Newcastle's leading addiction specialist has been appointed to the state government's Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Council.

Doctors, academics and patient welfare advocates have been appointed to a special advisory council to guide the NSW Government's medicinal cannabis research program. 

Among the nine member board is Newcastle associate professor Adrian Dunlop. 

Professor has over 20 years experience as an addiction clinician and currently serves as the Addiction Medicine Senior Staff Specialist with Hunter New England Health. 

Other members of the board include, Professor Richard Day AM, Dr Bronwyn Evans, Mrs Lucy Haslam, Professor Alison Jones, Professor Graham King, Professor Laurent Rivory, Dr Saxon Smith and Dr Kendra Sundquist. 

The new advisory council will work with the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation to ensure the centre is informed by best practice and linked to community, researchers and industry. 

The first medicinal cannabis trial for terminally ill adults will be carried out...