Legalise Cannabis MP resigns from consultancy gig

Brian Walker, who was elected to the Legislative Council earlier this year, has resigned as a consultant for ASX-listed cannabis outfit Creso Pharma following pushback over the appointment.

Dr Walker, who is a member of the Legalise Cannabis Party and has represented the East Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council since May, had been appointed to the position on Thursday but today told Business News he's since resigned from the role.

He said he was happy to work with Creso Pharma given his role would have focused on psychadelics as oppossed to cannabis, but said a perception of conflict may have complicated his work chairing a select committee into cannabis and hemp.

"I've had to pull back a bit, very sadly," he said.

"It wouldn't have conflicted with my role but it would've been perceived to have conflicted with the role."

He said he would advocate for medical research into the use of psychadelics after the committee tables its findings.

"People's lives depend on it," he said.

"As a scientifically minded medical practitioner, I really want this to work."

Dr Walker has been a medical practitioner since 1979 and continues to serve as a part-time GP.

His role with Creso Pharma would have included him chairing its newly created scientific advisory committee, as well as overseeing and providing input into the company’s medicinal cannabis, hemp and psychedelic products.

He would have received 200,000 options, worth $40,000, as remuneration for his services.

UPDATE: Creso Pharma has acknowledged Dr Walker's resignation in a release to the ASX, stating that, while neither party considered there to be a conflict in the appointment, a perceived conflict may have arisen due to his being an elected official.