ALCP support re-hash of Medicinal Cannabis Bill

The ALCP commend MPs for engaging in the Medicinal Cannabis debate. While Metiria Turei's Misuse of Drugs amendment bill failed to pass its first reading, many Members from across the political spectrum voiced support for THC based medicine.

The aim of Metiria's bill was to alleviate the suffering of those with serious and debilitating conditions. However the wording of the bill caused many MPs concern. The fact that patients would be able to grow and smoke
their own cannabis was a factor in the vote against the bill

Many members, including Lianne Dalziel and Ruth Dyson called for a rewrite of the Medicinal Cannabis Bill, to better address concerns raised. Many members could not bring themselves to support the legislation, despite supporting THC based medicine. The National Party block voted against the bill, while the Act and Green parties largely supported it.

The ALCP encourage parliamentarians to reintroduce medicinal cannabis legislation as soon as possible. The problems raised in Wednesdays debate could be addressed by measures in ALCP policy. The benefits of THC can be obtained without the risks involved with smoking cannabis and growing it at home.

Sativex is already approved medication in New Zealand. ALCP support any move to improve access to Sativex and allow it on prescription like other pharmacy medication. Furthermore, by introducing additional products as they become available, patients will eventually be able to access a wide range of cannabis based medicines. Like Sativex, any new product could employ an alternative delivery method to smoking.

There are large variations between the many strains of cannabis. Every flowering female produces 60 different cannabinoids in varying amounts. The more well-known of these include: delta 6 THC, delta 9 THC, delta 14 THC, CBD, CNB and CBC. Cannabis Breeders can develop strains with certain cannabinoid profiles to treat specific conditions. These medicines can be further refined in the lab by isolating the individual cannabinoids. For example Sativex is a combination of delta 9 THC and CBD.

Producing cannabis medicines locally, would create jobs and reduce the cost involved. Rather than allowing patients to grow their own cannabis, medical grade cannabis products could be made by New Zealand companies, operating in a regulated environment, similar to GW Pharmaceuticals in the UK.

These medicines must be made available to those who need them. The difficulties surrounding this policy could be resolved with a collaboration between informed medicinal cannabis users and the scientific community. A regulated system which allows small New Zealand companies to produce cannabis based medicine would help relieve the pain and suffering of many patients, at an affordable cost to the taxpayer.

For more information visit: www.alcp.org.nz

ENDS

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