Australia legally allows growing Marijuana for medical use
Posted by Sagar Satapathy on November 01, 2016.
In a major development, Australia has allowed people and entities to grow medicinal marijuana plants under strict government license and guidelines, ensuring there would be a domestic supply of medicinal marijuana products not readily available for import.
The Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016 came into effect on Sunday. It now allows people or organizations in Australia to apply for a license to cultivate and manufacture medical marijuana in the country.
Australia's Health Minister Sussan Ley said the legislation would give patients and doctors access to a safe, reliable and legal source of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
"Until now, it has been difficult for patients to access medicinal cannabis products from overseas sources," Ms Ley said on Sunday. "These new laws change that situation by providing for a domestic supply of medicinal cannabis products that are not readily available for import."
The Minister also stated that the changes do not decriminalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, since the using of marijuana for recreational purposes remain illegal throughout Australia.
Under the act, those people or business organizations interested to grow marijuana plants must comply with the individual state and territory drug legislations in accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Meanwhile hundreds of people and businesses entities both local and international have registered their interest in obtaining a license in this regard. The qualified people and business organizations can obtain the required license from the Office of Drug Control.
Applicants must show the site would be secure for cultivation, production, manufacturing or research of medical marijuana, while it is left up to individual states and territories to award licenses and outline the types of cannabis plants that can be cultivated and the quantities that can be produced.
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