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.

[brick]

Beats me why they have to have a full blown party at Luna Park. Drink's and canapes. Especially after a drugs and ALCOHOL conference. Hypocritical is the way I see it.

[mjbarratt]

Beats me why they have to have a full blown party at Luna Park. Drink's and canapes. Especially after a drugs and ALCOHOL conference. Hypocritical is the way I see it.

 

You make a good point. At our usual AOD (alcohol and other drug) conferences (not police related), they do not serve free alcohol - delegates must purchase it themselves at the conference dinner. This is indeed to encourage moderation and also to acknowledge that funding should not be spent on getting people drunk.

 

The police funded conference was different - wine/beer were free flowing. Hmm!

[iTiC]

You make a good point. At our usual AOD (alcohol and other drug) conferences (not police related), they do not serve free alcohol - delegates must purchase it themselves at the conference dinner. This is indeed to encourage moderation and also to acknowledge that funding should not be spent on getting people drunk.

 

The police funded conference was different - wine/beer were free flowing. Hmm!

The pour bastards... tho I dont blame the coppers for needing to bend the elbow a little. Im sure many of them have seen some horrifc stuff... Id love to see the day the cops are allowed the medicinal benifits of 'forgetting', esp in proffesions high in PTSD. If there is are two proffesions that should be allowed to smoke its (yours, the reader) and theirs ;P

Seriosly Monica let the cops know they shoudl be pertionioning for the use of MJ. I could imagin many of them are tired of enforcing Laws that go nowhere and insted create a bigger problem. Isnt there a group somewhere; Law Enforcement against prohibition

And this is sounding promising. However, Im not going to get too excited. I remember our leaders, ...and they are ... NFI... O_o

Do we have any ??

Edited March 25, 2013 by iTiC

[Chato]

Thanks for the info Monica

 

 

Hi Chato

 

In the end I was way behind in my preparations for other commitments so did not attend the hearing last monday. I've had a brief look at the transcripts and it seemed the committee was seriously considering medical cannabis. I'm not sure how such a model of medicinal cannabis would look in Australia... I would hope there would be provision for both natural and pharmaceutical forms of cannabis.

Do you think anything in particular would see only pharmaceutical forms being made available? How much will the American models influence what happens in Australia do you think?

 

 

Sorry my response isn't more detailed at this time - once i've had a better look at transcripts, may have more to say. I've been away in Sydney at the NSW Police hosted conference on drug strategy last week, see http://adasc2013.com/ -- not so much talk of medicinal cannabis there, although there were some debates about regulation/legalisation. The current police, not surprisingly, are not keen on lifting prohibition - but former politicians and a few others suggested it would be a good idea. Check out the website for a program to see what we are discussed. Odd being at a conference with heaps of police but interestingly nonetheless!

It looked like some interesting topics were on the agenda. How was your session received? Did you attend the session on cannabis potency and if so how was it? Any hot goss you want to share

 

 

Beats me why they have to have a full blown party at Luna Park. Drink's and canapes. Especially after a drugs and ALCOHOL conference. Hypocritical is the way I see it.

 Agreed brick and the cherry on top 'Changing Drinking Cultures in Australia' was the theme for the last session at the conference.

 

peace

c

[Playncko]

So what's the current state of this?

[Matanuska Thunder]

Should have an answer - mid/late May (just a few more weeks)

Edited April 27, 2013 by Matanuska Thunder

[MongyMan]

Final Report, The use of cannabis for medical purposes

Link

 

MongyMan

[Bentato]

Far from perfect recomendations but it is a good start !

 

 

For those of you who cant be bothered reading the whole thing and just want to skip to the good bits just read this:

 

Summary of recommendations

 

Recommendation 1 41

That the Minister for Health write to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, 

expressing in principal support for:

• the timely, evidence based expansion of access to approved cannabis 

pharmacotherapies by additional patient groups, including those suffering from 

chronic pain for whom existing pain management is not effective

• further clinical trials of pharmaceutical cannabis products to continue to build this 

evidence base, and

• approved pharmaceutical cannabis products to be affordable to patients.

 

Recommendation 2 71

That the NSW Government introduce an amendment to the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 

1985 to add a complete defence to the use and possession of cannabis, so as to cover the 

authorised medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and those who have 

moved from HIV infection to AIDS. The features of this system would include:

• provision of a complete defence from arrest and prosecution for the use of cannabis 

and possession of up to 15 grams of dry cannabis or equivalent amounts of other 

cannabis products, and equipment for the administration of cannabis, by the patient

• provision of a complete defence from arrest and prosecution for the possession and 

supply of up to 15 grams of dry cannabis or equivalent amounts of other cannabis 

products, and equipment for the administration of cannabis, by the patient’s carer

• that the defence be restricted to persons listed on a register of ‘authorised cannabis 

patients and carers’, with eligibility contingent upon certification by the patient’s 

treating specialist medical practitioner that the patient is diagnosed with a specified 

condition

• the defence would only apply where the use and supply of cannabis does not occur in 

a public place, and

• a review of the amendment commence within three years of the date of 

commencement.

 

Recommendation 3 72

That, consistent with Recommendation 2, the NSW Ministry of Health establish and 

administer a register of ‘authorised cannabis patients and carers’ certified by the patient’s 

treating specialist medical practitioner and issue patients and carers on this register with a 

photo identity card verifying that they qualify for exemption from arrest and prosecution.

 

Recommendation 4 72

That the NSW Ministry of Health and Department of Attorney General and Justice give 

further and detailed consideration to the issues surrounding lawful supply of crude 

cannabis products for medical purposes.

 

Edited May 15, 2013 by Bentato

[GreenGoat]

Hmm, It's a start but it still leaves a question as to how these patients can obtain the 15 grams. Unless the full document mentions growing? And so are they intending to restrict the medical cannabis use to terminal and Aids patients?

[burner]

Who would be happy with a pharmaceutical pill, derived from cannabis, to treat their condition?

This is a big question to ask yourself. Would you prefer a canna pill to a joint or cone? In all honesty, ask me this last year, I would have told you where to put that pill. But now, after reading an earlier post on this topic, it is possibly the only way it can be legalised for medicinal use. Cannabis is a recreational drug, it alters the normal state, and has addictive qualities. Legalise the plant medicinally, in its natural form, half of Australia will be ringing in sick the next day, and going to the quack with symptoms requiring cannabis relief.

The recreational black market for cannabis then develops a new source of revenue, fake medical cannabis cards/licenses. If the doctor says no, there will be somewhere else to go.

I do enjoy getting high, better than drinking, but I also use medicinally. This is also by my own prescription, not my G.P.

I now think it time I reconsider my medicinal claim, to a more realistic one of using cannabis as an alternative therapy. Just wonder how many other 'medicinal users' fall into this category?

Thanks DrDave69 for that thought provoking post, and Mongy Man for the links. For the record, I still want Cannabis legalised:-)