Parliamentary Friends Meeting
Associate Professor Malcolm Hogg
Head of Pain Services, Melbourne Health, Painaustralia Clinical Director and Medicinal Cannabis Prescriber.
Professor Jennifer Martin
Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle.
Associate Professor Michael Vagg
Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine.
On Thursday 12 November, the first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group was held to discuss medicinal cannabis for pain management. This was an important opportunity to outline on behalf of our community the frustration we feel regarding the lack of pain management treatments available, the hope and expectation that many in our community have for medicinal cannabis and the barriers to access that exist.
CEO Carol Bennett outlined Painaustralia’s briefing paper on medicinal cannabis, which highlights the need for better pain management options and access for Australians living with pain, and a more robust evidence-base for medicinal cannabis as a pain management treatment.
Associate Professor Malcolm Hogg, Head of Pain Services at Melbourne Health, Painaustralia Clinical Director and medicinal cannabis prescriber, discussed the nuances around prescribing medicinal cannabis for chronic pain patients.
Professor Jennifer Martin, Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, discussed the latest research around medicinal cannabis and the studies that are currently underway.
Associate Professor Michael Vagg, Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine, discussed how cannabinoids measure up to clinical standards including biological plausibility, risks and effectiveness as a pain management strategy.
It was a fascinating and thoughtful discussion with great questions that raised the level of awareness and understanding amongst our critical parliamentary advocates.
You can view the event recording here.