Question In The House

[Brash]

The day went pretty well. It started badly with unease in the guts, just feeling it was going to be a bad day somehow, as it turned out, I was wrong. I had what was the first smoke off the white rhino, a small bud taken early and left to dry as a sample, a taster, nice, then pills. A coffee, meet Martin (a fellow patient) get tinctured up and head down to Parliament for a day at the hustings.

 

Arrived late after a hard slog through town dropping into various offices/shops along the way. Got to Parliament about 12:30pm and started leafleting. Very Hot day, saw Hans (a staffer) from the Greens who told me that Lee Rhiannon would be asking a question of Minister Della Bosca in the upper house as to why a Labor Gov in WA had decriminalised recreational use when the NSW Government still hasn’t worked out Medicinal Cannabis? We left early so I could be back again at question time.

 

It was all very interesting in the public gallery, a big bloke asked me how my 'issue' was going, turned out he was a member of the farming lobby and thought some of his members could do well out of it, Ha Ha Ha. Lee got her question in and as she was approaching the box, the remarks from the front bench were along the lines of 'Oh, here we go' 'Another smokescreen' and I think some wit even called for a joint committee. The answer unfortunately was directed entirely at the recreational view of cannabis and how the government was on the record as being tough on drugs with an emphasis on treatment for those dependant on substances , he went on to mention the expansion of the cannabis treatment clinics to a total of 4, up from the current one run by the Salvos in western Sydney ... time expires ... Lee gets the supplementary in and Della Bosca then moves to answer the medical part of the question ... the complexity of the issue leads the government to move cautiously ... z z z z z z z z z z zz z z z z z. The whole time Brash was quietly taking drops of his herbal tincture in the public gallery, most enjoyable. Did my best to make eye contact during the answer, there was only a couple of us in the gallery so I’m sure he knew I was present.

 

Tomorrow is on in the morning and then the special ‘dress up’ day, Thursday is April Fool's and finishing the week off on mufti Friday (I wear a T-shirt with my suit).

 

The Government then is kind enough to allow us 4 weeks off in which to fatten up for Mardi Grass in Nimbin (May 1&2) before they sit again on the 4th of May. Looking forward to a big time in Nimbin ... might really let my hair down and do a Time & Motion study on the local street trade while I'm there.

Edited March 30, 2004 by Brash

[Brash]

Have had to cut today - wednesday, as I nearly fainted on the walk down to Parliament. 'Came over all queer' as noddy would say to Big Ears, legs very weak so have turrned and gone home ... oh well. Best to rest for tomorrow ... no getting out of that as I have already told some minor media, community radio, street press etc. gotta go and have a lie down.

[deejayvee]

Take it easy Brash and I hope you're up to continuing the fight tomorrow! You're doing a great service for many people.

[*FLOWER*]

Have had to cut today - wednesday, as I nearly fainted on the walk down to Parliament. 'Came over all queer' as noddy would say to Big Ears, legs very weak so have turrned and gone home ... oh well. Best to rest for tomorrow ... no getting out of that as I have already told some minor media, community radio, street press etc. gotta go and have a lie down.

Look after yourself Brash. Get some good rest

 

Take it easy tommorrow mate. Then let that hair down and have a good break

 

FLOWER

[Guest Wilderbud]

Good work.

 

Id love to help try and get medicinal marijuana legalized but I have enough trouble proving I have a disability. Government people dont give a shit so get on the news as much as you can and explain that marijuana can ease suffering for life-long illness.

 

Im not having a good day either - must be the weather.

[Brash]

Have woken up in time to get to Parliament at a reasonable hour this morning. Had a bad night ... my guts are playing up ... I'll take an airline bag :: All my stuff is ready, sample bags etc. and I finished the wording of a petition, text as follows:

 

To the Honourable the Speaker & Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales.

 

The petition of the residents of New South Wales.

 

Brings to the attention of the House, the current plight of patients who may benefit from the therapeutic use of cannabis but who face legal sanctions and unacceptable exposure to the blackmarket just for trying to treat their illnesses.

 

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to move quickly allowing the regulation of the therapeutic use of cannabis for the seriously ill. As a matter of urgency, we further ask that arrests & confiscations cease and a compassionate approach be taken to those seriously ill patients who currently choose cannabis to relieve their symptoms.

[Brash]

Today went well (April fools), nearly everyone got the joke ... that is giving away free medical cannabis samples - which turned out to be an empty baggie stapled to a pamphlet saying that this bag contains the only legal options to seriously ill patients in NSW who choose to use cannabis medicinally to treat their illness.

 

Some of the old crowd got a kick out of it as the other pamphlets are getting a little stale to the regulars in the building. When offered a 'free sample' a couple of politicians freaked out and wouldn't even talk the empty bag. Probably still in a state of shock at the news that the member's bar is to required to comply with the Liquor Act of 1983, as amended, to wit: intoxication will no longer be allowed on the premises Ha ha that will be the day ... plenty of 'strawberry' noses here.

 

Some press turned up and while it's only the gay street press The Sydney Star Observer, the photographer Jamie Dunbar, is well respected and I trust he will do me justice. I'll see if I can get the photo and copyright permission soon, it is to be published next Thursday (8/4/2004).

 

I am totally drained of energy and sleep nearly every afternoon otherwise I can't get off the sofa to make dinner. Last day of protest tomorrow then they rise for Easter. 4 weeks off ... can't wait. Plan to spend some time with family, and then head up the country for the Mardi Grass (I also have more family up there). Of course I have met many fine local people from the Northern rivers District, not just Nimbin, and hope to catch up with as many as possible. Always happy to meet strangers, so if you see me in Nimbin for 'the Grass' come up and say hello

[Chev]

Glad to see you had a good April Fools day, take a loooong and well-earned rest, you sound like you really need it. Take it easy man

[pipeman]

giving away free medical cannabis samples - which turned out to be an empty baggie stapled to a pamphlet saying that this bag contains the only legal options to seriously ill patients in NSW who choose to use cannabis medicinally to treat their illness.

I love it Brash.

 

Will you be wearing your suit at Mardi Grass?

[Brash]

Suited up, Cullen Street @ 4:20pm 1st May I am determined to 'out conservative' the coppers

 

photo of previous encounter (last december)