Premier considers cannabis

[OZ Stoners]

Mike Baird leaves open the possibility of supporting a new medical marijuana bill.

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Premier Mike Baird has left open the possibility he may support a private member's bill to decriminalise the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, promising that the government would give it "careful consideration".

The Nationals MP for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, has told the Northern Daily Leader he will draft a bill that would allow the terminally ill to use cannabis.

The move follows publicity around the case of one of Mr Anderson's constituents, 24-year-old Dan Haslam, who has been using cannabis to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy to treat his terminal cancer.

http://images.smh.com.au/2014/05/29/5467374/MOR-anderson-20140529150642456704-620x349.jpg

Caring for a constituent: Kevin Anderson. Photo: Northern Daily Leader

Mr Anderson told the newspaper that he met with Mr Baird on Wednesday night to inform him of his proposal.

“The Premier was sympathetic and agreed the time has come to address this issue and he supported my bid to work up a private member's bill," Mr Anderson said.

“However, he joined with me in expressing grave concerns about the supply and the prescription of cannabis and the challenge in addressing those issues".

On Thursday, Mr Baird said: "I support the efforts of any Liberals and Nationals member who wishes to prepare a bill for consideration by the government."

“We will give careful consideration to Mr Anderson's bill, and I have nothing but sympathy for the Haslam family as they struggle with their son's illness," he said.

However, a spokesman for Mr Baird said the matter would not be the subject of a conscience vote for Liberal MPs, as is often the case for social issues. This means the bill would require the support of the government to pass the lower house.

Greens MP John Kaye said he welcomed the Premier's support and that he was willing to delay his own proposed bill to give Mr Anderson time to develop his legislation.

"Mr Anderson has indicated that the Premier is now showing some sympathy for the plight of patients with terminal illness and their carers," he said.

"Although we are not there yet, it is a big step forward from where we were a month ago."

Last year, an upper house inquiry chaired by Nationals MP Sarah Mitchell recommended that a "complete defence" against arrest and prosecution be introduced for the "authorised medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and those who have moved from HIV infection to AIDS".

But the recommendation was rejected by Health Minister Jillian Skinner in the government's response.

[brick]

If it becomes law I hope Tony Bower has first bite of the cherry. He deserves it!

[K-9]

Now would be a good time to inform your local members that if medicinal cannabis is controlled by big pharma that it will drive the price sky high and either require the government to heavily subsidise the medication by putting it on the PBS or for them to tell the terminal ill to get a job to pay for it themselves.   They'll instantly call bullshit but its easy enough to lay out how the price will be crazy high for a corporation to adhere to what will be required of them in terms of standardisation, health and safety issues, preventing black market access, etc. compared to growing a few plants in your back yard for the price of running the hose for a single minute a day.   The solution is simple, get the government organization setup to control cannabis production and distribution to issue licenses to for profit corporations as well as collectives and individuals.  It can even be argued that since cannabis plants are individuals that adapt to their conditions that it makes it inhumane to deny those in need the chance of finding a medication that works for them when the same thing is legally able to be purchased.

 

If you think sitting back and saying nothing will result in a USA like system you're dead wrong.  Over here it will be all sativex and other bullshit preparations that you simply won't want but it will literally be all you get because you demanded medicinal cannabis and will be given exactly that.  If you aren't specific and demand access to crude cannabis, the ability to grow your own plants not devoid of everything except a single dominate cannabinoid, edibles being allowed, etc. all you will get are pills and sprays with a massive price tag which are only available to the terminally ill.  Any changes will be viewed upon as regular people trying to get access to drugs which will never be allowed under the medicinal system.  We will get exactly what we ask for so be specific and whinge now while people are listening and writing laws because if you wait it will be too late.