LEGISLATION CHANGES 5/02/21 NARCOTIC DRUGS AMENDMENT (MEDICINAL...

LEGISLATION CHANGES 5/02/21

NARCOTIC DRUGS AMENDMENT (MEDICINAL CANNABIS) BILL 2021
OUTLINE
The Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2021 (the Bill) makes a
number of amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the ND Act).
These amendments are part of the second stage of the implementation of
recommendations of the Final Report of the McMillan Review by Professor John
McMillan AO into the regulation of medicinal cannabis, including in particular to:
a) streamline and consolidate the licensing structure in the ND Act into a single
licence replacing the current three-licence structure, to reduce regulatory burden
for industry participants undertaking activities across the spectrum of regulated
activities - cultivation, production, manufacture and research;
b) create a perpetual licence and periodic permit structure for the majority of
activities for which a medicinal cannabis licence is required, to support the long
term nature of business investment decisions, whilst maintaining appropriate
regulatory oversight; and
c) reaffirm the Australian Government’s commitment to patient availability of safe,
legal and sustainable supply of cannabis derived medicines.
The Bill also makes minor amendments to the ND Act to address issues identified
through the administration of the scheme and the process of implementation of the
recommendations of the McMillan Review.
Other recommendations from the McMillan Review are also being implemented
administratively and through business process reforms by the Department of Health.
This includes reviewing and reforming medicinal cannabis permits issued under the
ND Act, which can be done without legislative amendment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT
The activities relating to the administration of the medicinal cannabis scheme are
funded through a cost-recovery scheme consistent with the Commonwealth’s costrecovery guidelines. There are no financial implications for the Government.