Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: The new medical cannabis law is quite a bit more than nothing

Alfie

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:11:23 +1300

Prof Paul Smith from the University of Otago Medical School has called for wider access to medicinal cannabis than the proposed law currently allows. In particular, he suggests that non-terminal patients, not just the terminally ill, would benefit greatly from medicinal cannabis.

Judging by his qualifications, Prof Smith is an…

nzlemming

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:10:27 +1300

And yet https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/346756/police-apologise-after-seizing-legal-cannabis

Craig Young

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 09:01:58 +1300

Those who are medical practitioners or scientists might also want to mobilise professional associations to back reform. As a rule, social and legislative reform is the result of a simple equation: Mass movement + evidence-based proof of desired efficacy to substantiate claims = successful legislative reform. LGBT communities did this…

Katharine Moody

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 20:03:08 +1300

A scathing review of it;

http://vjmpublishing.nz/?p=6041

Russell Brown

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:55:18 +1300

I would suggest that if you agree with the above, someone should set up a submission template to deal with potentially widened access eligibility and scope for medicinal use in this context. Preferably with evidential accompaniement of efficacy in this context and legislative and regulatory examples from overseas.

I think…

Rosemary McDonald

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 12:18:51 +1300

older persons membership would be supportive of prescription natural pain relief that actually works where opioids often don’t?

Its an actual thing....bloody old people, (as my kids would say)

Katharine Moody

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:54:08 +1300

Agree, it's practically useless as is. And just what is NZ First's objection – surely their older persons membership would be supportive of prescription natural pain relief that actually works where opioids often don't? There are a virtual flood of diseased hip joints out there in patients too old to…

Craig Young

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 09:06:53 +1300

Have to say I'm disappointed. Here's what I'd like to see:

(1) Removal of medicinal cannabis use altogether from Schedule C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981
(2) Analgesic user allowance for those in chronic pain
(3) "Green Card" ID system for medicinal cannabis users- but can be revoked…

Rosemary McDonald

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 07:48:01 +1300

SSDD

Well, maybe not...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMQozL6ZtMc

Alfie

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 07:26:09 +1300

Meh!

While any reform of our drug laws must be considered progress, as drafted, this bill is unlikely to improve the situation for more than a handful of people, if any.

The vast majority of medical users choose to use cannabis for pain relief, as a natural and effective alternative…

FletcherB

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 21:17:12 +1300

1) Any advancement in this area is welcome, and should be applauded...

2) But really... how wilfully blind/ignorant do you have to be to make such a half step?

So, the terminally ill have a legal defence for using... but if their friends or family grow or supply it to…

Joe Wylie

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:40:39 +1300

Life being a terminal condition – no way out alive – we all might just have wriggle room :)

And death being the ultimate disability, we're all somewhere on the "spectrum" :)

Rob Stowell

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 19:53:49 +1300

Life being a terminal condition – no way out alive – we all might just have wriggle room :)

Worik Stanton

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 18:59:52 +1300

Astatutory defence is a defence in law, so it’s okay – the same as being legal, in fact. I think it will have an impact on police willingness to prosecute in general.

It is a defence in law. But it is a defence. It is used in court. It…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 17:22:38 +1300

Stuff appears to have the best coverage at the moment... including a tortuous interview with Clark...a transcript would be nice.

The comments section makes a good read...

MaxKelly
Really Labour/Greens/NZ 1st?! What a cop out and what a disappointment to all those non-terminal patients who gain relief from Cannabis products…

Ross Bell

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:20:08 +1300

Poorly phrased – meant the 2 year time frame the government's estimated to set up the scheme.

Ross Bell

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:18:37 +1300

Not yet online, but will be here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_75877/misuse-of-drugs-medicinal-cannabis-amendment-bill

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:18:08 +1300

Protection for growers would have good too. Too far?

For now, yeah. I was specifically told that it’s not there because they didn’t have the numbers to get it through.

According to that bastion of sound journalism TVNZ...

The scheme also allows for the domestic cultivation and manufacture of medicinal…

Russell Brown

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:16:27 +1300

The Drug Foundation's response:

The Drug Foundation welcomed the government’s announcement to establish a government-run medical cannabis scheme as part of its First 100 Days commitment.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill will build a solid framework to oversee the domestic cultivation and manufacture of medical cannabis products, and improve…

Ross Bell

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:15:21 +1300

It's a good bill. The defense needs to be extended to all patients and their suppliers. The game-changer is allowing a domestic market to develop – that *should* result in more products and at better cost. How that scheme is developed, and who sits on the advisory group (needs patient…

Russell Brown

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:07:21 +1300

But ... this bill can be amended. The select committee stage will be important.

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:07:13 +1300

Bill English allows his caucus a conscience vote.

He ought to...wasn't there a poll or somesuch...?

When Clark's Bill is published, I guess I'll find it here?

Russell Brown

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:06:21 +1300

Definitely better than nothing.

Was it too far to have protection better than “legal defense”?

A statutory defence is a defence in law, so it’s okay – the same as being legal, in fact. I think it will have an impact on police willingness to prosecute in general.

Protection for…

Russell Brown

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:56:01 +1300

It'd be a good result to have this and Chloe Swarbrick's members bill before select committee at the same time. David Clark has already said he's voting for Chloe's bill at first reading.

It will be much more likely to pass at first reading if Bill English allows his caucus…

Worik Stanton

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:51:09 +1300

Definitely better than nothing.

Was it too far to have protection better than "legal defense"?

Protection for growers would have good too. Too far?

Public Address

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:51:09 +1300

Discussion from blog post.