To be honest here at CLR we think this proposed legislation by Hanson is a complete distraction that’s a somewhat vain attempt to regain former glories for One Nation .
Here’s what leading Australian lawyer Dr Teresa Nicoletti thinks ..
Mills Oakley partner Dr Teresa Nicoletti and lawyers Ella Adams and Rebecca Pecovski ponder what One Nation’s new medicinal cannabis access bill would mean for patients if it becomes law.
Earlier this month, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson introduced the Improving Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2023 in the Senate. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill states that it proposes to:
- reschedule medicinal cannabis to schedule 4, allowing its prescription by any medical practitioner;
- adopt a definition for cannabis that allows a higher level of THC, up from 0.1% to 1%, which its authors say is below the recognised level for any hallucinogenic response and harmonises Commonwealth law with state and territory laws;
- allow whole-plant cannabis products with a limit of 1% THC and 10% CBD to be sold over the counter at a chemist or by a veterinarian to persons over 18; and
- retain the listing for hemp as a food product with existing limits unchanged.
According to the memo, these proposed changes supposedly:
- remove the need for the Approved Prescriber Scheme (APS) and Special Access Scheme (SAS) to access medicinal cannabis; and
- allow for the inclusion of medicinal cannabis products on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The aim of the bill is to improve access for all Australians and for animals. But does it achieve its intended purpose?
Read the full report at
Pauline’s puzzling proposal – does it achieve its intended purpose?
Also see
Pauline Hanson supports an immediate green light on medical cannabis
