Australia to Allow Local Cultivation of Medical Marijuana

Australia is improving its drug laws to allow for the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes.

The new law will remove a major obstacle to the establishment of clinical trials for marijuana.

Amendments are being drafted for the Narcotics Drugs Act which will allow for the controlled cultivation of marijuana, giving patients access to “a safe, legal and sustainable supply of locally produced products for the first time,” said Sussan Ley, the Australian Health Minister.

The Australian government will create a licensing program to regulate and manage the supply and quality of marijuana from the cultivation sites to pharmacy.

“This government is incredibly sympathetic to the suffering of those Australians with debilitating illnesses and we want to enable access to the most effective medical treatments available,” said Ley. He continued, “Allowing the cultivation of legal medicinal cannabis crops in Australia under strict controls strikes the right balance between patient access, community protection and our international obligations.”