Researchers at the University of WA will test if medicinal cannabis can help chronic insomniacs. A medical trial will investigate if a drop of cannabis oil before bed could help sufferers of chronic insomnia finally get a good night's sleep. In a world-first, researchers at the University of Western Australia will test if the sedating effect of medicinal cannabis can be used by the one-in-three Australians who has regular difficulty falling or staying asleep. Cannabis oil will be administered to test patients one hour before bed, with the quality of their sleep measured using a wrist-based activity monitor and during a series of sleepovers at UWA's Centre for Sleep Science. Originally publ

Parliamentary Budget Office rates fiscal benefits of Greens’ push to legalise, licence and tax marijuana. A medical pot dispensary in Toronto. Canada has committed to legalising cannabis this year but Australia’s major parties are opposed. Photograph: Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images Legalising cannabis would reap the Australian economy almost $2bn a year, the Parliamentary Budget Office has found. The Greens plan to not only decriminalise cannabis but also legalise it for adult use is the latest case study of political differences, with both Labor and the Coalition looking into legalising it for medicinal use, but going no further. But claiming that the “war on drugs had failed

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has called for the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use. Picture: AAP. Greens Leader Richard Di Natale has called for the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, warning that Australia’s approach to drugs has been an “unmitigated disaster”. Senator Di Natale said that almost seven million Australians had tried or used cannabis socially, but warned that just having a small amount in possession could result in an individual receiving a criminal record. He argued that regulating cannabis production and distribution would reduce the risks and help undermine criminal syndicates while also raising hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for

Meghan Markle's nephew will commemorate the royal wedding in a unique way. (Getty) Meghan Markle’s nephew, Tyler Dooley, is developing a special strain of cannabis to celebrate the upcoming Royal Wedding. The 25-year-old grows cannabis in Oregon, USA – which has been legal in the American state since 2015 – and now he’s developing a potent marijuana hybrid named “Markle’s Sparkle.” According to The Daily Mail, Dooley is “more than happy” to offer a sample of the strain to Meghan and Prince Harry if they decide to pay him a visit in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. RELATED: How Meghan Markle is preparing for the Royal Wedding "I’d be happy to show them around if they ever come out here and edu

Health ministers will decide whether to streamline patients access to medicinal cannabis. (AAP) Health ministers will discuss a proposal to streamline patient access to medicinal cannabis at a meeting in Sydney. Patients in all states and territories could get faster access to medicinal cannabis under a deal to to be put to health ministers on Friday. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has already signed up NSW to the process which is expected to make medicinal cannabis available to patients within two days. However other states, especially Queensland where the wait can be as long as six months, have been harder to convince. The deal involves a single approval process under the Therape

Eye drop that treats glaucoma while you sleep An eye drop that treats glaucoma while you sleep has been developed by scientists. It is based on a chemical found in cannabis and could end the misery of twice daily drops that are often ineffective. The condition is triggered by a build-up of pressure that damages cells in the optic nerve. It is the second biggest cause of blindness. The breakthrough could lead to better therapies for other serious eye disorders – including macular degeneration which also destroys sight. Professor Vikramaditya Yadav, a biomedical engineer at British Columbia University in Canada, said: “Medicated eye drops are commonly used to treat glaucoma – but they’

The Turnbull Government’s proposal to allow easier access to medicinal cannabis products will improve Australian patients’ quality of life, says the RACGP RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel said the proposed plan, to be submitted at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on Friday, is in line with advice from the RACGP. “Australian GPs want to see a commitment to a nationally consistent framework for medicinal cannabis access,” Dr Seidel said. “If a specialist GP has decided with their patient that medicinal cannabis is a viable treatment option, then that GP should not be forced to jump through hoops and to have to ask for yet another specialist opinion. “Patients and doctors

A possible landmark legal battle looms over medical marijuana as a Winmalee Dad defends his role in juicing cannabis to help his sick daughters. A Winmalee dad facing police charges after juicing home grown cannabis to treat his seriously ill daughters has appeared again in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday [April 11]. Stephen Alan Taylor, 64, was charged with cultivating a prohibited plant and two counts of possessing a prohibited plant, after police removed 107 plants from his rented home on December 8 last year. He told the Gazette last month he entered a not guilty plea “on the grounds of medical necessity”. Mr Taylor spent more than five years watching daughters Morgan, now 21, and A

New US research shows cannabis laws are associated with a significantly lower rate of opioid prescribing A cross-sectional study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Internal Medicine) has compared opioid prescribing trends between US states that implemented medical and adult-use cannabis laws from 2011 to 2016. During this period, an estimated one-third of opioid prescriptions were misused or abused, of which Medicaid shared a disproportionately large burden. Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care enrollees are reportedly a high-risk population for chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and opioid overdose. In the US, some states have implemented adult-use can

Cannabis. Contributed. A MAN waiting to get on a medicinal cannabis trial couldn't wait any longer, as his prescription medications no longer worked. Police caught wind of the man's illegal marijuana use and searched his William Street residence on March 15. Martin Karl Lewandowsky, 39, pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Thursday to a charge of possessing cannabis and one for possessing a water pipe found by police during the search. Defence lawyer Rowan King said the father-of-two suffered from chronic epilepsy and heart disease. "He turned to cannabis to help him as his lawful medications are not helping him," he said. "He is waiting to get on to a trial of me

A MAN remains in custody after police executed a raid on a property near Kempsey allegedly netting 280 cannabis plants with a potential street value of $560,000. Solicitor Michael Giles did not make an application for bail for 62-year-old Anthony David Bower. Mr Bower was charged on Wednesday, March 28 by police from the Mid North Coast Police District, after they executed a search warrant at a home on Crescent Head Road with the assistance of the Dog Unit. Police facts allege they located a large amount of cash, cannabis leaf and 280 cannabis plants. Mr Bower was arrested and charged with cultivating prohibited plant, deal in proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug and supply pro

Getty Medical cannabis export legislation has been passed, but with such little fanfare that many in the industry were unaware the deed had been done. Further, companies are also allowed to export ‘genetic material’ — seeds. In January the federal government said Australian cannabis companies would only be allowed to export value-added products that had been made here. “The Turnbull Government will now permit the export of Australian manufactured medicinal cannabis products,” Minister for Health Greg Hunt said in January when the changes were unveiled. “This decision will help both the domestic supply and Australian producers by strengthening the opportunities for domestic manufact