Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2021

The Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2021 (Cth) was introduced to the Commonwealth Parliament’s House of Representatives on 3 February 2021 by Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on behalf of Greg Hunt, the Minister for Health and Aged Care. The Bill proposes extensive amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth).

The Bill makes a number of amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the “ND Act”). These amendments are part of the second stage of the implementation of recommendations of the Final Report of the McMillan Review by Professor John McMillan AO into the regulation of medicinal cannabis.

The Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (as amended by the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016 (the “Amendment Act”)) establishes a licensing scheme for the cultivation and production of cannabis and cannabis resin for medicinal and scientific purposes. The ND Act also makes provisions for licensing the manufacture of other narcotic drugs.

The Amendment Act introduced a requirement for a review of the medicinal cannabis scheme to be undertaken.

For more information about Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2021 visit the Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation.

legislation.gov.au

For more information, refer to the McMillan review (Prof. McMillan's final report on the operation of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the Act) in accordance with section 26A of the Act).