More than two-thirds of Australians back the use of medicinal cannabis, according to a new survey likely to bolster support among MPs who are set to vote on the issue in the coming months.

Palliative Care Australia has found 67 per cent of people are happy to see the drug used to help patients with chronic pain and illness - and support is strongest among the elderly.

The survey found people in older age brackets were more supportive of legalisation than the young: 72 per cent of 75 to 84-year-olds are in favour, compared to 62 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds.

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Across Australia increasing numbers of families are turning to cannabis as a last resort to relieve their children's seizures, chronic pain and a host of other suffering. But with no legal supply and many doctors unwilling to discuss use of an illegal drug, they are left to run the gauntlet of trial and error and the uncertainties of the black market. In this first part of a series looking at the medicinal cannabis debate, Scott Hannaford meets one family facing tough choices.

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GOOD on you, Annastacia, for giving the green light for a medicinal cannabis trial. I hope it doesn't take donkey's years to allow it.

I don't have anyone in my family who needs it for epilepsy but I could sure use it for arthritic pain. At my age I'm not likely to become a junkie and would it really matter if I did?

Quality of life is the most precious of one's life and everyone deserves it.

Joan Dunlop, Toowoomba

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Green fun and games at town's annual 'protestival'

ONLY in Nimbin could a protest rally be celebrated with a parade full of hemp-themed floats, bong-throwing contests and a flock of green, prancing Ganja fairies down the main street.

This weekend was the 2015 Nimbin Mardi Grass cannabis law reform rally, a tradition that began as a small, peaceful protest outside the Nimbin police station in May, 1993.

This year, heavy rain and wild winds threatened to wreak havoc on the popular "protestival".

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KERRY Herron (Letters, May 1) acknowledges the sad execution of the Bali drug runners and asks may we now have equal media attention on deaths from illegal drugs.

I couldn't agree more. Let's focus on the abject failure of current control strategies, and acknowledge that the socalled "war on drugs" was lost a very long time ago.

Let's accept that decriminalisation and harm minimisation are the only logical ways forward, and start discussing how that can be achieved.

Brett Lee, Tingalpa

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THE emotional circus surrounding the executions of Bali Nine drug masterminds Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran is wrong on so many levels.

One lowlight was the grandstanding 11th hour intervention by a group of actors telling Tony Abbott to "show some balls".

But nothing was as bad as the unscrupulous opportunism of the drug reform lobby.

No sooner had the shots been fired on Nusakambangan Island than the drug liberalisers started capitalising on acute media-driven sympathy, declaring the executions were proof the "war on drugs" is futile.

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THE family of a four-year-old boy has welcomed news the Victorian Government plans to fund a medicinal cannabis trial for people suffering terminal or life-threatening illnesses.

Nationally recognised as one of the most controversial cases surrounding the use of the drug, epileptic Cooper Wallace's family stood tall during yesterday's announcement at Treasury Place.

"It's exciting, we just hope that the laws change quickly enough for children like Cooper, and that we're not left waiting," his mother Cassie Batten said.

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THE State Government is still determining whether a legislative change will be needed for Queensland to take part in medicinal cannabis trials.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday announced Queensland would work with the NSW Government in trialling the medicinal use of cannabis.

Children with drug-resistant epilepsy are most likely to be included in the program.

"Let's be very clear, this is strictly medical cannabis," Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Premier said the state would now determine whether law changes would be needed.

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Premier swayed on cannabis trial by epileptics

A CAIRNS mum whose two daughters suffer from a rare and painful disease wants them to be among the first patients involved in Queensland's medical cannabis trials

Sherri Hickey, whose teenaged daughters Elyshia and Emily - aged 19 and 15 - have both been diagnosed with the rare Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, says medical marijuana would provide them with an effective alternative for pain relief.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that Queensland will take part in medical marijuana trials aimed at helping people with various illnesses, including children with epilepsy.

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THE family of a four-year-old boy has welcomed news that the State Government plans to fund the use of medicinal cannabis in a trial for people suffering terminal or life-threatening illnesses.

Nationally recognised as one of the most controversial cases surrounding the use of the drug, young epileptic Cooper Wallace, with his family, stood tall in light of the announcement.

"It's exciting. We just hope that the laws can change quick enough for children like Cooper, and we're not left waiting," his mother, Cassie Batten, said.

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Medicinal marijuana to be tested

AN ADVOCATE for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis has welcomed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's announcement the state will be part of scientific trials of the treatment for cancer, epilepsy and end-of-life patients.

But Hervey Bay's Jannean Dean, who stood as an independent candidate during the State election, was concerned at the cost and delay of trials.

