Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jun 2014
Source: Sunday Telegraph, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/436
Author: Jane Hansen
Page: 45

JOYCE: LET THE SICK USE POT

THE campaign to ease the suffering of terminally ill patients by
legalising medicinal cannabis is gaining momentum, with high-profile
Nationals minister Barnaby Joyce adding his voice to the groundswell
of support for cancer sufferer Dan Haslam.

Mr Joyce revealed he has had a change of heart from his usual tough
stance on drugs after meeting 24-year-old Mr Haslam and his family,
who are forced to break the law so that he can use cannabis to treat
his severe pain and nausea from chemotherapy.

"You're always moved by someone who has cancer and they are looking
for whatever opportunity may exist to deal with it," the federal
minister for agriculture said.

Mr Haslam has incurable bowel cancer and fortnightly chemotherapy
treatments had left him in hospital with severe nausea and weight
loss. Since trying cannabis late last year he has not suffered nausea
and has been able to remain at home and eat normally.

His father, Lou, a former drug squad detective, and his mother Lucy,
are forced to break the law to help their son obtain the "miraculous"
drug.

The family's plight has also moved senior police to come out in
support of legalising cannabis for medical reasons.

Mr Joyce, the member for New England, said: "I am against cannabis for
recreational use, but just as people grow opium for therapeutic use in
palliative care and pain control, if there is a capacity for the
active constituents in cannabis to be prescribed to assist with
conditions such as terminal cancer, this should be considered if it is
under strict control and prescribed by a doctor."

Last year the recommendations of a NSW parliamentary committee
unanimously supported the use of cannabis for the terminally ill, but
it was knocked back by Heath Minister Jillian Skinner over concerns
about supply.

On Thursday, a private members' bill was announced to address the
legality and supply issues of medicinal cannabis. Mr Haslam said he
was grateful for the move and prayed for its success.

"It would be absolutely great and lift a huge stress off my family.
Knowing we could be prosecuted has been stressful," he said.

Requests for a response from the ministers of the Baird government
regarding the issue brought only five replies out of 22. Premier Mike
Baird said he would consider the upcoming bill.

"We will give careful consideration to the bill and I have nothing but
sympathy for the Haslam family as they struggle with their son's
illness," he said.

A spokesman for the Minister for the Ageing and Disability, John
Ajaka, referred us to the Minister for Health, as did a spokesman for
the Minister for Natural Resources, Kevin Humphries.

Jillian Skinner reiterated her concerns about supply as the "quality
and safety of these products cannot be guaranteed". However, she did
support the use of "prescription pharmaceutical cannabis products that
are approved and regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration".
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MAP posted-by: Matt