PCA proposes four areas for action to ensure the safe, equitable, and evidence-based use of medicinal cannabis (MC) in palliative care:

• Any future regulatory changes to MC access should be designed to promote investment in MC product development and support listing for specific indications and dosages.

• Access to MC on palliative care grounds should be available through clinical trials and/or in partnership with comprehensive interdisciplinary palliative care assessment and management that can be delivered across a range of healthcare settings (e.g. primary care).

• Telehealth is an acceptable mode of delivering access to MC for specific conditions such as intolerable pain and refractory situations, provided it is supported by a comprehensive interdisciplinary palliative care team.

• Any regulatory reform must embed affordability and equitable access, ensuring that financial barriers to MC for palliative care patients are addressed.

PCA’s submission emphasises that medicinal cannabis may have a role in palliative care, but its use must be guided by robust evidence-based data, clinical oversight and assessment, and compassionate care.

Regulation of unapproved medicinal cannabis products