Robert Celt
New Member
LAST month's federal law change making it legal for Australian patients and doctors to access medicinal cannabis has changed nothing for Jeremy Bester and his family.
Mr Bester's mother Lyn Cleaver and her partner Malcolm Amundsen already provide him with spoonfuls of home-grown cannabinoid extracts, which they say are better than pharmaceuticals at reducing the frequency and intensity of his epileptic fits without side effects. The fits are a legacy of a viral illness Mr Bester contracted at age six.
Ms Cleaver said Police Minister Rene Hidding had assured her police would not actively seek to prosecute people who grew and possessed cannabis for genuine medical reasons, but the stigma and perceived risk of breaking the law was deterring many other Tasmanians.
She said the legislative amendment made by Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley with Labor and Greens support had been a step in the right direction, but it only sanctioned commercial cannabis production, and cannabis extraction research by pharmaceutical companies.
"I can't see anything happening in under five years,'' Ms Cleaver said.
She said medicinal cannabis advocates were continuing to push the Tasmanian Government to establish a register, for the protection of Tasmanians who had genuine medicinal reasons for growing or possessing cannabis.
"People are too frightened – it could be their job, the type of work they do,'' she said.
Labor's shadow attorney general Lara Giddings last month said a Labor government would decriminalise cannabis use and possession for medicinal purposes.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said his government would amend state legislation, if necessary, to ensure that the federal law changes could be applied in the state.
"We have also joined forces with NSW to explore opportunities for cultivation and harvesting. This also opens the door for Tasmanians to take part in their clinical trials,'' Mr Ferguson said.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Federal Law Change Doesn't Lift Stigma For Tasmanians Seeking Medicinal Cannabis
Author: Bruce Mountser
Contact: Mercury
Photo Credit: Bruce Mountser
Website: Mercury
Mr Bester's mother Lyn Cleaver and her partner Malcolm Amundsen already provide him with spoonfuls of home-grown cannabinoid extracts, which they say are better than pharmaceuticals at reducing the frequency and intensity of his epileptic fits without side effects. The fits are a legacy of a viral illness Mr Bester contracted at age six.
Ms Cleaver said Police Minister Rene Hidding had assured her police would not actively seek to prosecute people who grew and possessed cannabis for genuine medical reasons, but the stigma and perceived risk of breaking the law was deterring many other Tasmanians.
She said the legislative amendment made by Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley with Labor and Greens support had been a step in the right direction, but it only sanctioned commercial cannabis production, and cannabis extraction research by pharmaceutical companies.
"I can't see anything happening in under five years,'' Ms Cleaver said.
She said medicinal cannabis advocates were continuing to push the Tasmanian Government to establish a register, for the protection of Tasmanians who had genuine medicinal reasons for growing or possessing cannabis.
"People are too frightened – it could be their job, the type of work they do,'' she said.
Labor's shadow attorney general Lara Giddings last month said a Labor government would decriminalise cannabis use and possession for medicinal purposes.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said his government would amend state legislation, if necessary, to ensure that the federal law changes could be applied in the state.
"We have also joined forces with NSW to explore opportunities for cultivation and harvesting. This also opens the door for Tasmanians to take part in their clinical trials,'' Mr Ferguson said.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Federal Law Change Doesn't Lift Stigma For Tasmanians Seeking Medicinal Cannabis
Author: Bruce Mountser
Contact: Mercury
Photo Credit: Bruce Mountser
Website: Mercury
