Sydney Addiction Seminars: Medicinal Cannabis in 2021 – When, Why and How?

Australia’s medicinal cannabis industry has rapidly expanded in the last few years, with now dozens of listed manufacturers and suppliers, clinics and dispensing services, advocacy and information services, and often with links between them. The task of obtaining necessary authorities (Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), state health departments and the Office of Drug Control) has been made easier by the TGA providing a one-stop application portal and by clinics of various kinds that facilitate the application process that typically also prescribe the medication.

For what conditions should cannabinoid products be prescribed? Are they effective and safe? How, in what formulations and by whom should they be prescribed? Do GP NPs have a place in this or is it best left to those with a special interest or expertise? How does this relate to the AOD field at this time?

Joining us is:

• Dr Mark Hardy is a GP and Addiction Medicine Specialist who has a wide range of experience a Staff Specialist for NSW Health and as Visiting Medical Officer at The Hills Private Hospital, The Sydney Clinic and the Northern Beaches Hospital. Mark is the Medical Director and a member of the Medical Advisory Board at CA Clinics.
• Professor Nicholas Lintzeris has worked in the field of addiction medicine for almost 30 years in Australia and the UK as a clinician, researcher and as a contributor to health services policy. Among his other areas of clinical and research interest, he has expertise in clinical trials regarding medicinal cannabinoids, including outcome, safety and cost effectiveness assessments and is a Chief Investigator for the Australia Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence. Nick is Director, Drug and Alcohol Services, South East Sydney Local Health District.