Government Wants Backing Over Cannabis Trials

[Oz]

The NSW government has sought federal backing to trial cannabis as a medicinal treatment for people suffering acute pain that cannot be treated with more conventional therapies.

 

NSW Premier Bob Carr has written to Prime Minister John Howard seeking his help in setting up the trial involving HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis patients.

 

Mr Carr said the Government had no intention of decriminalising cannabis, and other alternatives of accessing cannabis would have to be explored.

 

"NSW is opposed to any scheme which involves growing cannabis in backyards or requiring sick people to buy it on the black market," Mr Carr said.

 

"That means we need to look at the alternatives, and that in turn requires cooperation from the Commonwealth and, I hope, from the other states and territories."

 

Mr Carr said importing cannabis products from Canada under strict conditions was one of those alternatives.

 

"Canada and eight American states, including Colorado and Washington, allow the use of cannabis for strictly medicinal purposes," he said.

 

In May last year, Mr Howard said he would support a trial to allow cannabis use for pain relief in the chronically ill as long as the drug was prescribed.

 

But he said he would not back patients growing their own marijuana and remained opposed to the decriminalisation of the drug.

 

The NSW government has previously consulted with the UK Home Office about the progress of an inhaler spray.

 

Mr Carr said he's asked Mr Howard to nominate a ministerial representative to work with NSW to progress the proposal.

 

By Staff Writers

Date: 12/05/04

Source: Herald Sun

Comments: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/st...55E1702,00.html

Herald and Weekly Times

[Tom]

The cynic in me says that it is only a pre-election ploy, John Howard is as opposed to medical mj as George Bush tells him to be, maybe things will change after the election.

[jonbrown]

So true Tom. I wouldn't trust Carr bush or howard on the issue. I just heard bob carr on the today show saying such a mixed fucked up message about smoking pot, he was basically saying it is great for people with major chronic illness's, but evil for the rest of the population cos it can cause 'mental illness'...what a joke.

But he said he would not back patients growing their own marijuana and remained opposed to the decriminalisation of the drug.

arghhhh... Soo frustrating.. Why? I think i heard also on Today show that they are going to import the pot from Canada? And they'll probably tax it, and perscribe it and make $$$ off it yeah? (all the while still busting people left right and centre and making more revenue off the masses?)

sounds sucky to me....let us grow say 5 or 10 if u have a medical cert. ;-)

[Brash]

my response as a letter to the editor (which failed to be published, oh well):

 

Mr Carr has announced, yet again, he wishes to set up a medicinal cannabis trial in NSW but does not want to see people grow cannabis in their backyard or buy it on the black market.

 

Well, I have news for the Premier, tens of thousands of patients currently grow their own or buy it on the black market. Not their choice but because of the inaction of his government.

 

Last May’s words still echo - "The complexity of an issue does not provide a licence to walk away while ordinary people suffer..."

 

Come on Mr Carr, it’s now 12 months since you promised the patients of NSW a sensible, commonsense and compassionate approach to the medical use of cannabis. At this rate, my next legal smoke will be my cremation.