Govt offers guidance on medical cannabis

For the first time, a federal government website will offer information and guidance on the use of medical cannabis to treat five different conditions.

The federal government has released information on how effective medical cannabis is for five medical uses.

These include palliative care, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, chronic non-cancer pain and epilepsy.

The guidance papers for doctors and the public acknowledge little research has been done for many years and there isn't much information in most medicine courses.

"GPs, specialists and consumers have been calling for information about medicinal cannabis, and its use and effectiveness to treat certain conditions," federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told News Corp on Friday.

"These documents will help the patient and doctor make a joint decision about whether medicinal cannabis is the right treatment option for their individual circumstances.

"The decision to use medicinal cannabis products to treat symptoms is made on a case-by-case basis and is not a one-size-fits-all approach."

The information, available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration's website, breaks down recommendations for doctors across various areas.

Given clinical trials are underway in Australia and across the world it's expected the documents will be updated at least every year.


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Source: AAP


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