Medical Marijuana in Australia

People think that the USA has the harshest laws regarding marijuana, but in fact NSW Australia could outdo the USA for many of the laws.

In Fact Medical marijuana has gotten such a bad rap here in Australia and we have no idea why. in fact nearly every single time we get even remotely close to medical marijuana in Australia being allowed for patients... something happens and it all gets messed up and forgotten due to paperwork.


People such as myself and people who suffer with celiac disease and otherw with MS, cancer and ect need it to literally to stay alive. I am not going into further detail or make an arguement for legalisation.

The laws regarding marijuana in Australia and also HEMP are ridiculous, and there has to be someone on here who is able to shed more light on this subject as even HEMP farms are subject to the same critisism as a marijuana farm.

There have been instances where police have intentionally allowed the raiding of a hemp farm knowing very well that the crop growing is not even close to being able to get a person high but yet they go an torch the lot very well knowing that it was most likely going to be turned into clothing and ect.

The law also states that a person cannot use any form of hemp as a consumable product, ie tablets, mouth spray, smoking ect.

and why is that so?

It sounds similar to the US actually buying the processed hemp back from the canadians to then turn into clothing.

The laws here in Australia regarding the medical useage only cover cancer patients who are terminal, I myself will get cancer eventually ive already had 6 beinine tumours cut out of my intestine and I am not applicable until I get cancer and it must be 'terminal'.

I am not arguing to have it legalised, what I am arguing is what gets in the way and who is the person/orginisation which is stonewalling the research and development, so far from what I have seen even the AMA in the USA is even pressuring the US government for more research as they have seen the medical benefits in patients.

...All I can say is that there will be an avalanche of people in the medical community wanting it legalised, but WHO or what is the group of people in Australia which keep stonewalling the process of research, development, test trials and the RESULTS????

WHERE ARE THE RESULTS????? I HAVENT SEEN ANY?

I dont even think they were made public from memory!

I am Canadian, and never thought that I would see the day that those "drug crazed" Americans South of us would ever legalize mj for medical use. And yet, here it is. I think it was just a ground swell of evidence probably stemming originally from first hand reports of users who dared to go against the laws.

The case for its benefits in medical treatment is so obvious that it just could not be ignored.

I grew up thinking you Aussies were just like we Canadians; but I see now that you are really much more like Americans in many ways than we are.

Hang in there, tho, because if American society can change in spite of all the propaganda so can Aussies.

Not to offend, but doesn't Australia usually follow pretty closely what the US does? Went to war and all while we Canadians held back. Hopefully they will do the same here.

reply to post by wayno


a lot of jokes are made about our neighbors to the north but i have to be honest

i am not positive, but i think a lot of credit should go to canada, marc emery and the canadian government

if it wasnt for our neighbors paving the way, we would be much further from medicalization then we are today


i am sad to hear about australia, i wouldve imagined a country with such vast wilderness would be more in touch with nature and "natural" medicine, especially with a indigenous culture (hope thats politically correct, not very educated on australia)


my true hopes and goal is to not only medicalize marijuana in the USA but worldwide

sure if theres change in the USA it will help us learn a great deal about the medicine, but only when its legal on a worldwide level and researched on a world wide level do i believe we will achieve the best results medically

[edit on 30-11-2009 by Dramey]

From what I have witnessed a large part of the problem here in Australia is the same that faced Americans - the involvement of religious groups in politics.
Even parties that are not overtly Christian need to be seen supporting those morals and ethics in order to win the popular vote. Until such time as the young voters out number the older conservatives, there will be very little chance of any kind of real legislation being placed for medical marijuana.
Thats a fairly large generalisation I know, and I don't mean to offend anyone in any of the groups above by my blanket statement - it is just the way that the chips always seem to fall, especially in my rural community.
You should see the hoo-rah we have going here in town about the proposed internet filters.

reply to post by ilandrah


I also see the fact that Australia doesn't have a civil rights constitution as being a major hurdle for any movement towards Medical Marijuana legislation. Our laws in many ways are more draconian than those in the US, allowing religious groups (Fred Nile comes to mind) and the Moral Police to get their claws in more deeply than thery ever could in the US.

What we Aussies need is to push for some sort of human/civil rights talks. Once we can establish that we are human beings, and not chunks of meat to be controlled and taxed, then we might be able to get somewhere on the issue of Medical Marijuana.

