Australian Greens Leader, Dr Richard Di Natale today welcomed the government’s announcement on medicinal cannabis but warned that it doesn’t deal with the biggest barriers that will prevent patients from accessing it.

“I welcome that both the Government and Opposition have finally acknowledged that medicinal cannabis reform is needed, however today’s announcement only delivers a small part of changes required,” said Senator Di Natale.

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today called on the federal Labor and Liberal parties to get behind his cross-party bill to establish a regulator of medicinal cannabis and pass it before the end of the year. “The bill to establish a federal regulator of medicinal cannabis has co-sponsors from all sides of politics and it’s been unanimously endorsed by a Senate Inquiry – all that’s left to do is vote on it,” said Dr Di Natale.

Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, today welcomed the review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule but cautioned that all savings must be reinvested into health.

“The Greens don’t support reducing government spending on health by one dollar – but we do support ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely,” said Senator Di Natale.

“The government currently funds many tests and medical interventions that provide little value and expose patients to potential harms.

The Greens are reiterating calls for the Abbott government to bring medicinal cannabis legislation to a vote, in light of the Victorian Law Reform Commission's recommendation that the State Government proceed with a cannabis cultivation trial.

"Unfortunately, Victoria's trial can't proceed without the federal parliament passing supporting legislation," said Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber.

"We need action from the federal parliament before the trial can proceed."

Australian Greens Leader and Health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale today slammed Minister Morrison’s suggestion that drug use cannot be dealt with as health issue.

“Scott Morrison’s suggestion that drug use must be treated as a social toxin and a law and order issue is dangerous and ignorant,” said Senator Di Natale, a former drug and alcohol physician.

“If jail has failed as a deterrent against drug use, what would make the Minister think cutting people off income support would work?

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee unanimously recommended today that the Regulator of Medicinal Cannabis Bill be passed into law. The bill was introduced by Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale and co-sponsored by Senator Ian McDonald, Senator Anne Urquhart and Senator David Leyonhjelm.

“The committee’s unanimous endorsement of the bill is a significant step towards achieving medicinal cannabis reform,” said Senator Di Natale.

Richard is in Portugal on a study tour to investigate the way in which Portugal has reduced its heroin addicted population by implementing genuine drug law reform -- and it couldn’t be more different to Australia.  Where our politicians frequently declare “war on drugs,” make promises to crack down on drug users and implement zero tolerance policies; Portugal treats individual drug use as a health issue - not a criminal one. Here are the top five things Richard has learnt so far.

The Australian Greens have welcomed a report in The Lancet medical journal, which highlights the huge opportunity to improve public health through action on global warming.

"Cutting pollution won't just maintain the status quo - it will make our entire population more healthy, which means more productive and more prosperous," said Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.

"People get overwhelmed by the climate change doomsday scenarios, but we need pay more attention to all the ways we can make life better if we do cut pollution.