Pubdate: Sun, 04 May 2014
Source: Bendigo Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 The Bendigo Advertiser & Independent Pty Ltd
Contact:  http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1035
Author: Hannah Carrodus

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: FAMILY WILL NOT BUY FROM UNDERGROUND
SUPPLIER

CHERI O'Connell says she would rather move her family overseas than
accept medical marijuana from an underground supplier.

On Sunday she said that several underground marijuana growers had
offered to provide her with the medical cannabis needed to treat her
daughter Tara's epilepsy.

Ms O'Connell said she did not want to get involved with people who
grew marijuana illegally and sold it to people for recreational purposes.

She said that buying marijuana from underground dealers could have
legal ramifications for herself and her family, which was a risk she
was not willing to take.

"I'm not willing to risk my kids being taken off me over a plant," she
said.

The Bendigo Advertiser reported on Friday that the man who has
supplied the family with cannabis since 2012 - Tony Bower of Mulaways
Medical Cannabis - had been arrested and charged with drug trafficking
offences.

Ms O'Connell said that Mr Bowers was always certain to provide the
family with liquid cannabis that was diluted to a 0.1ml doses, meaning
it was not illegal.

She said she also didn't want to buy cannabis from another supplier
because a change in product could have an adverse affect on her daughter.

"With epilepsy consistency is important - a one per cent change could
be the difference in having a seizure and not having a seizure," she
said.

She said Mr Bowers provided her family about about 100 other families
with medical cannabis free of charge.

She said it was very disappointing that Mr Bowers had been
charged.

She said that if Mr Bowers was to receive a lengthy prison sentence,
the family would consider moving to Colorado, in the United States,
where marijuana is legal.

Ms O'Connell's daughter Tara, 8, has a severe form of epilepsy that
causes her to have up 200 seizures a day.

In 2012 Tara was resuscitated eight times and doctors warned that she
may not live long past her seventh birthday.

Shortly after this the O'Connells started treating Tara with medical
cannabis, as a last resort.

Tara has not had a seizure since.

It is currently illegal to possess or grow marijuana in all states of
Australia.
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