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".
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