Pubdate: Mon, 08 Feb 2010
Source: Lismore Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: APN News & Media Ltd 2010
Contact:  http://www.northernstar.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4156
Author: Dominic Feain
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

AUTHORITIES 'HOLD BACK RESEARCH'

CANNABIS may be a viable cure for chronic pain, but  convincing the 
authorities is proving to be a political  minefield for one pioneer.

Tony Bower, founder of Mullaway's Medical Cannabis, has  developed a 
way to access the healing qualities of  cannabis without the infamous 
'side effects', and his  weekly Nimbin dispensary is fast gaining popularity.

It's Saturday morning at Nimbin's Hemp Embassy and its  president, 
Michael Balderstone, is making us  (conventional) tea while we wait 
for Mr Bower, the most  popular man in town. Mr Balderstone says 
we'll just  have to wait.

Following a serious motorcycle accident 30 years ago Mr  Bower 
developed a method to distil a stable tincture of  THC (the active 
component in cannabis) capable of  providing effective relief for 
sufferers of chronic  pain, without the often debilitating 
side-effects  associated with prescription painkillers.

Mr Bower has since successfully helped sufferers of  cancer, AIDS, 
multiple sclerosis and migraines.

In Australia a synthetic cannabinoid known as Marinol  is available 
under strict conditions, but Mr Bower says  his is better.

He explained that different strains of the plant have  different 
effects, and he has identified the types  which are better for therapeutic use.

A court appearance for cultivation of cannabis 12 years  ago 
effectively left him with permission to grow up to  49 plants for 
personal use, but now demand for his  product means he needs to grow 
more and licensing is  proving problematical.

The Federal Police have told him to 'get a legal  framework around 
it', but the bureaucratic  toing-and-froing between the Therapeutic 
Goods  Administration and NSW Health has left him in a legal no-man's-land.

"I think I'm too hot tohandle. Every time I line up a  university to 
do the necessary tests there's pressure  from above to shut it down," 
Mr Bower said.

His solicitor, Debra Sands, believes NSW Health is  baulking and 
intends to take the case to the Supreme  Court.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom