MEDICINAL CANNABIS DELAYS CANNOT CONTINUE

Labor has called on the federal Government to quit stalling and introduce legislation to establish a national medicinal cannabis scheme for all Australians.
 
The call comes following recent reports of people facing jail for growing marijuana plants in order to bring relief to those affected by life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
 
As things currently stand the only option for people seeking medicinal cannabis is to source it illegally on their own.
 
Several states and territories have moved ahead in leaps and bounds on medicinal cannabis but Canberra has been slow to act. In fact, despite announcing that they would introduce a national medicinal cannabis scheme in October last year very little has happened since.
 
No legislation has been introduced into Parliament and no timeline has been provided for when this could occur. Until this happens people with serious diseases who rely on medicinal cannabis have no safe, legal route available to them. This is not good enough and the Government knows it.
 
If the government had acted sooner they could have legislated for medicinal cannabis before the end of 2015. But instead Parliament rose for the summer break without any firm promises on the horizon.
 
There must be no more delays.
 
People who can benefit from medicinal cannabis deserve a genuine commitment in creating a comprehensive national scheme. They have heard enough talk, it is time for action.