Barry and Joy Lambert recognised as medicinal cannabis pioneers
Barry and Joy Lambert were conferred with at the University of Sydney鈥檚 Great Hall today in recognition of their support for medicinal cannabis research.
Mr and Mrs Lambert are recognised for their ongoing support and advocacy for research into the efficacy and safety of what some people hope might be the next 'breakthrough treatment鈥�.
Both Barry and Joy were driven by the need to alleviate the life-threatening seizures experienced by their granddaughter
Barry and Joy Lambert (centre) with Sydney Medical School's Head of School and Dean, Professor Cheryl Jones,聽and Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Michael Spence (L-R).
The couple was conferred with Honorary Fellowships by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence at the Faculty of Medicine and Health graduation ceremony. The citation referred to their 鈥渟ubstantial contributions to research excellence at the University through the establishment of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics鈥�.
聽to the University of Sydney for research into the therapeutic use of medicinal cannabis at the . Their gift is being used to fund the Lambert Initiative.
罢丑别听聽is a world-leading research centre focussed on developing safe and effective cannabinoids for medical use. The Lambert Initiative is also committed to outreach and routinely provides expert advice and education to medical professionals, pharmacists, the government and the general community.聽
Through their spirit of generosity and their strong promotion of research excellence, Barry and Joy have truly changed the lives of thousands 鈥� if not millions 鈥� of people in Australia and around the world.
The citation reads: "Barry and Joy鈥檚 continued financial and ideological support has transformed the University鈥檚 research efforts in this area and allowed the University to lead Australia and the world in the science of cannabis and cannabinoids. The Lamberts鈥� support has enabled the creation of state-of-the-art facilities that are now thriving with the research activity of around 40 researchers.
鈥淏oth Barry and Joy were driven by the need to alleviate the life-threatening seizures experienced by their granddaughter, at the age of two. Because of her treatment with medicinal cannabis, Katelyn can now go to school and experience life as a typical eight-year-old.
鈥淏arry and Joy are fierce proponents of the need to change the way we think about cannabis and have campaigned strongly for greater patient access to cannabis-based medications.鈥�
Mr Lambert is now the Chairman of Ecofibre, which produces and distributes hemp-derived products to consumers and retailers in the United States.
The citation concludes: 鈥淭hrough their spirit of generosity and their strong promotion of research excellence, Barry and Joy have truly changed the lives of thousands 鈥� if not millions 鈥� of people in Australia and around the world who suffer from conditions that may be alleviated by the use of safe and effective cannabinoid therapeutics.鈥