THE VICTORIAN Government has appointed an expert advisory committee on medicinal cannabis, which will meet for the first time next week.
The committee would be chaired by Monash University's Department for Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine's Professor John McNeil, Health Minister David Davis said.
He welcomed the agreement between Victoria, the Commonwealth and other states and territories to pave the way for a national approach to examining the role of cannabis in pain relief.
"We want to better understand how medicinal cannabis can help improve quality of life for seriously ill patients," Mr Davis said.
"This important agreement allows us to work collaboratively - Victoria is playing a leadership role on this significant issue, but we have a far greater chance of success by partnering with NSW and other jurisdictions."
Mr Davis said the issue was raised at the recent COAG Health Council meeting at which the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed to work collaboratively on medicinal cannabis.
"Ministers agreed to work collaboratively to share knowledge and information on issues relating to the use of appropriate therapeutic products derived from cannabis for medicinal purposes," he said.
The Government would seek to pass the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Clinical Trials) Amendment Bill, in Parliament this week.
"This legislation will help facilitate medicinal cannabis trials, in another step towards the use of marijuana compounds in treating or relieving the symptoms of a range of illnesses and conditions," Mr Davis said.
