NSW parliamentary inquiry into medical cannabis - due Feb 15

[mjbarratt]

I thought contributors to this part of OZStoners would be very interested in this inquiry. Here is a quote from NSW parliament media release:

 

On 22 November 2012, the NSW Legislative Council referred an Inquiry into the medical use of cannabis to General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4. The Committee, chaired by the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC of The Nationals, includes representatives of the Australian Labor Party, the Greens and the Liberal Party.

 

The motion to refer the Inquiry to General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4 was put forward by Labor member the Hon Luke Foley MLC, and was agreed to without opposition from Council members.

 

The Committee Chair, Mrs Mitchell said, 'The Committee will be examining the safety and efficacy of cannabis for medical purposes as well as considering if and how cannabis should be supplied for medical use. In addition, the Inquiry will investigate the legal implications of cannabis use for medical purposes, as well as any other related issues.'

 

'There is a diverse collection of views held on this issue by the community, and the Committee wishes to hear from the widest possible range of stakeholders.'

 

Submissions are now being called for by the Committee from interested organisations and individuals. The closing date for submissions in Friday 15 February 2013.

 

The Committee will to hold two Sydney hearings, in March 2013. Detailed information about the dates and times of these hearings will be advertised on the Committee website following the closing date for submissions. The Committee is scheduled to report to the House by 14 May 2013.

 

For further information about the Inquiry, including its terms of reference, and for more on how to make a submission, please visit the Committee's website at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/gpsc4, or call the Committee Secretariat on (02) 9230 3081

 

Click here to lodge your submission - before 15 Feb 2013!

 

And if you haven't already, you can also complete our anonymous study of Australian cannabis growers. We will be using this information to make an official submission to the inquiry so this is another way you can have your voice heard.

[Naycha]

Thanks Monica.

 

Naycha

[Son Of Abraham]

Good news. Fingers crossed.

[Vape]

Excellent!! (rubs hands)

Vape for life

[lifestylez]

I think this is good news, however I'm doubtful that the libs will allow any change to the law. Maybe with what has happened in the US lately, it will have some influence on the outcomes from this inquiry.

[Ferrethead]

Done and done. Thanks for making public the opportunity.

[headhigh]

Also completed this one.

 

Hoping something positive comes of it

[bufo marinus]

Done. Thanks for your efforts

[VOSTOK]

Smell that ....thats Freedom!

[The Hash Nibbler]

Cheers MJ =) , Lets hope we can not only have Cannabis be made available as a legal alternative to Pharma drugs, with a lot less side effects.......

 

AND...... that somewhere in there they seee the sense in letting us grow our own, instead of handing it over to a big Pharma company for $$$$$.

 

Peace, and thanks MJ Barrett.....top job. Nibbler.

[Sir PsychoHashy]

Survey done, and hoping something good might come out of this, but with politicians involved that is highly unlikely. Politicians know that under a truly democratic process cannabis would have to be legalised. Problem is that it is political suicide, possibly even worse than supporting gay marriage, so I suspect this inquiry is more likely to be looking for a solution to the overwhelming majority of the community favouring cannabis, without risking upsetting the right wing powerbrokers etc. The potential being some half arsed policy change that not only fails to decriminalise honest smokers, but probably also fails to deliver a truly effective and medically targetted outcome. As you can probably tell I have no faith in politicians (either side, though the Federal Coalition scare the shit out of me).

 

That's my rant, now I'm going to risk upsetting some people by venturing my opinion. Firstly a disclaimer, my opinion is not thoroughly researched or based on a professional background, or even a massive font of knowledge. Therefore try not to take it too seriously. Secondly, it is an opinion only, I am not evangelical about it, and you are free to disagree.

 

Whilst I do believe that there is sound basis to the medical use of cannabis (I use it partially for that reason with a degree of positive effects), I also believe that there are many users who either partly, or completely, use "medicinal" as justification for their use. Personally I don't really care except for the potential that this has to derail the legitimate call for legalisation for medical purposes. For me this comes from some of the outcomes in the USA. Like I said I haven't thoroughly researched this but, I have seen many articles, forums etc where there is massive and blatant abuse of the systems set up in some states of the US. Things like some 18 year old douche bag boasting about the ridiculous number of plants he can now legally grow because of the medical documents he has for his relatives and himself. I didn't even need to read the bit where the idiot carried on about selling to know that thats what it was all about. Then you have all the smokers going to dr's with stories so they can get medical smoko, and websites offering suggestions for these stories.

 

There is still a large well funded section of the population who are fundaMENTALly against cannabis in any form for any reason, including well funded right wing groups with a lot of political influence. This is the sort of stuff that they pray for to further their own cause. I know that most smokers (especially amongst the more mature ages) are good decent and honest people, and that it is only a minority that abuse these systems when they are put in place, but they could still ruin it for those with genuine needs.

 

Personally I believe that the only real solution is to make cannabis legal, and then properly fund and run genuine research and provisions for medicinal usages of cannabis. That way the MMJ side of things would have the best chance of providing genuine outcomes for people with medical requirements, not only among the existing smokers but also the rest of the population, and the entire populations benefit is what anyone calling for MMJ legalisation should be concerned about.

 

As a fairly new member of Oz Stoners it is with some trepidation that I post this. I have seen some threads on this site with some fairly "passionate" responses to some statements and opinions. I don't want to start a shit storm, or become hated by anyone, so please remember this is opinion only, and respect my right to have one in the same way I respect everyone elses rights to theirs. My suggestion is that if you find yourself worked up into a frenzy after reading this, take a deep breath and choof a couple down, should work a treat.