MORE INFORMATION
12 months ago in February 2016, the Federal Government's legislation for a cultivation scheme was passed, unapposed, in under 24 hours in the Australian Parliament. There was no inquiry, no debate or scutiny into whether there would be any unintended or adverse consequences for the patients. There was no input from the patients. We were never advised that Category A would be stopped. The Government have only just advised us that it was always the Government's full intention to only provide access to cannabis through Category B. It was always the Government's policy to deny patients with life threatening conditions access under Category A - TGA notification only. There was NO public consulation. NO consultation with patient advocacy groups. The TGA had already released its rescheduling proposal in January before the legislation was even introduced.
We are now calling on ALL Members of the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia to rectify this unacceptable situation, and to support a Notice of Motion to Disallow the Government's Therapeutic Goods and other Legislation Amendment (Narcotic Drugs) Regulation [F2016L0652]
Overview: Government’s Amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulation
On 1 November 2016, and at the same time the Government down scheduled cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from Schedule 9 to Schedule 8 in the Poisons Standard, without any warning or public consultation, the Government also made discretionary amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulation.
If the Government’s amendments are allowed, patients with life threatening conditions will be denied fast tracked access to all cannabis medicines under Category A of the SAS.
Instead of fast tracked access, patients will need to access all cannabis medicines under the Category B process which can take up to 6 months or even longer, as the doctor first needs Category B approval from the TGA, and then needs to apply for state approval from their state or territory health department under another time consuming bureaucratic process where the state duplicates the TGA process.
The Government’s amendments are also inconsistent with the Government’s own Response to the Review of Medicines and Medical Devices Regulation 2016 that was delivered by Sussan Ley in September 2016, and that reported no changes would be made to Category A of the SAS; and that a new Schedule of Category B products would be eligible for automatic approval, similar to the Category A - TGA notification process.
Please note: These amendments apply to all cannabis under the federal licensing scheme, and not just to imports, and are entirely separate to the amendments to the regulations under the Narcotic Drugs Act that were made about the same time, in regard to cultivation license requirements for fit and proper persons, and Commonwealth and state police sharing sensitive information.
[2] House Disallowable Instrument List, 7 November 2016, Australian Parliament
[3]Senate Disallowable Instruments List, 7 November 2016, Australian Parliament
Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
HIGH PRIORITY VOTE POSTPONED DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT FROM LABOR SENATORS
THE GREEN'S MOTION TO DISALLOW
WILL GO TO A VOTE ON 23 MARCH 2017
WE WANT THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE TO VOTE YES TO GIVE PATIENTS WITH LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS
IMMEDIATE FAST-TRACKED ACCESS TO CANNABIS AND THC
WE OBJECT TO A CBD ONLY AGENDA
VOTE YES to disallow
Disallow the Government's Amendments to the
Therapeutic Goods Regulation 1990
Support Patient's Rights
23 March 2017
1. Notice of Motion to Disallow
A Notice of Motion to Disallow needs to be registered by 13 February 2017. If the Government does not withdraw the amendments by March 23, the Motion goes to a vote. We are asking all Senators to support patients, and to VOTE YES to disallow the Government's amendments.
VOTE TO STOP THESE CHANGES FROM BECOMING LAW ACROSS AUSTRALIA
This is about patients with life threatening conditions and their right to access any form of cannabis medicine in a timely and efficient manner under Category A of the SAS. This is not about political or corporate interests or CBD only agendas.
THERE ARE ONLY 4 SITTINGS DAYS LEFT TO HAVE A NOTICE OF MOTION REGISTERED OR THESE AMENDMENTS BECOME LAW.
When Parliament resumes on 7 February 2017 there are 4 sitting days for a MP or a Senator to stand up for patients and put forward a Notice of Motion to Disallow the Government's Amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulation.
12 months ago, legislation was passed in the Australian Parliament that was not in the interests of patients. Now the Government is trying to take away, the rights of patients with life threatening conditions to be able to access their cannabis and THC under Category A. Under Category A, the doctor only needs to notify the TGA instead of waiting 6 months or longer for TGA and state approval if a patient needs to access Schedule 8 cannabis and THC.
If Sussan Ley's changes are allowed, patients with life threatening conditions will be denied fast-tracked access to cannabis, THC and CBD unde Category A.
Instead of only notifying the TGA, the doctor will need TGA and state approval under Category B, which can take up to 6 months..
The amendments apply to all cannabis medicines coming from Australian suppliers, not just imports.
The SAS, authorised prescribers, and clinical trials are the only way to get access to legal cannabis medicines in Australia under the laws that were passed in February 2016.
If allowed, the Federal Government's amendments will STOP access to all cannabis medicines under Category A, when access to all other Schedule 4 & 8 unregistered medicines is allowed under the Category A fast-tracked process.
Category A - Access Denied
Schedule 8
Cannabis - No Access
Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) No Access
Nabiximols - No Access
Schedule 4
Cannabidiol (CBD) inc. hemp oil - No Access
Category A patients must use Category B which needs TGA and state approval.
How You Can Help
1.. Click here to contact your Senator TODAY:
Ask them to VOTE YES ON THE GREENS MOTION TO DISALLOW
2. Sign and Share the Petition
3. Ask your family and friends to sign and share the petition
4. Send our Form Letter to the Prime Minister
and the new Health Minister, Greg Hunt
5. Also send our form letter to your own Senator and MP
6. Share our petition on Twitter
MCAG SUBMISSION - 5 POINT PLAN
Patient focused submission with a 5 point plan for cannabis law reform for all Australians.
Important Update
GREENS MOTION FOR PATIENTS RIGHTS THAT WAS TO GO TO A VOTE IN THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE ON 23 MARCH 2017 HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT
FROM LABOR SENATORS
Greens Motion to Disallow Government's Unjust Regulation Changes
Richard di Natale, Senator for the Greens lodged a Motion to Disallow the Government's cruel, heartless and unjust amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulation.
WE HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF ALL SENATORS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GREENS PARTY.
WE NOW NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE LABOR SENATORS TO STOP THE GOVERNMENT'S UNJUST POLICY FROM BECOMING
LAW ACROSS AUSTRALIA