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The ideological, illogical war against cannabis

By Sandra Kanck - posted Friday, 1 August 2008


Despite all the foregoing, US federal law still prohibits the growing, possession, supply or use of cannabis for medical purposes. The DEA can, and does, conduct raids in states where medical marijuana has been decriminalised. However, this year the bill has been introduced by former presidential candidate, Ron Paul, to make it legal at the federal level.

In Israel, cannabis is being used on a limited basis to treat PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) in former soldiers. Additionally, trials are taking place in many other parts of the world. The Israeli Health Ministry grows marijuana which it gives away to more than 150 registered patients with cancer, AIDS or chronic inflammation of the intestine. The facility is being expanded, and consideration is being given to distributing through government-approved hospitals and perhaps private pharmacies where it could be sold.

In Canada, federal government regulations, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, allow people with certain illnesses to apply for permits to possess and/or grow marijuana for personal medical purposes, or to designate another person to grow it for the person who has the permit. All usages must be prescribed by physicians.

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In the Netherlands, there is a medicinal program that allows pharmacies to sell standardised quality-controlled marijuana from authorised growers to sufferers of chronic or terminal diseases. It is a program that is not working very well because cannabis coffee shops are able to sell cannabis at a cheaper rate.

There is a lot of support, and growing support, for the use of medical marijuana here in Australia from organisations like the Country Women's Association (who see that it could be used for people who are experiencing the effects of chemotherapy when having cancer treatment); the New South Wales Cancer Council; the AIDS Council of Victoria; and the South Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

In the United States, support for medical marijuana has come from the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Presbyterian Church and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

US presidential candidate Barack Obama who, when recently asked whether, if he became president he would halt the Drug Enforcement Administration's raids on medical marijuana growers in Oregon, replied:

I would, because I think our federal agents have better things to do, like catching criminals and preventing terrorism. The way I want to approach the issue of medical marijuana is to base it on science and, if there is sound science that supports the use of medical marijuana, and if it is controlled and prescribed in a way that other medicine is prescribed, then it is something we should consider.

The war against marijuana is ideological; it is a matter of what substance fits with what set of values. In the West there is a view that nature is bad and synthesising is better. It is time for us to consider the use of medical marijuana as part of being a humane and compassionate society. If we know that a substance works by improving the health of people and we continue to deny access to it, particularly when so many people use it illegally without any bad effect, then there is something else driving the argument - and it is certainly not science.

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Bit by bit the demand for medical marijuana is growing and, bit by bit around the world, the medical efficacy of this drug is being recognised. This is the second time such legislation has been introduced in South Australia, and I am sure it will not be the last, given the phoney “tough on drug” stance of most members of this parliament - most of whom drink alcohol and less of whom smoke tobacco. However, like the vote for women, it is an idea whose time has come and, eventually, such legislation will pass.

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Extract from SA Legislative Council Hansard: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (PALLIATIVE USE OF CANNABIS) AMENDMENT BILL speech made on July 23, 2008. The full version is online at www.sa.democrats.org.au.



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About the Author

Sandra Kanck is the former parliamentary leader of the South Australian Democrats. She is national president of Sustainable Population Australia, SA president of Friends of the ABC, President of the Australian Democrats (SA Division Inc.) and an Executive Member of the SA Council for Civil Liberties.

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