Victoria's plans for medical cannabis use

VICTORIA TO TAKE PART IN TRIALS OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

THE LAW

* The Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill that Victoria's parliament is set to debate this month could legalise medicinal cannabis products for severely ill patients.

TRIALS

* 10 kids from Victoria with severe epilepsy will take part in an ongoing international trial of synthetic cannabis.

* Victoria will join a NSW-led trial late this year of cannabis and cannabis-derived products for the terminally ill.

* If the Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill passes, a cannabis cultivation trial will get underway with the first patients expected to be able to access products from 2017.

SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID

* Chemical structure different to THC (the active component of cannabis) but effects are similar to cannabis.

* Usually sold combined with herbs.

NATURAL CANNABIS

* Is a depressant drug, main active chemical is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol).

* Comes in three forms:

* Marijuana: the dried plant that's smoked

* Hashish: dried resin usually mixed with tobacco or added to foods

* Hash oil: a liquid usually added to the tip of a cigarette

(Source: www.druginfo.adf.org.au)