Patient stories and the life changing benefits they receive from medicinal cannabis should form the central pillar of the industry’s message to the health regular as the consultation process to explore regulatory reform gets underway.
In his opening address at the ACannabis conference in Melbourne, Medicinal Cannabis Industry Association chairman Kristin Viccars said such stories are the “living proof of the difference this therapy and medicine can make”.
“These stories are the foundation of the trust, credibility, and the urgency we need to carry into this consultation process,” he said.
Viccars described the review as an opportunity the industry “cannot afford to miss”. He said the “leadership we demonstrate and solutions we present will shape the future of medicinal cannabis in Australia for many years to come”.
“This is not just another policy review. It’s an open invitation for all of us to engage meaningfully in shaping the next chapter of our industry, he said.
Viccars called on delegates, and the wider industry, to acknowledge and eradicate fragmentation, something he described as a “systemic problem” in the sector.
“Too often we approach government, the media, and even each other with disjointed messaging and competing priorities. This lack of cohesion weakens our voice,” he said. “It dilutes our influence and delays the reforms that we desperately need.
“This is the moment to act with conviction instead of fear, with maturity instead of immaturity and with collaboration instead of competition. With clarity and a clear direction forward is a pathway out of this.”
Touching on the potential merger of MCIA and the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association, the Phytoca chief commercial officer emphasised comments made last month that collaboration between associations is “no longer optional but essential”.
Noting the attendance at ACannabis of the Cannabis Council Australia, he told the conference: “We’ve seen the impacts when MCIA and AMCA present a united front. When both associations speak with one voice on shared priorities, conversations with regulators are more constructive and outcomes more promising.
“The TGA consultation is our chance to demonstrate unity and to prove we have the leadership, discipline and credibility to signal an important step towards self-regulation.
“Engage in the TGA consultation. Whether you’re a prescriber, a patient group, or a company, your submission matters.
“Let’s make sure our voice is unified, constructive, and patient centered. Our shared interests outweighs our differences.
“Policy makers respond to clear, practical proposals that protect patients and grow the industry responsibly.
“We’re at a turning point. This is chance to show that we can be an industry united in purpose, credible in conduct, and committed to delivering positive outcomes for patients.
“If we seize this moment with integrity, unity, leadership, and vision, we can build an industry that earns trust in the community, sets the benchmarking quality and also unlocks its full potential.”