Greens call for medical cannabis

Greens call for medical cannabis

The NSW Greens have called for the legalisation of medical cannabis, while NSW Police have raided the only producer of a cannabis-derived health product in Australia.

Greens MLC David Shoebridge made the call at a recent rally in Martin Place.

“If a doctor believes that the prescription of cannabis is the best, sometimes even the only, way of dealing with your chronic pain, why do we prohibit that and make it unlawful here in NSW?”

Greens MLC John Kaye told the Star Observer he would move a motion during Parliament’s spring sitting which would outline a plan for a one-year medical marijuana trial under which GPs and treating specialists would be able to prescribe medical cannabis to people with relevant conditions, including HIV, with the approval of the Health Department.

Medical cannabis has been shown to help reduce nausea, pain, appetite loss and wasting associated with HIV.

The trial would be monitored by a panel of health experts who would report at its conclusion.

“We are convinced that there is enough evidence now that says there are people who would massively benefit from the availability of medicinal cannabis,” Kaye said.

“The only thing that really stands between them and the relief from symptoms of suffering, and in some cases improved health, is the irrational connections that politicians make between medicinal cannabis and the recreational use of marijuana.”

In related news, Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd was raided in March as part of the NSW Police’s 2011/2012 Cannabis Eradication Program despite its operating with the knowledge of state and federal departments for more than three years.

Police seized and destroyed cannabis plants that were to be made into a tincture of cannabis which Mullaways was supplying free of charge to more than 300 people with conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV.

All recipients had doctors’ letters advising them to take the tincture.

Mullaways has since resumed manufacturing the tincture.

“I haven’t stopped,” Mullaways director Tony Bower told the Star Observer. “These people are sick and I’m here to get those people the medicine they need.”

Synthetic pharmaceuticals that contain the same active ingredients as cannabis can be legally imported by people with a recommendation from their doctor through the Commonwealth’s Special Access Scheme.

However, those drugs are prohibitively expensive for many as they are not subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

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19 responses to “Greens call for medical cannabis”

  1. All cannabis usage both recreationally and medically should be decriminalised now!

    The exact same with gay marriage – allow it now!

    It is 2014, not 1914 for goodness sake!

    Vote 1 Australian Sex Party (ASP)!

  2. 11/105 Port Stephens Drive
    SalamanderBay NSW 2317
    Australia

    To whom it may concern

    My name is Warren Elliott 57 I’m on the Disabled single pension, I can only use one arm to do things which gives me pain all the time. My friend wrote this because I can’t spell very much so I dictated what I say I have right side Hemiplegia which is my right side is much weaker than the other side threw a car accident 35 years which left my Brain damage, got arthritis threw out my body, scoliosis in my back, had 22 operation’s and more to came
    Just had a spinal decompression of the back found a hole in the lining of the spinal canal then my lung collapsed then got a bleed on the brain I take pain killers (OxyContin and Endone) I don’t like taking them there very addictive. I smoke which helps much more, when I can get it, afford it. it would be much appreciated if you could help me get Medical Marijuana or Cannabis I’m finding it very expensive can I go on MEDICAL trail

  3. Warren Elliott
    3/122-128 Mcintosh Road
    Narraweena 2099
    Sydney NSW
    Australia
    To whom it may concern
    My name is Warren Elliott 56 I’m on the married pension and disabled, My wife wrote this because I can’t write or spell very much so I dictated what I say I’ve got right side hemiplegia witch is my right side is much weaker than the other side threw a car accident 34+ years ago which left me brain damage, got arthritis threw out my body, scoliosis in my back, had 22 operation’s and more to came going to have an operation . I can only use one arm to do things which gives me pain all the time. I take pain killers (oxycontin and Endone) I don’t like taking them there very addictive.
    I smoke which helps much more, when I can get it, afford it. It would be much appreciated if you could help me get medical marijuana or cannabis I’m finding it very expensive. MEDICAL.Trail

  4. hi i smoke to stay alive my son and me got slammed by truck in 2004 and tryed every anti depression pill only to have allergy reaction (example) lost tongue for month,had seiuze and lots more.i got accute post traumatic stress disorder and in 2009 somebody that i dont know tryed to run me down in my front yard with a car now i cant get any medical help cause i cant take pills and yes for me to have any kind of life i need to smoke pot and its not so hard to get thru day.no pot it harder to fight suicide thawts and to stop the pain and dreams my cases nightmares and to keep brave face on so that when my dark days and weeks of depression please help me

