Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA) has concluded its roadshow in Melbourne, one of four stops on a tour of state capitals during which stakeholders helped the body identify the key challenges facing the sector.

More than 60 guests and VIPs heard Reason Party leader and Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA) deputy chair Fiona Patten speak about drug-driving reform in Victoria while Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank updated guests on the party’s progress in tackling that – and other issues impacting patients – in parliament.

From left: MCIA executive officer Patty Holmes, Heyday Medical co-founder and managing director Phoebe Macleod, MedReleaf Australia managing director Kristen Viccars and MCIA chair Peter Koetsier.

Head of the newly formed AHPRA Rapid Regulatory Response Unit Jason McHeyzer met with the MCIA board separately and also attended the event.

MCIA will now collate the feedback it collected from industry stakeholders during the roadshow to identify the main priorities for the sector.  

Executive officer Patty Holmes said an initial analysis suggests a better understanding of the regulatory framework, especially for advertising/GMP compliance, education for healthcare practitioners and in universities, and how the Office of Drug Control (ODC) will manage compliance with the UN Convention are among the most pressing issues identified so far.

She will do a deeper dive into the feedback over the coming days so it can be discussed at the next MCIA board meeting.

Prior to launching Cannabiz, Martin was co-founder and CEO of Asia-Pac’s leading B2B media and marketing information brand Mumbrella, overseeing its sale to Diversified Communications in 2017. A journalist...

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