MEDIA RELEASE
27 July 2018

Family First NZ is welcoming the National party’s medicinal marijuana bill saying that the balance between caution and compassion appears to be right.

“We support a cautious and researched approach around this issue, and we also support a compassionate response to those in real need. But the earlier Swarbrick bill failed the test in terms of public health, public safety, and protecting our young people and the politicians were right to reject it so strongly. And the current government bill had a number of shortcomings. This latest attempt ticks the boxes in terms of dealing with the concerns we raised in our submission,.” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“We need to say no to ‘medicinal marijuana’, and yes to ‘medicinal cannabinoids’ products. No other medicine is lit up and inhaled as was proposed by the flawed Green’s bill.”

Family First is supporting the rapid expansion of further quality research into the components of the marijuana plant for delivery via non-smoked forms, and the establishment of a programme that allows seriously ill patients to obtain other non-smoked components of marijuana approved and listed by the Ministry of Health via their doctor – with appropriate funding and pricing for patients. Neurologists, palliative care and pain specialists should have a key role in this process.

“Ultimately, the medical profession should be dictating the direction of this debate, not politicians, an anecdotal-wielding lobby, and marijuana advocates with a hidden agenda.”

READ Family First Submission to the Government’s Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill 2018 Bill

Briefing Paper sent to all MPs www.SayNopeToDope.nz/medicinal/
ENDS

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