Pubdate: Fri, 30 May 2014 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Copyright: 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald Contact: http://www.smh.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441 Author: Sean Nicholls, State Political Editor Page: 10 BAIRD MAY SUPPORT BILL FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA State Parliament National MP's Proposal Premier Mike Baird has left open the possibility he may support a private member's bill to decriminalise the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, promising that the government would give it "careful consideration". The Nationals MP for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, will draft a bill that would allow the terminally ill to use cannabis. The move follows publicity around the case of one of Mr Anderson's constituents, 24-year-old Dan Haslam, who has been using cannabis to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy to treat his terminal cancer. In a statement on Thursday, Mr Anderson said that he met with Mr Baird on Wednesday to inform him of his proposal. "The Premier was sympathetic and agreed the time has come to address this issue and he supported my bid to work up a private member's bill," Mr Anderson said. "However, he joined with me in expressing grave concerns about the supply and the prescription of cannabis and the challenge in addressing those issues." He added: "The Premier said that the issue of supply and prescription could not be avoided and indicated that if I could solve the supply and prescription issue through a tightly controlled and regulated process, then and only then would he support my efforts." On Thursday, Mr Baird said the government "will give careful consideration to Mr Anderson's bill, and I have nothing but sympathy for the Haslam family as they struggle with their son's illness". A spokesman for Mr Baird said the matter would not be the subject of a conscience vote for Liberal MPs, as is often the case for social issues. This means the bill would require the support of the government to pass the lower house. Greens MP John Kaye welcomed the Premier's support and said he was willing to delay his own proposed bill to give Mr Anderson time to develop his legislation. "Although we are not there yet, it is a big step forward from where we were a month ago," he said. Mr Haslam's mother, Lucy, told the Northern Daily Leader the proposed bill was a "significant breakthrough". "It gives us great hope that our politicians are sensing the changing attitudes of the Australian people," she said. Last year, an upper house inquiry chaired by Nationals MP Sarah Mitchell recommended that a "complete defence" against arrest and prosecution be introduced for the "authorised medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and those who have moved from HIV infection to AIDS". However, the recommendation was rejected by Health Minister Jillian Skinner in the government's response. Mr Anderson said the upper house inquiry did not address the supply issue and that he would work with Ms Mitchell and Nationals MP Trevor Khan "to find those solutions". - --- MAP posted-by: Matt