Update: Export of Australian cultivated and manufactured medicinal cannabis products

There was overwhelming support for allowing the export of medicinal cannabis products.

Some of the reasons provided justifying export included:

• Australia is an ideal supply source (well regulated, low domestic consumption, ideal and consistent growing conditions and low cost).
• There is a current global shortage
• Ability to tap into larger markets compared with what can be offered in Australia
• Australia has ethical farming practices and a well-governed image to become a major player internationally
• Foreign investment opportunities
• Australia's competitive edge through geographic location (e.g. growing conditions, amount of annual sunlight)
• Economic growth, tax benefits, creation of new jobs
• Will facilitate the growth of an emerging industry
• Opportunity to invest in research.

The small number of respondents who did not support export explained that this position reflected the importance of securing adequate supply for the domestic market first.

Responses around how domestic patient access might be maintained were varied; however, the most common themes were:

• Doing nothing and allowing the market to dictate supply
• Introducing an industry code of practice
• Imposing conditions on licences to guarantee domestic supply
• Public commitment to supply to the Australian market

While outside of the scope of the discussion, other comments were provided outlining:

• the importance of improved harmonisation between existing state and territory and Commonwealth regulatory frameworks
• focusing on the continuing education of physicians to build the Australian market in parallel to export.