Queensland Parents Fear For Sick Children After Cannabis Oil Bust

Katelyn Baker

Well-Known Member
Concerned parents have expressed fears for the lives of dozens of sick Queensland children following raids on a South Australian cannabis oil producer.

Police yesterday raided Jenny Hallam's property at Hillier and seized chemicals and other substances for forensic testing, but no charges have yet been laid.

The raids sparked outrage as Ms Hallam supplied cannabis oil products, at no cost, to hundreds of sick Australians.

Steve Peek from Brisbane said his eight-year-old daughter Suli relies on Ms Hallam's cannabis oil to control her seizures.

"We only have enough to last until next week," he told the ABC.

"Yesterday, to try and stretch it out, we didn't give her the midday dose and at a quarter to six last night she started having seizures."

The vocal campaigner for medicinal cannabis contacted South Australian police yesterday.

"They realise they've done the wrong thing but they had no choice because a complaint had been made," Mr Peek said.

He said police suggested that he contact the South Australian ombudsman.

Rebecca Brisdon, who is a community advocate for medicinal cannabis users on the Sunshine Coast, said she knows of dozens of Queenslanders who rely on the cannabis oil produced in South Australia.

"Some patients could deteriorate within 24 hours, or face death, without it," she said.

"Bulk supplies are not sent out, so these patients could run out in a matter of days.

"In a perfect world, the South Australian authorities will return the oil. That is our major concern right now, as these children rely on it."

In Queensland, new laws were passed in October which will broad give doctors broader powers to prescribe medicinal cannabis to certain patients from March 2017.

But those who need it now say legal cannabis oil is too expensive and is not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Where is medicinal cannabis legal?

Federal Government
Medicinal cannabis use is still illegal and only available through trials and limited special access schemes.
But, earlier this year, the Federal Government passed legislation legalising the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Queensland
Queensland doctors will soon be able to prescribe it for their patients' treatment. New laws will give certain specialists including oncologists, paediatric neurologists and palliative care specialists the right to prescribe medicinal cannabis from March 2017. Other doctors would be able to apply to Queensland Health for permission to prescribe the drug for patients with certain conditions.

Tasmania
The State Government announced in April specialist medical practitioners would be allowed to prescribe the drug to patients suffering serious and chronic illness from 2017.

NSW
In July, NSW Premier Mike Baird said 40 children in the state with the most severe cases of drug-resistant epilepsy would now have access to a cannabis-based treatment under a compassionate access scheme.
NSW is conducting a trial for patients suffering vomiting and nausea as a result of chemotherapy.

Western Australia
The WA Government previously said it would not conduct medicinal cannabis trials until it received the results of testing in New South Wales.

Northern Territory
Not legal.

South Australia
In April, SA Health Minister Jack Snelling ruled out changing the law in South Australia at this stage.

Victoria
It's legal here. It was the first state to pass legislation legalising the use of medicinal cannabis.

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News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Queensland Parents Fear For Sick Children After Cannabis Oil Bust
Author: Andree Withey
Contact: ABC News
Photo Credit: Andree Withey
Website: ABC News
 
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