Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead is supporting the NSW government’s commitment to invest $9 million over the next five years on three clinical trials to further explore the use of cannabis and/or cannabis products in providing relief for patients suffering from a range of debilitating or terminal illnesses.
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The clinical trials are aimed at helping:
- the terminally ill and people on chemotherapy focusing on improving quality of life and symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting;
- adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, where standard treatment is ineffective; and
- children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy.
Mr Bromhead said he was pleased that NSW Premier Mike Baird had given the go-ahead for the first two trials to start.
“My experience as a nurse caring for patients with painful and terminal disorders has convinced me that standard treatment for some patients is not assisting them,” Mr Bromhead said.
“Clinical trials take time and must meet national and international standards. These trials will seek to enhance available evidence to better understand the appropriate use of cannabis and cannabis derived products for medical purposes.
Mr Bromhead said the NSW government has also developed the Terminal Illness Cannabis Scheme which provides guidelines for NSW police officers to assist them in determining appropriate circumstances in which to use their discretion not to charge adults with terminal illness who use cannabis and/or carers who assist them.
“As a former police officer who frequently dealt with illicit drug use, I support measures that will assist police in establishing appropriate procedures,” Mr Bromhead said.
“It is vital that we look at this issue thoroughly so that we can get a better understanding of how medical cannabis could alleviate symptoms and pain in terminally ill patients.
“We already have legitimate medical-based use of opium, legitimate medical-based use of cocaine, so we need to research how the legitimate use of medicinal cannabis can be used in the daily practice of medicine.
“As the premier said, we do not want patients or carers having to play pharmacist – that is why it is so important to explore the safest and most effective ways we can deliver compassionate care and improve the quality of life.
“The trials will help to position NSW at the forefront of world-class research in this area and explore how we can complement the existing palliative care treatments and therapies patients receive,” Mr Bromhead said.