  5. My name is Warren Elliott, I’m on the married pension which isn’t much my wife wrote this because I can’t write or spell so I dictate what to type.
    I am 55 and disabled threw a car accident 32 years ago which left me a hemiplegic which is one side is weaker than the other side. I have had 19 operations and more to come also have Arthritis threw out my body and scoliosis of the spine and a slipped disc in my back as I’m getting older my back is curving more and the next step is a operation on my back. I take pain killers (oxycontin and endone) I don’t like taking them there very addictive.
    I smoke which helps much more, I can only use one arm to do thing which gives me pain all the time I smoke marijuana which helps so much more with the pain.
    It would be much appreciated if you could help for me to get medical marijuana or cannabis I’m finding it very expensive.

  6. Oliver, you are a activist yourself by way of your opinion.
    The plant has Analgesic properties, it also stimulates appetite- very good if you are wasting from degenerate disease, it stops people stuttering too. Recent studies in the US have found pot halts the progression of certain Cancers and also eye disorders.
    The variants of strains bred for medicinal purposes have the CBD lowered. CBD is the anxiety causing agent found in pot.
    But hey, thanks for your opinion even if it is uneducated, rednecked and based on “reefer madness’ logic and learning’s.

  7. My name is Warren Elliott 55 I’m a disability pensioner, a right side hemiplegia witch is my right side is munch weaker than the other side threw a car accident 33+ years ago witch left me brain damage , got arthritis threw out my body, scoliosis in my back, had 19 operation’s and more to came going to have an operation on my back soon NSW Sydney

  8. I have tyed Cannabis oil for my chronic pain,It Works,my dr has me on morphien a low dose but still its morphien,i felt a lot more pain relief from th oil….

  9. I trust my doctor with my health thanks, not a policy based on Moral Panic about illegal drugs. I like the Greens proposal. Let the evidence guide the doctor.

  10. Most people who are against this are hypocrites that regularly drink alcohol, a drug that has been proven to be far more dangerous than cannabis and many other illegal drugs.

    Cannabis is actually one of the safest drugs known to man.
    Cannabis has been proven to be effective for a very large number of conditions and illnesses. In many cases cannabis is far more effective than pharmaceuticals and in basically all cases cannabis as a medicine is much safer than the alternatives.

    Studies have shown that certain cannabinoids act to not only prevent cancer, but act to also fight against cancer that has developed.

    Cannabis is one of the oldest plants cultivated by humankind and the human body and brain has more cannabinoid receptors than any other kind, the body also produces endocannabinoids and you cant really argue against that.

  11. Precisely Ben, Its about time we take the decision out of bureaucrats hands & envoke evidence based policy.

    Scientists & doctors should make decisions regarding our health based on evidence rather than those moivated by political influence.

  12. True or not (i don’t know, it’s not a subject ive looked up as it’s never been a recommended treatment for me) – all serious medical treatments have serious side effects. That’s why we need Doctors and Chemists to weigh them up.

  13. ‘On ya Michael.

    Jack – if you want an ‘educated opinion’, I’ve got a degree majoring in pharmacology and I fully support what Michael has said.

    Oliver – Cannabis both cures some illnesses and treats the symptoms of many others. The general consensus from research regarding cannabis and psychosis is that it may induce it in those who already have a predisposition to develop the condition, but it does NOT ‘create’ psychosis. And with regard to long term brain tissue damage, remember that MANY other things (eg. alcohol which is LEGAL) kill brain cells. I also remember an article which found that cannabis use INCREASED the brain cells in a certain area of the brain. I’d find it and cite it for you but from your comments its clear that you don’t enjoy reading the biomedical research literature to develop your opinions.

  14. Oliver, that is completely ridiculous! Know your facts before posting your uneducated opinion!

  15. Oliver, Marijuana does not cause psychosis, it may only interact with the illness when it is already present and destined to develop. Many prescription drugs can aggravate psychosis BTW. Also Marijuana does NOT cause any form of brain damage whatsoever. I honestly believe Marijuana is quite benign, but I have only been using it daily (yes I am a heavy user) for over 22 years- What would I know? I only read science articles on cannabis every day, and have only known hundreds of people that smoke it. The only risk from Marijuana is anxiety, and that is because the person has had too much.

  16. Theres one thing this article missed and that is the use of canabis does not cure illness, however does create psychosis and long term brain tissue damage.