Page 4566 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 6 December 1994
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Mr Berry: This is open slather, Michael.
MR MOORE: I repeated that on two occasions for Mr Berry's sake, but then I realised that it was not going to help because he has no idea of the significance of that. We know that there are side effects of cannabis, although we know that they are nowhere near as serious as the side effects of benzodiazepines and other drugs over which doctors have control; yet under these very strict circumstances the Chief Minister and the Minister for Health are not prepared to trust doctors. It is a most extraordinary case. We had a situation where, on compassionate grounds, the Liberal Party made a very sensible decision; but, thanks to a popular misconception fed by the Minister of the uncomfortable face, the Minister of the difficult nasal tract, the Liberal Party has now been prepared to back away and try to tighten up even further when it simply is not necessary.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Detail Stage
Reconsideration of clause 5.
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (4.06): I move:
Omit the clause, substitute the following new clause:
Insertion
"5. After section 171A of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:
Cannabis: medicinal use
'171B. Proceedings do not lie against a person in respect of the alleged commission of -
(a) an offence under subsection 171(1) of possessing not more than 25 grams of cannabis; or
(b) an offence under subsection 171(2) of administering, or causing or permitting to be administered, to himself or herself cannabis;
if a medical practitioner who is the holder of an authorisation granted under section 33 for the purpose of a program of research in relation to cannabis has, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the authorisation, certified in writing that the use of cannabis by that person is appropriate for the treatment of an existing mental or physical condition.'.".
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