Cutting-edge medical research often calls for support from science-literate lawyers, no more so than in the legalisation of contentious drugs, such as medicinal marijuana, says Dr Teresa Nicoletti.

Dr Nicoletti (pictured) is a partner at Piper Alderman who is currently advising players in the emerging medicinal cannabis industry in Australia. 

She spoke with Lawyers Weekly following an important breakthrough: the approval of a new medicinal cannabis trial by NSW Premier Mike Baird last week.

These trials, led by a team at UNSW, will examine whether vapourised cannabis can help 30 terminally ill patients by relieving symptoms including fatigue, nausea and insomnia.

Under Australian law, all commercial, personal and medicinal use of cannabis containing greater than 0.5 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is currently prohibited.

The only exception to this is a drug called Sativex, which is used to treat muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis sufferers. Cannabis can also be used in government-approved research projects undertaken...