Disabled Victoria boy can have marijuana after police drop investigati

[Matanuska Thunder]

WIN for medical Cannabis!

WIN for Cooper too (the young boy)

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/disabled-boy-can-have-marijuana-after-police-drop-investigation/story-fni0fit3-1227159516260

 

POLICE have dropped a child abuse investigation into two Melbourne parents who feed marijuana to their disabled son.

The Office of Public Prosecution has ruled it would not be in the public’s interest to take the parents to court.

It’s a backflip the Mernda couple, Cassie Batten and Rhett Wallace, hope could be another step towards legalising medical cannabis in Victoria.

It has also given them some hope that they will be allowed to keep their son Cooper, now 4, without future interference from the Department of Human Services.

“We’re very happy, very relieved,” Ms Batten said.

Police would not comment on the results of testing on cannabis oil confiscated from the family's home in July.

But the parents and their supplier have maintained it was made with low levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in the drug.

Epping Sexual Offences and Child Abuse police raided the family’s home after the parents revealed in the media that they had been using a tincture from the plant to treat their son’s life-threatening illnesses.

The public outcry that followed prompted an extraordinary response from Commissioner Ken Lay, who expressed sympathy for the family and said officers did have the power to exercise discretion but had to act on a complaint.

Media attention led then Premier Denis Napthine and then Opposition Leader Dan Andrews to promise to investigate legalising cannabis for medical use. Police visited the family today to inform them that officers would not be pursuing charges.

Police spokeswoman Lee Thomson confirmed the investigation had been dropped after it was deemed “not in the public interest”.

“Based on advice provided by the Office of Public Prosecution investigators will not proceed with this matter through the courts as it was deemed not in the public interest,” she said.

“Victoria Police recognises that there is a legitimate debate that needs to be had on the use of cannabis in medical circumstances but this is a matter for Parliament to resolve.

“As there will be no further police action we will be making no further comment on this matter.” Cooper was born healthy but contracted meningitis, which left him with brain damage, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

The family claims that after taking cannabis tincture with his milk Cooper’s fits went from “hundreds” a day to just two or three.

andrea.hamblin@news.com.au

[Ford Fairlane]

Congrats to Cooper and his family, thankyou for putting your lives on the line so that we may one day all benefit from the amazing medical powers of the sacred herb

[Ozzy420]

 

[Naycha]

Awesome news! It's good to see a story of the police working for/with the community in a positive way.

 

[MediKat]

Fanfkintastic, finally. Great news for all involved. One small step, but one huge step for compassion.

[iTiC]

Great news, very happy for the family.

[louise]

it's good news that the parents aren't going to have to face child abuse charges, but I don't know if that is the same as letting the child have access to cannabis based medication... oh and to the copper who busted them...

 

Suck shit Brett.

[iTiC]

I do hope 2015 is the year, too much suffering by too many for far too long

[merl1n]

I do hope 2015 is the year, too much suffering by too many for far too long

Hell yea

 

To The Government,

Do what you've gotta do, but for Christ sake get the process started. Just talkin about it ain't gonna work. MAKE THE CHANGE

[iTiC]

They are so very nervous, they need to make sure it's OK with those who vote b4 they make a decision. Id give my left nut for a frekking LEADER to get involved.