THE Tasmanian Government should support medical cannabis trials and protect existing users against criminal charges, a parliamentary inquiry has found.
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The Legislative Council committee's interim report was released this afternoon, with findings and recommendations it says require immediate government action.
The report said urgent legislative reform was needed to shield individuals involved in the supply and administration of the medication, whom it considers at risk of prosecution under Tasmanian drug laws.
Its authors said expertise exists within the state to participate in the research and development of medical cannabis, arguing governmental policy and legislative support was essential if a trial were to be launched.
The committee found clinical trials could prove costly and time consuming, and should be undertaken in collaboration with other states and territories.
The interim report said any security risks arising from conducting a trial would be manageable and should not be an impediment to cultivating and processing medical cannabis in Tasmania.
The government says it will review the report and await the committee's final recommendations.
But Health Minister Michael Ferguson has again ruled out providing legislative protection to existing users of medical cannabis, saying the move was unnecessary and potentially problematic.
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