When the NSW government announced a clinical trial exploring the role of marijuana in providing relief for those suffering a range of debilitating or terminal illnesses, the opinions came forth.
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For some – like Maitland’s Tara Kmetyk and Sam Aulton – the plan is welcomed, albeit a long time coming, while others are concerned the legalisation of medical marijuana will become a target for recreational drug users.
Then there is Greens NSW MP John Kaye who, after NSW Premier Mike Baird’s announcement, said he will challenge the plan and introduce his own legislation to Parliament in a bid to broaden the availability of medicinal cannabis to include those living with conditions including epilepsy.
So, with this, the debate opens a little bid wider.
Mr Baird has also said NSW Police guidelines will be implemented to formalise the current arrangement allowing police to exercise their discretion not to charge terminally ill adults who use cannabis to alleviate their symptoms, or their carers.
But this is something Mr Kaye isn’t too happy about; in fact he thinks the medical trial demonstrates a lack of courage.
“By failing to provide a complete exemption from prosecution, the NSW Coalition has left the terminally ill with the same awful choices that they currently face,” Mr Kaye said.
“They still have to break the law and hope the police will take mercy on them if they want to relieve some of their symptoms.”
So it seems the medicinal cannabis debate is far from over and as the issue moves forward the noise surrounding this progression is sure to grow even louder.