One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has introduced legislation that would abolish the Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme and open a pathway for medicinal cannabis products to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The Improving Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2023 proposes replacing the AP scheme with a framework under which "any medical practitioner" would be permitted to prescribe medicinal cannabis to both humans and animals.
During the bill's second reading, Roberts told the Senate it would "substantially improve Australians' access to medicinal cannabis and create an avenue for the listing of cannabis on the PBS".
He said that while the existing system had initially broadened access, "issues with cost, availability, access and quality have made it hard for Australians to secure the right medicine for themselves or their pets".
He added: "This has caused a reduction in uptake in recent months. As the name implies, [the bill] seeks to reverse this decline and ensure Australians and their pets can be prescribed appropriate medicinal cannabis treatments by doctors and veterinarians."
The proposed legislation would leave the list of approved products under the Special Access Scheme unchanged, but would raise the THC threshold for hemp products from 0.1% to 1%, aligning commonwealth law with the higher limit already in place at the state level.
"At this level, THC can't produce a hallucinogenic response," Roberts told parliamentary colleagues.
The bill would also permit cannabis products containing THC below 1% and CBD below 10% to be sold over the counter at a pharmacy or veterinary clinic to anyone aged 18 or over.
"This would commonly create new ranges of products including oils and tinctures, capsules, creams and topicals, bath bombs, patches, nasal sprays and powders, most likely protein supplements with higher CBD than is allowed for a food product in the supermarket," Roberts said.
Existing rules preventing children under 18 from accessing medicinal cannabis treatments over the counter would remain in place.
"Doctors will of course be able to prescribe a cannabis product for a child if, in their medical opinion, it is in the best interests of the patient," he said.
Existing THC and CBD limits for food products, governed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), would not change under the bill, though the low-THC and low-CBD food exemption from classification would be broadened to cover hemp seed in addition to hemp oil.
"Many products currently available in supermarkets use hemp seed and hemp seed flour. The wording change is to add 'hemp seed' to the listing for hemp oil, which also covers hemp seed flour," Roberts explained.
Concluding his address, he added: "Many Australians are seeking more natural medical treatments for themselves and their pets. It's only natural for One Nation to put Australians first with this bill."
The debate was adjourned.
