[Greens-Media] Greens welcome Premier's shift on medicinal cannabis

[John Kaye]

Greens welcome Premier's shift on medicinal cannabis

Media release: 29 May 2014

The Greens warmly welcome the supportive comments from Premier Mike Baird on the issue of the legalisation of the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The Premier has given the green light for Tamworth Nationals MP Kevin Anderson to work on a private members bill to respond to the overwhelming community support for the compassionate use of medicinal cannabis.

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said he would gladly delay moving his bill to allow Mr Anderson time to develop and proceed with his legislation.

Dr Kaye said: "Mr Anderson has indicated that the Premier is now showing some sympathy for the plight of patients with terminal illness and their carers.

"Although we are not there yet, it is a big step forward from where we were a month ago.

"Today's announcement is a testament to the courage and hard work of medicinal cannabis advocates and patients like Daniel Haslam and his mother Lucy.

"They have turned the NSW government around.

"The Greens don't care who drafts the legislation or introduces it, as long as it takes away the dreadful choice between breaking the law and suffering faced by too many cancer patients.

"We will hold off on introducing our bill into parliament while Mr Anderson works up his bill.

"This issue is too important to play politics. Reaching a positive outcome for patients experiencing appalling pain and suffering should be the focus of all politicians.

"My bill is far from perfect and largely dodges the complex issue of supply.

"At the time of the Upper House Inquiry any steps towards regulated supply or official dispensing were seen as too challenging for the O'Farrell government.

"It is, of course, possible to solve this. The Netherlands runs a dispensary model..

"Even in Australia opium, a far more potent drug, is grown under controlled circumstances and processed into pharmaceuticals like codeine.

"I am happy to work with Mr Anderson to help him develop a bill that satisfies the Premier and the other key players," said Dr Kaye.

For more information:       John Kaye 0407 195 455



John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

P: (02) 9230 2668 | F: facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc<http://www.facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc> | T: @johnkgreens<twitter.com/johnkgreens> | W: www.johnkaye.org.au<http://www.johnkaye.org.au>
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

This email is solely for the named addressee and may be confidential. You should only read, disclose, transmit, copy, distribute, act in reliance on or commercialise the contents if you are authorised to do so. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please notify the sender by email immediately and then destroy any copy of this message. Except where otherwise specifically stated, views expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual sender.
[Description: Description: MC900437266[1]]  Please consider the environment before printing this email.