Having said all that, I do recognise (with a shudder) that our Aussie government seems to like copying whatever the US government does, ready and willing to do its bidding. If a major shift in drug policy happened at the Federal level in the US, I believe Australia (and maybe the UK) will soon follow.

The medication I need is called Sativex, If I could I would get it.

but the main problem is that the public is misinformed, the actual dangers are
only present if abuse starts in 'early' teens, and by abuse thats an average of 6 joints or 6gs of cannabis on an average of 20%.

So then we had the brain damage, that was debunked by the monkey test by smoke inhalation and deprivation of oxygen.

Then the Australian government tried 'it makes you boring' with a kid sitting at a party doing nothing... I mean WTF?

Seriously.

It's placed above more harmful drugs but less harmful in 'reality' it seems a bit odd, then again alot of the laws regarding it are as well, it appears that a particular group of people in particular are stonewalling research and development, and the only get it out in public is by having a mass protest or a riot for crying out loud!

The research results were found to be inconclusive and when further research was needed it was denied.

but the results were never made public?

and the question of the matter is WHY?

at the moment Nimbin is opening up a medical dispensery for free for people who are sick who bring a doctors note with them.

This is against the law, but the police are usually pretty relaxed about this and try to focus more on the other problems, so even it shows that even our law enforcement do see a difference at some point on things that need crucial attention to in society such as coc aine, pills, meth and heroin... the real demons in Australia (here we dont have MDMA, we have PMA and meth pills going around instead as Safrole the precersor is illegal but Anethole isnt illegal to purchase yet there are no restrictions of sale????? WTF)

It is a shame the premier of WA is taking such a backwards step.

Originally posted by ilandrah
From what I have witnessed a large part of the problem here in Australia is the same that faced Americans - the involvement of religious groups in politics.
Even parties that are not overtly Christian need to be seen supporting those morals and ethics in order to win the popular vote. Until such time as the young voters out number the older conservatives, there will be very little chance of any kind of real legislation being placed for medical marijuana.
Thats a fairly large generalisation I know, and I don't mean to offend anyone in any of the groups above by my blanket statement - it is just the way that the chips always seem to fall, especially in my rural community.
You should see the hoo-rah we have going here in town about the proposed internet filters.

well lets start writing letters into Tony Abbott,

he's even admitted to eating marijuana laced yogurt in India on a holiday trip because he couldn't smoke it and he was 'away with the fairies'

but the fact of the matter is still. WHO IS STONEWALLING IT?

People such as myself and people who suffer with celiac disease and otherw with MS, cancer and ect need it to literally to stay alive.

Medical pot does not cure any of those conditions and does not keep anyone alive.

Originally posted by zaiger

People such as myself and people who suffer with celiac disease and otherw with MS, cancer and ect need it to literally to stay alive.

Medical pot does not cure any of those conditions and does not keep anyone alive.

thats debatable based on the sole fact that there have been studies whose findings support the fact that certain strains of medical marijuana not only have the ability to slow the growth of certain types of cancer cells, but also kill certain types of cancer cells


, it can be argued that treating the symptoms of ms, cancer, and many other illnesses, it not only improves quality of life, it also allows current treatments to work more effectively improving overall life span


there is much that will be learned and taught of medical marijuana and its benefits as access to the substance grows on a national level


there may not be proof of any type of "cure" associated with medical marijuana, but there is great treatment and incredible potential for the future of the substance against many diseases

reply to post by zaiger


Tell that to a cancer sufferer who cannot eat because of the radiation treatment affecting their appetite. The marijuana restores their appetite so they do not slowly starve to death.

reply to post by Kryties


There have been appetite stimulants and weight solutions around for a while now that people have used with success without medical pot.
part of the problem is cancer and the radiation treatment can change the way the body metabolizes the food it takes in. So it is not always the issues of they are not eating enough the body is just not metabolizing what they take in the right way. Cancer and radiation treatments can also lead to swallowing problems which again is not the case of people not wanting to eat it is that they cannot swallow and medical pot does not help that. Medical pot does help stimulate the appetite but does not really help with increased weight which is the real problem. Medical pot like other apetite stimulants increase the ammount of fat on the body but cancer patients lose lean body mass durring their treatment and illness, so once again it is not that they are not eating enough and "starving" they are starving because the body does not metabolize the food correctly.

Originally posted by zaiger

People such as myself and people who suffer with celiac disease and otherw with MS, cancer and ect need it to literally to stay alive.

Medical pot does not cure any of those conditions and does not keep anyone alive.

