Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: A handful of deeply precious days: a select committee submission

Prudence

Mon, 07 May 2018 19:43:16 +1200

"Mark Crotty’s oral submission"
Good grief. That could have been my son's submission other than I don't have MS but do manage to survive with chronic Restless Leg Syndrome and attendant depression.
Since starting using cannabis my son's life has improved out of sight after suffering with Crohns since he…

Ray Gilbert

Thu, 03 May 2018 12:58:30 +1200

But even GMP products don't pass muster in NZ – or, rather, they face a case-by-case ministry approval process. MoH officials have become considerably more flexible in what they're willing to sign off though. It's not out of the question that raw flower products could be approved – it's just…

Russell Brown

Thu, 03 May 2018 11:03:02 +1200

There seems to be less requirements for MC products. Although a quick search does show the industry seems to be trying to come to grips with this there is still a long way to go before anything as sophisticated as current GLP and cGMP standards are reached or a standard…

Ray Gilbert

Thu, 03 May 2018 09:18:16 +1200

That is one thing that I find a bit perplexing about the widespread adoption of medicinal cannabis across the US in the past years. The regulations governing the manufacture and sale of medicines and medical devices are extremely onerous, in principle anyway, for patient protection. There seems to be less…

Hilary Stace

Wed, 02 May 2018 18:43:40 +1200

It is not so much the hospice situation that MC is needed as for those living with cancer. It seems it helps relieve chemotherapy induced nausea without noticeable side-effects for adults and children, and helps with pain, eating, sleeping and anxiety. Living with and recovering from cancer can take a…

Russell Brown

Wed, 02 May 2018 13:06:58 +1200

If I was vulnerable in in a hospice situation, I’d really especially not want anxiety drugs like THC, mabe just the CBT. So that’s why doing a half arsed job of this legislation that doesn’t bother with proper science isn’t a good idea in this instance.

It'd be your choice.…

Greg Wood

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:37:04 +1200

Thanks, Russell. Thanks heaps for representing and for your powerful combination of logic and compassion. Thanks also for pointing out the arse-ness of putting support crews in the legal firing line; specifically regarding terminal cases, Hospice crews are an extraordinary bunch of people, operating at the literal limit of human…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:17:46 +1200

I wish they had displayed a public list of people making submissions

A pity this couldn't be counted as a submission....

His lawyer Wayne Cribb told Judge Nevin Dawson that Oxton had a serious spinal injury after an accident and used cannabis for pain relief.

Cribb said Oxton did not want…

Russell Brown

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:09:04 +1200

Of course they still have to persuade a majority of the other MPs who haven’t heard all that personal testimony.

What the National MPs on the committee, Shane Reti especially, say in the report and tell their colleagues is going to be crucial.

The limits in the bill are there…

Hilary Stace

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:05:37 +1200

Of course they still have to persuade a majority of the other MPs who haven't heard all that personal testimony.

Russell Brown

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:00:20 +1200

I mentioned Mark Crotty’s oral submission, which was shortly before mine. Mark has given me permission to post his written submission (with the request that I give it an edit for spelling and grammar). This is it:

My name is Mark Crotty. In late 2014 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s…

Russell Brown

Wed, 02 May 2018 09:41:23 +1200

It was quite social in the corridor outside the two rooms at times

It was! I also found it quite profound sitting there chatting with the likes of Cat Le Brun, Mark Crotty and Sam (I missed his surname) the father who had two daughters with a rare, eventually fatal…

Hilary Stace

Wed, 02 May 2018 09:13:21 +1200

I wish they had displayed a public list of people making submissions that day as there were many I would have liked to hear and support. It was quite social in the corridor outside the two rooms at times (and did you notice the fabulous art including two McCahons?).

I…

Katharine Moody

Tue, 01 May 2018 22:56:26 +1200

Wow – fantastic. How lucky your friend was to have you, and now how lucky scores of others in NZ are to have you telling his story and yours. Really, really, really hope these SC members get it right.

The present situation is madness. Thanks, Russell. I think you nailed…

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2018 19:57:46 +1200

Thanks, Russell, for taking point.

Cheers. I've thought a lot this year about when it's time to step up.

Martin Barry

Tue, 01 May 2018 18:44:28 +1200

Thanks Russell, your work in this area is very important.

AThrift

Tue, 01 May 2018 18:42:16 +1200

Good for you, Russell for having the energy and tenacity to follow this through, and for helping a mate out. It's just so exasperating that these hoops have to be jumped through when cannabis is a dull little herb which is less harmful than coffee.

nzlemming

Tue, 01 May 2018 18:11:22 +1200

Thanks, Russell, for taking point.

Russell Brown

Tue, 01 May 2018 17:09:23 +1200

I seem not to be the only one who sat in on these hearings and came away with the impression that the bill's statutory defence may well be extended to those with chronic illnesses. If that happens, it's huge. It's worth bearing witness.

Public Address

Tue, 01 May 2018 17:09:23 +1200

Discussion from blog post.