The Dan Haslam memorial educational grant has received nearly A$50,000 in support from actor, singer and medicinal cannabis campaigner Olivia Newton-John, ANTG, Cannatrek, MedTEC Pharma and Spectrum Therapeutics.
Named in honour of United in Compassion (UIC) founder Lucy Haslam’s son Dan, who died from bowel cancer aged just 25, the grant will be used to cover the costs of developing a RACGP-accredited medicinal cannabis course for healthcare professionals announced by UIC and the Society of Cannabis Clinicians Australian Chapter (SCCAC) in February.
The not-for-profit course, based on content developed originally by Dr David Caldicott and updated and expanded by members of the SCCAC advisory panel, will be delivered face-to-face at UIC’s Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in May, with an online version to follow later in the year.
While independent of influence from any single medicinal cannabis company, UIC and SCCAC asked the industry to support the education effort via a one-off, tax-deductible donation to cover course development and to keep module fees affordable.
In order to comply with RACGP accreditation and remain independent, course participants will be invited to access a separate industry portal, where they will be able to learn about specific products and contact sponsoring companies.
A limited number of platinum packages are still available at A$10,000, with gold packages priced at $5,000. Organisations interested in sponsoring the course can find out more via this link.
Lucy Haslam said: “We are on our way and very grateful for the support. I promised Dan that I would continue to fight until every patient in Australia could access legal and affordable medicine. Educating healthcare professionals is a huge part of improving access.”
The Symposium takes place on the Sunshine Coast next month (May 20-22), with a stellar line up of local and international speakers and discounted tickets for Cannabiz members.
Featuring a one-day nurses’ conference, two-day general symposium, and a training day for healthcare professionals, there will also be networking drinks, a gala dinner and three-day trade exhibition.
International speakers include Newton-John, pioneering researchers Dr Sue Sisley and Dr Dedi Meiri, industry analyst Alfredo Pascual and the ‘father of cannabis research’ Professor Raphael Mechoulam.
Local speakers include TGA boss Professor John Skerritt, former magistrate and Drive Change campaigner David Heilpern, Professor Iain McGregor from the Lambert Initiative, and Cannabiz editor-at-large Rhys Cohen.
The event will be MC’d by journalist and TV presenter Helen Kapalos, who made medicinal cannabis documentary A Life of Its Own in 2016.
To take advantage of a 10% discount all on aspects of the Symposium, click here.
