2019 heralds the third year of Australia’s Medicinal Cannabis Symposium yet patient access remains pitifully low.
The application process is burdensome, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. Government clinical guidance is narrow, politically motivated and designed to arrive at conclusions suiting outcomes other than the best interests of patients.
Thousands of sick Australians are still forced to rely on the illicit market to obtain what may very well be life-saving medicines while medicos remain confused about how and whether to prescribe. Many doctors even recommend their patients continue to use unregulated products rather than attempting the legal route – United In Compassion (UIC) views this as an unacceptable state of affairs. Meanwhile, research and acceptance around the world is exploding….
UIC seeks to bridge the information gap by once again promoting and showcasing global and domestic research and – importantly – placing patient issues and many would argue, human rights firmly back on the political, regulatory and clinical agendas.
Over 3 days hear from world experts as we grapple with the problems around patient access, guidelines and supply.
The FX Medicine LIVE team were pleased to attend the 2019 UIC Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Tweed Heads on 22-24 March 2019. Watch our interviews from Day One below.
See our interviews from Day Two and Day Three.
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO LUKE CONROY
ANDREW AND LUKE DISCUSSED MEDICINAL CANNABIS SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES:
- The supply of medicinal cannabis
- Legislative challenges of supplying medicinal cannabis
- Legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis
- Appreciation for the discretionary measures of law enforcement for the application, possession and supply of medicinal cannabis in Australia
- Providing education for medical professionals and patients about safe prescription and use of medicinal cannabis
- The cessation of Indiva Pty Ltd
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO ANDREW KAVASILAS
Andrew is the Secretary of the Australian Hemp Party and founder of Medicinal Cannabis Limited (MCL).
ANDREW AND Andrew DISCUSSED THE CHANGING PACE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN AUSTRALIA:
- The history of the Australian Hemp Party
- Medicinal cannabis in Australian and international politics
- Access to cannabis - Special Access Scheme, the black market, cannabis dispensaries
- Safe growing of cannabis
- Changes in the regulations of cannabis use
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO Michael Stoopman
Michael Stoopman is a cancer survivor who and shared his story with FX Medicine Live.
ANDREW AND michael shared his patient story:
- Michael's diagnosis and treatment
- Michael's experience with using medicinal cannabis
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO Dr Teresa Towpik
Dr Teresa Towpik is a GP based in Katoomba with + 25 years of experience.
A former cannabis sceptic now turned advocate, Teresa has always embraced different aspects of healing, not only as a doctor but as a patient as well. She strongly believes healing occurs on many levels from the physical to the emotional as well as spiritual and sees great potential for cannabis in modern medicine.
Her efforts are focused on educating health professionals and patients as she understands that knowledge is the key to reversing the stigma behind cannabis especially in our evidence based society.
In 2016, she founded MediHuanna, an organisation that provides science-based medicinal cannabis education for health professionals.
ANDREW AND Teresa DISCUSSED Doctors' changing view of cannabis:
- How doctors generally regard cannabis
- From skeptic to advocate
- The development of practitioner education website Medihuanna
- Administration of medicinal cannabis
- The Australian landscape of medicinal cannabis
- Teresa's opinion regarding the Medical Board of Australia's decisions on emerging therapies, integrative medicines and stem cells
- The concept of whole plant medicine vs single-molecule agents
- Navigating the process of prescribing medicinal cannabis for patients
- The quality of legal vs black market cannabis
- The potential benefits of medicinal cannabis on the wider healthcare system
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO John Leith
John Leith is a masters qualified, business Innovater and social entrepreneur with success in commercial property, talent acquisition and management consultancy. He is also the CEO and founder of Oz Medicann Group, and a member of the Medical Cannabis Council.
ANDREW AND John DISCUSSED his personal story behind Oz Medicann Group:
- The beginning of Oz Medicann Group
- Addressing the stigma of cannabis
- John's experience of the Australian landscape of medicinal cannabis
- The goals and philosophies of Oz Medicann Group
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO Mick Palmer
Michael John (Mick) Palmer AO, APM is a barrister and 33 year career police officer with extensive experience in police leadership and corporate governance, reform in community, national and international policing and security. He has had an active interest in human rights and illicit drug reform for many years.
ANDREW AND Mick DISCUSSED putting healthcare above ideology and politics:
- Mick's history as the Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services
- Mick's involvement in illicit drug reform beginning in the 1980's
- How Mick became involved in advocating the use of medicinal cannabis
- What is the political fear which is holding up the accessibility of medicinal cannabis in Australia?
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO Dr Dedi Meiri
Dr Dedi Meiri is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Biology at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and a member of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center (TICC).
Presently, his lab investigates the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids. The main focus of his research is to determine the antitumor effects of cannabinoids, including the anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects of phytocannabinoids.
Dr Meiri also collaborates with cannabis growers, clinicians, major manufacturers and distributors of medical cannabis for the purpose of revolutionising cannabis treatment. He is operating the Cannabis Database Project and his lab is currently involved in eight clinical trials covering diverse aspects of cannabis treatment such as colon disease, pain prevention, cancer treatment and epilepsy.
ANDREW AND Dedi DISCUSSED prioritising patient care:
- An introduction to cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system
- Single-molecule vs full spectrum drugs
- When to use medicinal cannabis. How cannabis can fit into the medical toolbag?
- Weighing up the risks and benefits of all medicines - including cannabis
- How can the Australian government improve access to medicinal cannabis
- Medicinal cannabis in Israel
FX MEDICINE LIVE: ANDREW SPEAKS TO Carol Ireland
Carol Ireland joined Epilepsy Action Australia as CEO in March 2006 and became a Director in 2009. She has worked in the not-for-profit human services sector for a period spanning more than 35 years and holding a variety of executive positions including general management, operations, service delivery, marketing and fundraising roles.
She currently serves on the federal government’s Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis, the Advisory Board of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, and the Steering Committee for the NSW Government’s Paediatric Epilepsy Trials (Medicinal Cannabis Research). She is a founding director of the Medical Cannabis Council, a peak industry body. Carol is a strong and active advocate for people living with epilepsy.
ANDREW AND Carol DISCUSSED the challenges faced by epilepsy patients when accessing medicinal cannabis:
- The frustrations of accessing medicinal cannabis in Australia
- The need for cannabis education for medical practitioners and patients
The FX Medicine Team would like to thank United in Compassion and the 2019 UIC Medicinal Cannabis Symposium for having us.
DISCLAIMER:
The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.