Just days after he was appointed to a couple of roles at medical cannabis company Creso Pharma, Legalise Cannabis Western Australia’s Brian Walker MLC has ditched the position.
Last week, Creso Pharma announced the appointment of Dr Walker as a strategic consultant to the company and as chair of its newly created Scientific Advisory Committee. Among his work, he was to oversee and provide input into Creso’s medicinal cannabis, hemp and psychedelic product development.
Creso Pharma commented it was:
“confident that Dr Walker’s appointment will provide the Company with additional access to opportunities, including local and international peak bodies and industry participants.”
Dr Walker said:
“Initially, my focus will be on appointing additional industry participants to join the Committee, while pursuing potential trials, grants and opportunities which will highlight Creso Pharma’s leading products and potential in these growing subsectors of the medical field.”
Among other cannabis related activities, Dr Walker was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council as a Legalise Cannabis WA member for the East Metropolitan Region back in May this year. More recently, last month he was chosen to chair a WA Parliament Select Committee delving into into issues concerning medical cannabis access and opportunities for industrial hemp in the state.
While Creso Pharma and Dr. Walker were both very enthusiastic about his new role with the company, there were criticisms elsewhere that it presented a conflict of interest. Obviously that criticism has been taken on board, and quickly.
Creso Pharma issued a brief announcement yesterday about Dr. Walker’s resignation.
“Whilst Creso and Dr Walker do not consider there to be any conflicts that can not be appropriately managed, both parties recognise the public perception of a potential conflict of interest with his role as a Legalise Cannabis WA member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for the East Metropolitan Region.”
Creso says Dr. Walker hasn’t received any cash remuneration from his (incredibly short) association and the 200,000 options issue to him when appointed will be cancelled shortly.
And thus ends what could be be the shortest formal association for an ASX-listed medical cannabis company.
