Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Amendment Bill 2022

The majority voted against a second reading amendment introduced by Queensland Senator [Malcolm Roberts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/malcolm_roberts] (One Nation), which means it failed. The amendment would have added the text below to the usual second reading motion "That the bill be read a second time" - parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of a bill.

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that many Australians are unable to access medical cannabis owing to the bureaucratic framework in place, and the cost to patients; and

(b) calls on the Government:

(i) to make natural, whole plant, Australian medical cannabis available to any Australian with a medical need, by doctor's prescription, filled by a pharmacist on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; and

(ii) to ensure that the decision to prescribe medical cannabis is a matter between only the doctor and the patient, which is subject to real time prescription monitoring in the same way as other controlled medicines".