australia, Australian patients still have a hard time getting medical marijuana.

The Australian government has indicated that it will speed up the process, in particular by facilitating imports while Australia builds its own cannabis production and distribution network.

Importers will now be able to source cannabis from «reputable overseas suppliers» and store it locally until it is distributed through doctors authorized to prescribe cannabis products. These changes are intended, in particular, to reduce wait times for patients, who currently have to rely on imports on a case-by-case basis.

«We are now making it easier to access medical cannabis products, while maintaining strict safeguards for the safety of individuals and the community,» wrote Health Minister Greg Hunt in a Facebook post.

He estimates that «within 8 weeks, perhaps sooner,» Australia will have a supply of imported medical cannabis.

«This means that supply will be able to meet demand from Australians.» Hunt said on the radio. «It won’t happen overnight, but what we’re doing here is a way for people to establish a provisional supply for and within Australia through imports.» »

Australia is currently setting up its own dispensaries since it has authorized the cultivation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes in 2016. In fact, the first cultivation licenses were issued this week.

The Legal Approach Australian Medical Cannabis varies from state to state. New South Wales has a fairly restrictive approach that prevents law enforcement from arresting «sick adults at the end of life» who use cannabis, while the state of Victoria more broadly legalized medical cannabis in early 2016.