Australia receives its first medical cannabis imports

Australia has finally received its first shipments medical cannabis. The country has legalized medical cannabis last year, but it does not yet have the sufficient infrastructure needed to immediately meet domestic demand. The first shipments of cannabis have arrived in Perth and Melbourne.

Until now, Australian patients who needed medical cannabis for treatment were handled on a case-by-case basis and had to wait—sometimes for several months—for their medication to arrive. Each medication was labeled and intended for a specific patient. From now on, pharmacies can stock cannabis oil for all patients with a doctor’s prescription.

Medical cannabis is currently distributed by several companies, including Health House International or Cres Pharma. The company’s chief operating officer states that «the first import of medical cannabis products is a breakthrough for the medical industry and patients in Australia. The Australian market has been caught up in the community’s expectations as the regulatory framework for medical cannabis continues to develop.»

The director of Health House International, Paul Mavor tells him that «the arrival of shipments of medical cannabis may make doctors more likely to prescribe cannabis, and this will streamline access to medical cannabis for patients who have no other treatment options.».

Greg Hunt, Australia’s Minister of Health and Sports, posted a statement on his Twitter account stating that 30 permits have been granted for the importation of medical cannabis products. These products come primarily from Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

The first shipments of medical cannabis have arrived in Australia to support families of children with serious medical conditions. pic.twitter.com/d64aqbZoil

— Greg Hunt (@TheHonGregHunt) May 2, 2017

The Minister of Health and Sports added in passing that the domestic medical cannabis industry is growing steadily and that Australia will need to import from other countries until locally produced cannabis is available in pharmacies.