Legitimate medical users of cannabis should not have to live in fear of the law and the Government is urged to follow the Law Commission’s recommendation by instructing Police to stop arresting anyone who has proof of their doctor’s support to use cannabis therapeutically.

“The criminalization and penalizing of people for using a herbal medicine that is significantly less harmful than many over-the-counter and prescription drugs is ethically unjustifiable,” said spokesman for Auckland Greencross, Stephen McIntyre today.

He was responding to the documentary ‘Inside NZ: High Time?’ which screened last night on TV3.

“In the documentary which questioned the validity of current policy, three reasons given by the Health Ministry for not giving formal approval to allow sick, dying and disabled New Zealanders to use herbal cannabis were the potential risk to lungs from smoking, the possibility of contaminants in the plant matter, and the lack of control over dose and potency.”

“But these are excuses which fail to stand up under scrutiny,” Mr McIntyre explained.

“Smoking can be avoided in a number of ways – vapourising cannabis or eating it being two alternatives – while lab testing can identify samples with contaminants such as microscopic moulds and chemical sprays and establish potency. This information can then be utilized to ensure quality control during production.”

“But safety and quality cannot be controlled while medicinal cannabis use remains a criminal offence.”

Mr McIntyre explained that the role of Auckland Greencross is to assist bona fide patients in gathering and presenting information to their doctor asking for written support to use cannabis medically.

“Once that’s been obtained, they are issued with a card proving medical support and stating that they should therefore be considered exempt from prosecution.”

“Our aim is to meet the needs of patients with chronic, long-term and/or terminal conditions and illnesses through open and honest education, and in doing so help create safer, healthier communities.”

“Government needs to act on this to prevent further suffering for those already having to deal with major health problems.”

“After all, who’s more qualified to decide whether or not it’s appropriate for someone to use cannabis medicinally – a police officer or a doctor?” he concluded.

ENDS

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