Health Select Committee examines Medical Marijuana

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is welcoming news that Parliament's Health Select Committee has turned its attention to medical marijuana, in response to a petition from patients.

"It is a matter of some urgency that patients with chronic or debilitating illnesses are able to access medical marijuana immediately," ALCP spokesman Julian Crawford said.

"Over 60 different medicines are found in marijuana, many off which do not have psychoactive effects like THC."

The Health Select Committee today heard from Dr Geoff Noller about a observational study of medical marijuana users and the potential benefits for patients.

This follows a Court of Appeal decision in the case Regina V McKee which did not challenge the presumption that medical marijuana users with a doctors permission were exempt from prosecution for personal use. The Supreme Court has been ask to clarify the exemption further.

Last Year, the Government's decided to ignore a Law Commission recommendation to initiate Clinical Trials of raw Cannabis.

Parliament's website said "Dr Geoff Noller will be making an oral submission on behalf of the petition of William Joseph Rea, requesting that the House give urgent attention to the Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis use and legislate to decriminalise cannabis use for pain relief or managing symptoms of chronic illness, allow doctors to prescribe cannabis, and allow clinical trials, and note that 2,765 people have signed a petition supporting this request".

http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/presented/petitions/50DBHOH_PET3133_1/petition-of-william-joseph-rea-requesting-that-the-house

ENDS

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