I beg to differ. I have celiac disease to a point where without it I get anemia.
it reduces my intestinal inflammation and via the CB2 receptors which stimulates healing within the intestinal walls which when damaged cause anemia through malnutrition as the food cannot be absorbed.

now I have had tests before and after with bloodwork, several colonoscapies, and 6 tumours cut out after the 1 year break I took from using it. Now for my age, to be developing such problems so soon is a concern to my doctors, I have told them 'i take something' and refuse point blank to tell them, but they unknowingly acknowledge that medical marijuana stops my anemia, nausea, acid diorreah, seizures, and skin problems associated with Celiac disease.

Now I am speaking for myself on this, and I do not suggest you do this without taking other steps first to find treatment.

Trust me, when your fat, then turn into someone who looks like they were locked in a concentration camp, and get told there's nothing they can do,
and you find something that works, you put weight on, and your physical symptoms go away and your able to work.... you cant help but get a little pissed off when people tell you that "medical marijuana doesnt work" or "your making things up" which is common until people meet me, speak with me, and then realise that I dont really have much of an option.

Im not angry with you, I just figure that you might not have come accross the information in regards to the healing of the intestinal lining and stomach lining before.

But I can tell you without it, I cant work, eat properly, or even walk without shooting aches up my body, and seizures can be scary, especailly when you have one in a public place or on a train.

The only way anyone is going to stop me, is to pry it from my cold dead fingers.

reply to post by Lavey2

I have celiac disease

Well a glutten free diet would probably be better than getting high and eating. Medical pot has not been proven to heal anything, it is an intoxicant so it will dull pain but so will whiskey.

so you see, I am not angry with the law as such, but the people stonewalling the research and evidence which would support someone like me if we went to the TGA to be exempt from criminal prosecution, but they only prescribe it to people who have terminal cancer. I will most likely be terminal before im 25.

currently 20 at the moment, spent the last 2 years looking for something that would help.

I lie blame on the people who gave me this...

Originally posted by zaiger
reply to post by Kryties

 

There have been appetite stimulants and weight solutions around for a while now that people have used with success without medical pot.
part of the problem is cancer and the radiation treatment can change the way the body metabolizes the food it takes in. So it is not always the issues of they are not eating enough the body is just not metabolizing what they take in the right way. Cancer and radiation treatments can also lead to swallowing problems which again is not the case of people not wanting to eat it is that they cannot swallow and medical pot does not help that. Medical pot does help stimulate the appetite but does not really help with increased weight which is the real problem. Medical pot like other apetite stimulants increase the ammount of fat on the body but cancer patients lose lean body mass durring their treatment and illness, so once again it is not that they are not eating enough and "starving" they are starving because the body does not metabolize the food correctly.

many things you have stated are absolutely correct

however watching many people die from cancer, i have to disagree with certain aspects of what you say

sure there are non marijuana appetite stimulants and weight solutions, the majority of oncologists familiar with the actual studies will agree that medical marijuana still works better then what we currently have available for appetite stimulants (not including any medicines still in clinical trials)

on top of that it is short sighted to say or think that all cancer patients can be grouped into the" still can consume but not metabolize correctly"

there are many cancer patients who simply can not eat from many numbers of things cancer or treatment related


on top of that, i have seen people die who were able to eat right up to the last few days, i also witnessed those who could barely drink ensure for the last month

if i ever have cancer and i have any say over my treatment, i sure hope ill be the one who can consume food any way possible rather then be the type of cancer patient who cant consume at all


if medical marijuana will allow me to consume, whether or not my body is metabolizing the nutrients properly, i will use medical marijuana


id also like to go on record to say that anyone who doesnt believe medical marijuana deserves a chance is incredibly short sighted

actual modern day scientific study into the large number of chemicals available in the many strains of marijuana have only taken place over a very short period of time

we wont have full control or knowledge over the drug medically for at least another decade of research and probably much longer then that


there are many conspiracies regarding marijuana

one thing that is not a conspiracy is the medical potential is possesses

anyone who wishes to claim otherwise is simply doing nothing more then stating their own personal biased agenda


personally in a world where many people are needlessly suffering, i feel anything we could possibly do, we should do to end their suffering, bickering over semantics is not beneficial in that situation

i also find it interesting that there is more debate in studying medical marijuana (a substance that is medically known to be almost harmless especially in relation to other drugs including but not limited to alcohol tobacco and caffeine) then there is in studying stem cells or nano technology


all 3 are incredibly promising areas of study


only one of the above has been around and used since the days of the ancients

sure stem cells have been around forever, we only recently developed any clue how they work, and we still arent familiar with it completely nor we do understand everything


nanotechnology, well with that their is the potential to destroy the world, yet we go ahead with that with almost no debate



yet we try to discuss future potential for medical marijuana and just take a look around this forum and see how our society reacts


thats pretty scary to me there are so many who wish to take a stance against medical marijuana when we have so many more important things to take down

