Tabling of Report on the Review into the 2016 medicinal cannabis amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967
Report on the Review into the 2016 medicinal cannabis amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 was tabled in Parliament on Thursday 5 September 2019.
Towards the end of 2018, Minister Greg Hunt appointed Professor John McMillan AO to conduct a Review and Report on the operation of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the Act) in accordance with section 26A of the Act.
Professor McMillan's Final Report on the Review of the Act was tabled in Parliament on Thursday 5 September 2019.
The Final Report contains 26 recommendations to improve the regulatory framework for the cultivation, production and manufacture of medicinal cannabis in Australia. Minister Hunt has accepted all 26 recommendations put forward by Professor McMillan, which broadly aim to reduce the regulatory burden on industry, promote and allow greater flexibility in the administration of the legislation to support industry innovation and development.
A two stage reform process is proposed to be undertaken to ensure that the recommendations are appropriately implemented with some reforms being implemented as early as later this year. Further details on the implementation of these reforms will be published in due course.