Pubdate: Mon, 25 Aug 2014
Source: Mercury, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 Davies Brothers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.themercury.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/193
Author: Anne Mather
Page: 2

CANNABIS PLAN HAS SUPPORT, SAYS MLC

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into medical cannabis has been flooded with 
support from Tasmanians.

About 100 submissions have been sent to an Upper House inquiry set to 
begin hearings within weeks.

Independent MLC Ruth Forrest said people seemed to be in favour of 
the economic benefits of a new industry, as well as the potential 
health benefits of cannabis for medical purposes.

Ms Forrest said many people were moved to write into the inquiry on 
compassionate grounds, arguing medical cannabis should be explored as 
an option for people for whom other medications had failed.

In initiating the inquiry, she said submissions had been "rolling in" 
since last month. The call for submissions closed on Friday.

Hearings will start next month.

Meanwhile, Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has thrown his 
party's support behind medical cannabis.

If elected in the November 29 election, Mr Andrews said the Victorian 
Law Reform Commission would be asked to investigate the prescription, 
manufacture and distribution of medical cannabis.

Tasmanian Greens leader Kim Booth said the State Government, which 
has opposed a medical cannabis trial on social and security grounds, 
was becoming further out of touch with the public.

"The pressure is mounting on the Government to keep an open mind 
while the Legislative Council inquiry into medicinal cannabis is 
under way, and the Liberals may need to be prepared to alter course 
and catch up with the community's expectations," Mr Booth said.

Last week the Dorset Council voted unanimously in support of 
progressing talks around the growing and processing of industrial 
hemp, medicinal cannabis and other biopharmaceutical products.

Medical cannabis and an industrial hemp industry is being championed 
by all 12 of Southern Tasmania's mayors.

Meanwhile Norfolk Island's push to grow medical cannabis has received 
public support, despite being stopped by the Federal Government.

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org to allow 
medical cannabis to be grown on Norfolk Island.

Earlier this month Norfolk Island's Health Minister, Robin Adams, 
granted approval to Tasmanian company Tasman Health Cannabinoids 
(Tascann) to grow medical cannabis on the island.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom