The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) was established in 2008 in response to data published in the Pfizer Australia Health Report. NDARC and NCPIC have collaborated with

Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...

Australia to assist with educating the public about

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...

. Many in the Australian community are concerned that this collaboration and NCPIC involvement with

GW Pharmaceutical GW Pharmaceuticals is a British pharmaceutics company known for its multiple sclerosis treatment product nabiximols (brand name, Sativex) which was the first natural cannabis plant derivative to gain market approval in any country. Another cannab ...

and

SATIVEX Nabiximols (USAN, trade name Sativex) is a specific ''Cannabis'' extract that was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the United Kingdom. Nabiximols is sold as a mouth spray intended to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticity, overactive bla ...

places NDARC and NCPIC in a position of conflicted interests. In 2016 it was announced that the Australian government would cut funding to the NCPIC at year's end. While prevalence rates have markedly reduced over the past decade, cannabis is still widely used by young people, and the impacts on adolescent development remain an important issue. The key goals of the Centre are: * providing the Australian community with cannabis information resources about cannabis * supporting service providers to respond to those experiencing problems related to cannabis * specifically engaging young people to reduce and prevent cannabis uptake

Rationale

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre was established in response to data published in the Pfizer Australia Health Report. NDARC and NCPIC have collaborated with Pfizer Australia to assist with educating the public about cannabis. Many in the Australian community are concerned that this collaboration and NCPIC involvement with GW Pharmaceutical and SATIVEX places NDARC and NCPIC in a position of conflicted interests. The NCPIC mission is to reduce the use of cannabis in Australia by preventing uptake and providing the community with evidence-based information and interventions. Despite this mission, NCPIC has been seen to publish fabricated and misleading cannabis information in the past. The Centre closed its doors after losing Commonwealth funding in December 2016.

References

External links

*
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Cannabis Prevention And Information Centre Cannabis research 2008 establishments in Australia Cannabis in Australia 2008 in cannabis