Queensland will join forces with New South Wales which has already committed to medicinal marijuana trials, with $9 million to be spent over five years as the trials are carried out.

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THERE was interesting feedback on Saturday's front page story regarding the large haul of cannabis allegedly pulled from a property in Coominya.

A good percentage of readers seem to be of the opinion that this investigation was a waste of police resources, and that time and money would be better spent on tackling the ice scourge.

When it comes to ice and the effect it has on people, I have to say that I hope police are putting as many resources as they can into catching those involved in producing and selling it.

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PAIN relief for families with suffering loved ones may be just around the corner, following Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's announcement that Queensland will join NSW's medicinal trials of cannabis.

The State Government needs to be congratulated, at the very least, for having the courage to put this controversial issue to the test - to see whether marijuana, when administered under medical supervision, does actually make a difference - for the better - to people's lives.

Marijuana has long been outlawed in Australia but the case is building to have the drug decriminalised for those seeking an escape from chronic pain.

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TWO more states have joined a medicinal cannabis trial being led by NSW.

The Queensland and Victorian governments both announced yesterday they would become involved in the trial.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her Government would broaden the trial beyond NSW to include Queensland patients, and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said his Government was working with NSW to ensure at least a quarter of the participants are from Victoria.

The Tasmanian Government announced its involvement in the NSW trial in January.

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Lucy Haslam, the mother of the late-medical marijuana campaigner, Dan, has criticised the state government for moving too slowly to provide access to the drug to the ill.

Ms Haslam, whose son died in February, five years after being diagnosed with cancer, testified before a federal Senate inquiry held at the NSW parliament on Tuesday.

"We cannot afford to wait for the results of clinical trials," Ms Haslam said. "Don't dismiss the urgent need of people now.

"If someone with a terminal illness says that their pain is less [. . .] what are we worried about?

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An anti-drugs lobby group has told the Legislative Assembly that medical marijuana could act as a "Trojan horse" for illegal drug use in the ACT and any change to current laws could prompt an increase in addiction.

Drug Free Australia representatives Gary Christian and Ross Colquhoun are to give evidence on Tuesday to a public hearing considering a medical cannabis scheme proposed by Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury.

The lobby group's 125-page submission to the inquiry outlines domestic and overseas evidence that is critical of medical cannabis schemes and says reform is not needed in Australia because some patients already have access to legal synthetic cannabinoid drugs.

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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - President Joko Widodo of Indonesia has been too busy during the past three weeks to accept a phone call from the Australian prime minister to plead for the lives of two death-row prisoners, an Indonesian envoy said Thursday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters on March 5 that he had requested a telephone conversation with Widodo on the impending executions of Australian heroin traffickers Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33.

Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, on Thursday brushed off suggestions of a diplomatic snub.

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WILL Hodgman, it is not acceptable that your Liberal Government has omitted to include the legislation to legalise cannabis for medical use in your next 365 outlook. How many people must suffer in pain under your watch? Where is your Government's duty of care to Tasmanians? It is contemptible you choose to ignore such a vital issue that affects so many. Suffering loved ones, that we care for, require this well-documented, well-researched, proven treatment. These draconian laws need to be changed to reflect the needs of the 21st century. Is that asking too much Premier. Roll on next election.

Andrew Irving Hobart

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The difficult debate over reforming marijuana laws returned to the ACT on Friday when a Legislative Assembly committee began taking submissions on the issue.

That gravely ill members of our community are suffering needlessly and forced to plead with legislators because they cannot get access to the drug is a situation we owe to them to fix. According to overseas evidence, cannabis products can offer great relief, under the right conditions, although debate remains. It is also unacceptable that doctors may face prosecution for advising those patients to access marijuana products.

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WHILE we light our candles in sorrow for our fellow Australians being executed for drug trafficking and while we stomp and rant about sporting heroes getting "let off" for their own forays into the world of illegal drugs, there are many loud opinions being voiced. However, what I am not hearing is the calling out about our own failed drug policies. Most people have been totally indoctrinated with the idea that drugs need to be illegal for our own safety. However, all the evidence shows that prohibition of drug use, the criminalising of addicts and the "zero tolerance" approach that is the war on drugs has failed humanity. Prohibition does not save lives, does nothing to help addicts and only serves the violent criminal gangs that profit from the lack of oversight and regulation that occurs as a natural consequence of making drugs illegal. Prohibition of drugs causes and compounds suffering. The whole notion that drugs need to be illegal is based on lies. When will those in power listen to the experts and the clear evidence they present?

MICHAEL BROER Maroochy River

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