The forum, organised by the Labor Party and held at Parliament House this morning, heard from a range of stakeholders, including users and suppliers of medicinal cannabis products.
Shadow Attorney-General Lara Giddings told the forum that the personal stories of Tasmanians were helping to put the issue on the agenda of governments across Australia.
In an Australian first, the Andrews Government in Victoria yesterday said legislation would be introduced by the end of the year to establish an Office of Medicinal Cannabis, which would oversee research, development and the dispensing of marijuana products.
“We have now got a whole momentum across the nation that wants to see change,” Ms Giddings said.
“It is the personal stories that effect change in the end ... The sad part about us here in Tasmania is our Government is being a bit slower than others to get on board.”
The forum included people who had used medicinal cannabis to alleviate the suffering caused by serious injuries, cancer and MS, as well as those who use it to treat seizures in children.
Federal Shadow Assistant Health Minister Stephen Jones said a national approach would be the most effective way to ensure a reliable and safe supply of medicinal cannabis products.
Several people at the forum were keen for any legislative approach to allow people to legally grow their own cannabis, but Mr Jones said parliaments were unlikely to approve a framework that allowed for “backyard operations”.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said yesterday the State Government was not going to rush into legalising medicinal cannabis following action taken in other states.
“This is a complex issue and it requires a compassionate and science-based approach and that is exactly what the Liberal Government has been saying all along,” he said.
The State Government is supportive of trials of medicinal cannabis that are being held in other jurisdictions.
Source : http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/forum-into-use-of-medicinal-cannabis-in-tasmania/story-fnjj6013-1227560434098
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