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A NSW parliamentary committee has recommended that use of marijuana be legalised for medical purposes by people with cancer or AIDS, or other terminal illnesses.
If approved by the NSW government, patients with specific conditions, certified by their specialist doctor, would be allowed to possess and use up to 15 grams of dry cannabis.
The committee report, which included Liberal, National, Labor, Greens and Shooters party members, was unanimous, despite reservations being expressed by representatives of the departments of health and attorney-general and by police officers who gave evidence to the committee.
The committee's chair, National party upper house member Sarah Mitchell, said it was preferable for patients with severe illness to have the benefit of cannabis through pharmaceutical products, but there was only one such product available, which was used to treat multiple sclerosis.
"We recognise the risks and negative effects of crude cannabis use, particularly via smoking, and by no means do we endorse the recreational use of cannabis."
But she said it was appropriate and compassionate to allow a very small and specific group of people to smoke marijuana, or as she put it, use "crude cannabis products".
The committee did not recommend decriminalising the growing of marijuana for personal use and acknowledged that the issue of obtaining a supply of cannabis was difficult and needed to be further investigated. Committee member Amanda Fazio acknowledged that terminally ill patients would obtain it by currently illegal methods.
The committee report said that NSW had limited powers as federal laws, and bodies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration, governed the regulation of drugs.
In the United States, 18 states have legalised the use of cannabis for medical purposes, as have a handful of other countries.
NSW Labor frontbencher Luke Foley, who initiated the inquiry, said: "Today's report is extremely significant - unanimous support from members representing five different political parties for legal reform to allow the medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and AIDS.
"A consensus has emerged among politicians from five parties for a compassionate approach to the use of cannabis by patients for whom cannabis could have a profoundly relieving effect.
"As members of parliament we need to be guided by facts and evidence rather than slogans and hysteria. We should be guided by the experts - by clinicians on the medical issues and lawyers on the legal issues."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: theaustralian.com.au
Author: Mark Coultan
Contact: Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
Website: Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
If approved by the NSW government, patients with specific conditions, certified by their specialist doctor, would be allowed to possess and use up to 15 grams of dry cannabis.
The committee report, which included Liberal, National, Labor, Greens and Shooters party members, was unanimous, despite reservations being expressed by representatives of the departments of health and attorney-general and by police officers who gave evidence to the committee.
The committee's chair, National party upper house member Sarah Mitchell, said it was preferable for patients with severe illness to have the benefit of cannabis through pharmaceutical products, but there was only one such product available, which was used to treat multiple sclerosis.
"We recognise the risks and negative effects of crude cannabis use, particularly via smoking, and by no means do we endorse the recreational use of cannabis."
But she said it was appropriate and compassionate to allow a very small and specific group of people to smoke marijuana, or as she put it, use "crude cannabis products".
The committee did not recommend decriminalising the growing of marijuana for personal use and acknowledged that the issue of obtaining a supply of cannabis was difficult and needed to be further investigated. Committee member Amanda Fazio acknowledged that terminally ill patients would obtain it by currently illegal methods.
The committee report said that NSW had limited powers as federal laws, and bodies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration, governed the regulation of drugs.
In the United States, 18 states have legalised the use of cannabis for medical purposes, as have a handful of other countries.
NSW Labor frontbencher Luke Foley, who initiated the inquiry, said: "Today's report is extremely significant - unanimous support from members representing five different political parties for legal reform to allow the medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and AIDS.
"A consensus has emerged among politicians from five parties for a compassionate approach to the use of cannabis by patients for whom cannabis could have a profoundly relieving effect.
"As members of parliament we need to be guided by facts and evidence rather than slogans and hysteria. We should be guided by the experts - by clinicians on the medical issues and lawyers on the legal issues."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: theaustralian.com.au
Author: Mark Coultan
Contact: Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
Website: Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
