Government introduces changes to facilitate medicinal cannabis production

Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson says proposed amendments to the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 will make it possible for Queensland producers to be part of Australia’s medicinal cannabis supply chain.

 The Minister today introduced the Farm Business Debt Mediation Bill 2016 which includes amendments that will create new opportunities for Queensland farmers.

 “Amendments to the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 have been included in the Bill to enable the supply of seed by Queensland licensed industrial cannabis producers to proponents licensed under the Federal Government’s newly established medicinal cannabis cultivations and research scheme.

 “Currently Queensland produces some industrial hemp and the industry has developed valuable cannabis seed lines for which it holds plant breeder rights but under existing legislation there is no scope for growers to supply seed into the medicinal cannabis supply chain.

 “Earlier this year, Queensland Health, supported by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, hosted a series of meetings across the State with producers who had expressed an interest in supplying medicinal cannabis.

 “One of the issues raised consistently at these meetings was sourcing suitable cannabis seed.

 “The proposed amendments will enable Queensland industrial hemp producers to supply seed into the medicinal cannabis supply chain once the amendments pass into law early next year.

 “It means that producers who are licensed by the Federal Government to grow medicinal cannabis will have access to seed.”

 Minister Donaldson explained that the Federal Government will maintain a strictly controlled licensing system and that the proposed changes would not allow anyone to grow their own cannabis for medical purposes.

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