MEMBER for Shellharbour Anna Watson has backed the call by NSW Labor Leader, Luke Foley, to permit the use of medicinal cannabis without the need for a trial.
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Less than a week after being appointed Labor leader, Mr Foley said on Sunday that NSW needed a more ambitious plan to allow terminally ill people to use medicinal cannabis without fear of prosecution.
The state government is planning a $9 million trial for medicinal cannabis that has the potential to treat children with severe epilepsy, terminally ill adults and those undergoing chemotherapy.
Ms Watson said she had been a long-time supporter of allowing medicinal cannabis use.
“I back a change to the existing law in NSW without the need for a trial," she said.
“There is peer-reviewed scientific evidence from around the world that allowing medicinal cannabis use for the treatment of illness can bring some comfort to patients.
“I hope that this proposal by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Foley, can be viewed in a bipartisan manner by the Premier and the existing law changed as soon as the State Parliament resumes after the March election.
“It’s important to recognise that I am not advocating for the relaxation of any existing law in NSW which currently prohibits the recreational use of cannabis."
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner recently criticised Mr Foley's suggestion to abandon clinical trials as "irresponsible", saying police have been given every discretion to allow terminally ill patients to ease their pain.
