Another nation can be added to the list of those who now allow federal access to medical marijuana. Australian Parliament voted Wednesday on legislature that legalizes the production of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes. They are among only a small handful of countries who currently have laws like this, with a few more hopefully soon to follow suit.
The amendment approved makes changes to the Narcotic Drugs Act of 1967, now allowing cannabis to be grown legally across the country. This also means that lawmakers will need to establish an authority to oversee the licensing, production and distribution of the plant – currently it is now legal to grow, but the rest is still up in the air.
“This is an historic day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medicinal cannabis products so genuine patients are no longer treated as criminals,” Minister for Health Sussan Ley said in a statement. “This is the missing piece in a patient’s treatment journey and will now see seamless access to locally-produced medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.”
Many aspects of a medical marijuana program could take time to fully develop – but government officials are prepared to make changes to the legislature as needed during this process. They have yet to determine what types of marijuana will be grown, how it will be distributed to patients, let alone they still have to get doctors to agree to work with patients seeking this alternative treatment.
Among the many lawmakers and activists who helped to bring this new law into reality is Lucy Haslam, who ran the campaign and created an organization called United in Compassion. She created the group after her son died last year to cancer. While petitioning for reform on these laws she was not shy to tell lawmakers that she used cannabis to help her son get through his roughest days.
“[Daniel] would really be at peace today,” Haslam said after hearing Parliament’s decision. “He didn’t want to die…but it would give him peace to know this is going to help so many Australians. I think he’d be proud.”
I’m sure her son is proud and it is so nice to see that the Australian government took their citizens seriously about this situation. All people are asking for is legal and safe access to a plant that has a multitude of medicinal properties – and the Australian government saw this and decided to help people gain safe access to a natural medicine.
Keep it organic so it will be less likely to harm a person.
Politicians who continue to demonize Medical Marijuana, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Marijuana possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through Marijuana home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose marijuana, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days Are In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Medical Marijuana Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
Legalize Medical Marijuana Nationwide!
When a loved one is in pain, wasting away unable to eat, and needs this marvelous herb in order to increase their appetite, reduce the overwhelming pain, and live as as healthy and happily as they can with the time they have left, let’s have the compassion to allow them to have it.
Stop treating Medical Marijuana Patients like second rate citizens and common criminals by forcing them to the dangerous black market for their medicine.
Risking incarceration to obtain the medicine you need is no way to be forced to live.
Support Medical Marijuana Now!
“[A] federal policy that prohibits physicians from alleviating suffering by prescribing marijuana for seriously ill patients is misguided, heavy-handed, and inhumane.” — Dr. Jerome Kassirer, “Federal Foolishness and Marijuana,” editorial, New England Journal of Medicine, January 30, 1997
“[The AAFP accepts the use of medical marijuana] under medical supervision and control for specific medical indications.” — American Academy of Family Physicians, 1989, reaffirmed in 2001
“[We] recommend … allow[ing] [marijuana] prescription where medically appropriate.” — National Association for Public Health Policy, November 15, 1998
“Therefore be it resolved that the American Nurses Association will: — Support the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis under appropriate prescriber supervision.” — American Nurses Association, resolution, 2003
“The National Nurses Society on Addictions urges the federal government to remove marijuana from the Schedule I category immediately, and make it available for physicians to prescribe. NNSA urges the American Nurses’ Association and other health care professional organizations to support patient access to this medicine.” — National Nurses Society on Addictions, May 1, 1995
“[M]arijuana has an extremely wide acute margin of safety for use under medical supervision and cannot cause lethal reactions … [G]reater harm is caused by the legal consequences of its prohibition than possible risks of medicinal use.” — American Public Health Association, Resolution #9513, “Access to Therapeutic Marijuana/Cannabis,” 1995
“When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients … We support state and federal legislation not only to remove criminal penalties associated with medical marijuana, but further to exclude marijuana/cannabis from classification as a Schedule I drug.” — American Academy of HIV Medicine, letter to New York Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, November 11, 2003
Where can I get some as I have suffered from epilepsy for 51 years