Media release
- FOR IMMEDIATE USE

20 April, 2011

Have A Heart - Give Medical Cannabis User A Fair Go!

Greencross Auckland said that Peter Davy – a medical cannabis user – deserves compassion and should be given a fair go; not sent to prison as the Judge has threatened.

“Here is a man capable of managing his own pain using medicinal cannabis while at the same time caring for a partner with Multiple Sclerosis; said spokesperson for Greencross Auckland, Stephen McIntyre today.

“Surely compassion can be shown with Peter spared from incarceration thus saving the couple – who already have enough to cope with – from any further suffering?”

“Have a heart! There’s been no evidence of dealing; why does Peter deserve incarceration for growing his own cannabis as medicine?”

“No-one can question his validity of using cannabis for pain or MS – the legal prescribing of medical cannabis in Canada, Europe and the United States for both conditions attests to its efficacy,” Mr McIntyre said.

“In New Zealand however only a few people are permitted to use Sativex – a highly expensive cannabis extract in spray form – for Multiple Sclerosis, while anyone choosing to grow their own herbal cannabis – like Peter – runs the risk of arrest and imprisonment.”

Mr McIntyre said that Greencross Auckland believes where patients have obtained the support of a medical professional to use cannabis, they should be allowed safe, legal access to the highest quality medicine.

“We are committed to supporting the rights of sick, disabled, and dying patients in choosing to use medical cannabis and assisting them in seeking support from their doctors and specialists to do so.”

Public opinion polls show that the majority of New Zealanders support law change allowing for medical cannabis.

“Greencross Auckland supports the recommendation made last year by the Law Commission that herbal cannabis be legally allowed here with patients able to obtain prescriptions from their doctor and cultivators licensed in the same way as other legitimate producers of controlled drugs,” he concluded.

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