In an Australian first, NSW is researching medicinal cannabis cultivation.
The Federal Government has given the NSW Department of Primary Industries the go-ahead for the pilot cannabis cultivation program.
NSW Minister Primary Industries Niall Blair said the program paves the way for non-government cultivation in the future.
“This is an important step forward that underpins the potential pharmaceutical supply of cannabis-based medicines made in Australia.”
Australia’s international obligations to the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs won’t be affected by the research.
“This cultivation research will build the additional evidence required to produce medicinal cannabis in NSW to guaranteed safety and quality standards,” Mr Blair said.
The NSW Government has invested $21 million in the cultivation program, which is hoped to deliver legal, standardised pharmaceutical cannabis products that health professionals can prescribe safely.
Read more about the Terminal Illness Cannabis Scheme.
