Rare unity: NSW Parliament overwhelmingly backs medicinal cannabis industry push

In a rare show of unity, the NSW Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for the state government to develop a comprehensive medicinal cannabis industry policy, with MPs recognising the massive economic opportunity presented by the global cannabis boom.

The motion, moved by crossbench MP Jeremy Buckingham on September 17, highlighted the staggering size of the global legal cannabis market, which was valued at approximately $50 billion in 2022 and is forecast to explode to more than $400 billion within the coming decade.

Buckingham, who sits as an independent after leaving the Greens in 2018, presented compelling international evidence to support NSW entering the medicinal cannabis space. In the United States, the legal cannabis sector generates over $33 billion annually and supports more than 440,000 jobs. Meanwhile in Canada, the industry directly contributes more than $16 billion annually to GDP and supports over 227,000 jobs.

For context, Australia's illegal and legal cannabis market is already worth an estimated $14.8 billion, with the vast majority flowing to criminal organisations rather than legitimate taxpaying businesses.

Australia's medicinal cannabis market is projected to grow from nearly $1 billion in 2024 to over $1.2 billion by 2028.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty backed the motion on behalf of the Labor government, revealing that at least 15 companies with medicinal cannabis operations are already operating in NSW. These include major players like Australian Natural Therapeutics Group, Cymra Life Sciences, Aruma Labs, MedReleaf, PharmaCrop and MedTEC Services.

"The medicinal cannabis industry in New South Wales is a fast‑growing sector that contributes to a range of positive outcomes, including health innovation, regional development and advanced manufacturing," Moriarty told Parliament.

The Nationals' Scott Barrett supported the motion while reminding Parliament of his party's pioneering role in the industry. Barrett credited the work of former Nationals Minister Niall Blair, who in 2016 helped NSW become the first Australian state authorised to conduct medicinal cannabis cultivation research.

Barrett also acknowledged the powerful advocacy of Lucy Haslam, whose son Dan used cannabis during his battle with stage four cancer. "The effect was immediate. The colour came back into his face. He was hungry again. It gave him some quality of life before he died, aged 25," Barrett quoted Haslam as saying.

However, Barrett raised concerns about the current system after speaking with youth advocates, noting issues like "doctor shopping" where prescriptions are being shared at parties, and the need for stronger regulations to protect young people from potential risks including addiction and psychosis.

Greens MP Cate Faehrmann used her speech to push beyond medicinal cannabis toward full recreational legalisation, pointing to successful models overseas and noting that 68% of Australians believe possession of small amounts should not be a criminal offence.

"More than 40 per cent of us have tried cannabis... while the billions of dollars that could be funding our hospitals, schools and housing are instead being handed to organised crime," Faehrmann argued.

The only dissenting voice came from Libertarian Party MP John Ruddick, who supported cannabis legalisation in principle but opposed the motion's call for government assistance to the industry. "Real industries—industries with true supply and demand—do not need government assistance," Ruddick argued, comparing cannabis to the mobile phone industry.

Victoria has already recognised the opportunity, implementing a Medicinal Cannabis Industry Development Plan with the goal of supplying half of Australia's medicinal cannabis by 2028 and creating 500 jobs. The NSW motion specifically calls for the government to match this ambition.

The motion's passage comes as medical cannabis approvals continue to surge nationally, with prescriptions up 117% in 2021 alone. Despite this growth, many patients still struggle with access due to regulatory hurdles and high costs.

Former Agriculture Committee chair Sarah Mitchell also supported the motion, reflecting on her 2013 committee that investigated medicinal cannabis access. That committee produced unanimous recommendations despite having members from across the political spectrum, including the late Dr John Kaye who Mitchell acknowledged as "very much a pioneer in the space."

"There is an industry here. There is real need for people to be able to access cannabis for medicinal purposes," Mitchell told Parliament. "The evidence is there. It makes sense for the Government to be backing in a policy for the cannabis industry."

The motion calls on the NSW Government to develop a medicinal cannabis industry policy, provide research and development support, investment attraction and workforce training, streamline regulations while maintaining safety standards, and position NSW to benefit from the global cannabis industry growth.

As Buckingham noted in his closing remarks, this represents a significant opportunity for NSW, particularly in regional areas where cannabis cultivation could become a major agricultural industry. With global markets booming and Australia already demonstrating strong demand, the question is whether NSW will seize this opportunity or watch other states and countries capture the economic benefits.

The motion's near-unanimous passage sends a clear signal that NSW politicians across the political spectrum recognise the potential of the medicinal cannabis industry - now it's up to the government to act on their recommendation.