Originally posted by Lavey2
so you see, I am not angry with the law as such, but the people stonewalling the research and evidence which would support someone like me if we went to the TGA to be exempt from criminal prosecution, but they only prescribe it to people who have terminal cancer. I will most likely be terminal before im 25.

currently 20 at the moment, spent the last 2 years looking for something that would help.

I lie blame on the people who gave me this...

what i find absurd it that anyone feels they have the right to tell you how to treat yourself

especially concerning a substance that has been used medically for millennia up until the early 1900s

someone in your situation consuming medical marijuana hurts no one other then yourself no matter what the dangers of medical marijuana are

on top of that there are very limited studies that can support any statement of danger from medical marijuana use, not abuse

the fact we are wasting resources arguing about this situation honestly disgusts me


if someone like you who are in a tough situation you should be allowed to do anything you can to gain help, currently there are very few treatments or cures for many different problems life throws at us


one of the biggest things said against medical marijuana use is that it cures nothing
that is one of the biggest piece of crap lines i have ever heard especially regarding the "cures" we have available today

currently if you are in the united states of america we do not practice curative or preventative medicine, all we do is treat things, if you can believe medical marijuana treats nothing, fine, thats fine, ignore all knowledge available and live in your cave



we do know as a cold scientific fact is medical marijuana can be a treatment that can undoubtedly improve quality of life


i want to know how in a free country we developed the ego to tell people they cant make their life a little easier when they are suffering or dying


we fought wars and continue to fight wars in the name of freedom, however this debate alone proves the "free world", and the united states in particular are nothing but a group of egotistical hypocrites


we allow tobacco which kills by second hand smoke, we allow alcohol that kills in drunk driving, yet we cant let people live a little more comfortable because of the big bad marijuana plant




in closing i wish you the best and hope for your sake and others like you the laws change sooner then later

[edit on 8-12-2009 by Dramey]

reply to post by Dramey

if medical marijuana will allow me to consume, whether or not my body is metabolizing the nutrients properly, i will use medical marijuana

That is the point i was making. If your body does not metabolize what you take in you can eat yourself to near death and you will still starve to death. All medical pot can do is stimulate you apetita. It does nothing for
1. Helping metabolize food
2. Help with swallowing problems
3. Help build lean body mass back up
4. Helping use the period "." instead of the return key
The first 3 are the real problems it is not a condition of people not being hungry.

on top of that it is short sighted to say or think that all cancer patients can be grouped into the" still can consume but not metabolize correctly"

I did not say all i said some.

what we do know is medical marijuana can be a treatment that can undoubtedly improve quality of life

So can super models and a morphine drip.

But there certainly does seem to be recent evidence that it does help MS sufferers.
BBC news article

Cannabis has been proven, for the first time, to be an effective treatment for the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Many MS sufferers have taken the drug illegally, claiming that it has a therapeutic effect. Now UK scientists have shown that a compound in cannabis can prevent muscle tremor and spasticity caused by MS.

Note: The article also says that they are able to use synthetics to create the same effect. But until the reports from sufferers taking illegal canabis were examined this relief was not available to them.

Also, I know a lot of people who would much prefer to use a 'natural' remedy than to rely on synthetic replicas.

I constantly hear the statement "Medical Marijuana is a farce as we already have synthetic THC that supporters refuse to take, they prefer to smoke it instead" being touted by TPTB in refute to claims about medical marijuana.

What a load of codswallop. Research that has been performed by various scientists around the world has proven that cannabis's effects can be attributed to over 60 different chemicals in the plant - CBC (cannabichromene), THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) are just four examples of them. The 60 or so chemicals all interact and are dependant on each other to provide the end medicinal effect of cannabis that is smoked, eaten or vaporised.

The synthetic THC products that have been developed do not take into account (or contain) any of the other 60 or so chemicals needed for cannabis to have it's true effect. While yes, the THC alone causes a small euphoric high, it's the other chemicals that are left out of the synthetic version which help to provide the necessary medicinal effect of cannabis.