Welcome

Dear Members and those considering joining SCCAC, 

As the authorised Australian Chapter of the international Society of Cannabis Clinicians, we are proudly focused on three main areas of interest: Education, Advocacy and Community.

1. Providing scientifically based education for health care practitioners:

Medicinal cannabis has such a variety of components and indications that a strong base of understanding and knowledge is required to provide the best outcome for patients. As a not-for-profit organisation, our interest is in providing robust knowledge to HCPs to enable them to provide the best care possible for patients in need. This year, we have plans to make available an affordable course on the endocannabinoid system and medicinal cannabis that will be comprehensive, RACGP accredited and continually kept up to date by our advisory panel.  

SCCAC will also be playing an active part in the 2022 Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium, by providing a Training Day for HCPs on Sunday 22nd May in addition to sessions during the general symposium.  For more information on the symposium, go to https://unitedincompassion.com.au/2022-symposium 

2. Advocating on behalf of patients and their healthcare practitioners:

There remain many areas needing change in the medicinal cannabis sector, including driving restrictions that are imbalanced when compared to those set for opioids, benzodiazepine and other narcotics. We believe it is highly unfair for patients to be unable to drive with even a trace of legally prescribed THC in their blood, even if it improves their cognitive function. 

Veterans are also in need of improved access to medicinal cannabis, with DVA currently funding medicinal cannabis for e.g. chronic pain but not post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite growing evidence for that indication.  SCCAC will be putting together a submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides to support funding for all appropriate indications. 

3. Building an active community of like-minded individuals:

This year, SCCAC will increase its online meetings from quarterly to monthly, rotating General, Journal Club and Case Discussions in turn. All members are encouraged to participate and, if they wish, to contribute to / lead Journal Club or Case Discussions. 

This month, Dr. Daniel Efron, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Childrens' hospital, Melbourne, Senior Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and A/Prof at the University of Melbourne, Dept of Paediatrics.   A/Prof Efron will be speaking on the "Potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids to treat behavioural problems in children and adolescents with developmental disorders"

If you are not yet a member of SCCAC, please consider joining to help us further build the Chapter into a Society that will provide support to all healthcare providers, as well as associated specialties such as researchers, in this sector. To join SCCAC, just click JOIN US at the top of this page. 

If you are already a member, please continue to be involved and let us know how we can better support you through info@ausmca.org

Best regards,

Warm regards,

Lucy Haslam

Founder, SCCAC