Australia’s first medical cannabis trial for terminally ill adults will begin early next year at a Newcastle hospital.

 

The NSW Government announced on Monday that NSW will start medical cannabis research and about 30 terminally ill adults being cared for by Newcastle’s Calvary Master Hospital will take on this new trial of medical cannabis.

 

The 30 people will participate in the first of three trials, which will test whether cannabis medication alleviates cancer, symptoms including fatigue, nausea and insomnia and pain for terminally ill patients and chronic sufferers.

 

Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward announced that the trial would be conducted by palliative care specialist and also the University of New South Wales’ Chief Investigator Associate Professor Meera Agar.

 

Associate Professor Agar said the trial was exciting because it would first of all examine whether vaporising cannabis leaf would allow the beneficial effects of cannabis on appetite to be very quickly felt by the body, but without some of the toxic side-effects of inhaling smoke.

 

She also added that the trial will evaluate two types of cannabis products - vaporised leaf cannabis and a pharmaceutical.

 

“It will be undertaken in two parts, and will assess the potential ability of cannabis to alleviate distressing symptoms including fatigue, low appetite, altered taste and smell for food, low mood, weight loss, nausea, insomnia and pain relief,” she said.

 

Three trials, which is part of the NSW Government’s $9 million commitment, were announced in December last year. Premier Mike Baird made the commitment after the tireless campaigning of Dan Haslam, who died in February from bowel cancer, and his family with medical conditions that could benefit from access to the drug.

 

Fairfax Media reported last month that a private donation to Sydney University of more than $30 million will allow further research into the medical applications of cannabis.

 

Mr Baird said the trials would position NSW as a world-leader in research into cannabis and terminal illness as well as help alleviate suffering.

 

"We do not want patients or carers having to play pharmacist - that is why it is so important to explore the safest and most effective ways we can deliver compassionate care and improve the quality of life," he said. 

 

The next step will be for the research team to seek review and approval of the trial by a Human Research Ethics Committee.

 

Patients will begin treatment in early 2016 with initial results expected by the end of 2016.

 

Once the results of part one are known, part two may expand the trial to a broader range of patients across metropolitan and regional hospitals.

 

Hyuna Yeom / edit@hanhodaily.com