Aims

In early 2015 the Victorian Government asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) to review and report on options for legislative change to allow people to be treated with medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances. Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) made a submission on the Medicinal Cannabis Issues Paper and provided a supplementary submission based on a survey of the Cancer Council Victoria Clinical Network (CCVCN). This presentation will provide an overview of the law reform issues and profile key findings from the survey.  

Methods

In May 2015 CCVCN members were surveyed online as to their attitudes and experiences relating to medicinal cannabis in cancer care. Response summaries and descriptive data were collected and responses to open-ended questions analysed for themes. The survey was completed anonymously.

Results

Thirty-one people completed the survey (5% response rate). While the results are constrained by some significant limitations, they do provide useful insight into the attitudes and experiences of thirty one CCVCN members with regard to the current use of medicinal cannabis in cancer care and a proposed medicinal cannabis scheme. Just over two-thirds indicated that they were aware that at least one of their patients used medicinal cannabis to alleviate their cancer related symptoms.  Conversations about medicinal cannabis were generally initiated by patients (64%), followed by family members or carers (29%). Almost 75% of respondents said that they would prescribe medicinal cannabis as part of a legal medicinal cannabis scheme if the quality and consistency of the product could be guaranteed.  CCV’s earlier submission also highlighted the need for further clinical trials and clear  definitions relating to medicinal cannabis.

Conclusion

The VLRC is due to report to the Attorney-General on 31 August 2015. The presentation will discuss the report’s recommendations with a focus on the extent to which CCV and the CCVCN survey respondents’ submissions are addressed.