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A recommendation by a NSW parliamentary committee allowing people with terminal illness and AIDS to use cannabis for medical purposes has been welcomed by the state's leading HIV/AIDS advocacy and support groups.
Nicolas Parkhill, CEO of HIV and GLBT health organisation ACON, said the change in law, if adopted, will provide help and relief for people with certain medical conditions.
"Members of our communities experience a range of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis or other conditions which can induce various levels of pain or discomfort," Parkhill said.
"Research shows that cannabis can be effective in reducing pain and ACON supports the availability of cannabis for medical use.
"We welcome the committee's recommendation to allow medical use of cannabis for people with terminal illness and AIDS and congratulate them on taking a practical and compassionate approach to this issue."
Parkhill appeared before the inquiry into cannabis use for medical purposes in support of a joint submission with other HIV-related organisations.
The recommendation allows for the medical use of up to 15 grams of marijuana.
Positive Life NSW CEO Sonny Williams said that the recommendations were "encouraging".
"It is both appropriate and compassionate to provide people with HIV who are at the end of their life with the means to effectively relieve pain and suffering," Williams said.
"We do not believe that they should have to endure the stress and humiliation of potential arrest and court appearance at this point in their lives."
The recommendation was unanimous, according to committee chairwoman Sarah Mitchell.
The committee had considered scientific evidence that showed the effect of cannabis in the treatment of pain.
"We recognise the risks and negative effects of crude cannabis use, particularly via smoking, and by no means do we endorse the recreational use of cannabis," she said.
"However, the committee considers that on the basis of the available evidence, providing for a very small and specific group of patients to use crude cannabis products for medical purposes legally is both appropriate and compassionate."
ACON will now work towards the implementation of the committee's recommendation.
"We think that any system that is implemented must be economically accessible to people who are already experiencing a high cost of treatment, who may be experiencing the high cost of disability and one that is easy for the people who are going to benefit from medical cannabis to understand their position with regards to the law.
"We also hope that the introduction of any scheme allowing the medical use of cannabis would be accompanied by targeted community education to help people understand what the changes mean."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: gaynewsnetwork.com.au
Author: Reg Domingo
Contact: Staff - Gay News Network
Website: HIV orgs welcome medical marijuana recommendation - Gay News Network
Nicolas Parkhill, CEO of HIV and GLBT health organisation ACON, said the change in law, if adopted, will provide help and relief for people with certain medical conditions.
"Members of our communities experience a range of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis or other conditions which can induce various levels of pain or discomfort," Parkhill said.
"Research shows that cannabis can be effective in reducing pain and ACON supports the availability of cannabis for medical use.
"We welcome the committee's recommendation to allow medical use of cannabis for people with terminal illness and AIDS and congratulate them on taking a practical and compassionate approach to this issue."
Parkhill appeared before the inquiry into cannabis use for medical purposes in support of a joint submission with other HIV-related organisations.
The recommendation allows for the medical use of up to 15 grams of marijuana.
Positive Life NSW CEO Sonny Williams said that the recommendations were "encouraging".
"It is both appropriate and compassionate to provide people with HIV who are at the end of their life with the means to effectively relieve pain and suffering," Williams said.
"We do not believe that they should have to endure the stress and humiliation of potential arrest and court appearance at this point in their lives."
The recommendation was unanimous, according to committee chairwoman Sarah Mitchell.
The committee had considered scientific evidence that showed the effect of cannabis in the treatment of pain.
"We recognise the risks and negative effects of crude cannabis use, particularly via smoking, and by no means do we endorse the recreational use of cannabis," she said.
"However, the committee considers that on the basis of the available evidence, providing for a very small and specific group of patients to use crude cannabis products for medical purposes legally is both appropriate and compassionate."
ACON will now work towards the implementation of the committee's recommendation.
"We think that any system that is implemented must be economically accessible to people who are already experiencing a high cost of treatment, who may be experiencing the high cost of disability and one that is easy for the people who are going to benefit from medical cannabis to understand their position with regards to the law.
"We also hope that the introduction of any scheme allowing the medical use of cannabis would be accompanied by targeted community education to help people understand what the changes mean."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: gaynewsnetwork.com.au
Author: Reg Domingo
Contact: Staff - Gay News Network
Website: HIV orgs welcome medical marijuana recommendation - Gay News Network
