Medicinal cannabis a miracle treatment for my daughter, mum tells Tas inquiry Updated about an hour agoThu 18 Sep 2014, 9:23pm Alice Agnews mother told the inquiry medical cannabis was a miracle for her daughters condition. Photo: Alice Agnews mother told the inquiry medical cannabis was a miracle for her daughters condition. (ABC News) A Tasmanian mother has told a parliamentary inquiry how medicinal cannabis has miraculously improved the health of her nine-year-old daughter who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. Nicole Cowles was the first person to address the Tasmanian Upper House inquiry into legalised medicinal cannabis, which began public hearings today. The inquiry, chaired by independent MP Ruth Forrest, was set up after Health Minister Michael Ferguson knocked back a proposal for a medicinal cannabis trial in Tasmanias Huon Valley in July. Ms Cowles said she used the drug to control the severe seizures that had afflicted her daughter, Alice, from birth. She said Alice took medicinal cannabis orally in liquid form every four hours and it was difficult to overstate the benefit her daughter received from the drug. Possibly the hardest thing in fighting for medical cannabis to be legalised is that I want to be able to tell people that this is a miracle. Its amazing, she said. But you cant use words like that when youre trying to put forward an argument for something that has real medical benefits because it sounds like youre selling snake oil, and thats not what were doing. But for intents and purposes it really is a miracle, the difference in Alices overall health and wellbeing. Medicinal cannabis timeline •June 29: TasCann proposes trial in Tasmania •July 1: TasCanns proposal rejected by Tas Government •July 4: Legislative Council resolves to hold inquiry •August 1: TasCann project approved by Norfolk Island •August 14: Norfolk Island approval overturned •September 9: Victoria backs trials of medical cannabis •September 17: NSW announces clinical trial •September 18: Tasmanian upper house inquiry begins Ms Cowles said she has been overwhelmed by the response since going public about using medical cannabis to treat her daughter. She said she has been contacted by scores of people in chronic pain or watching terminally ill loved ones suffer since telling her familys story. These are the real stories that come up over and over again, she said. So originally I spoke publicly because I thought it would help to protect Alice and I with what we were doing, but its become bigger than that. Ms Cowles also told the inquiry that Alices respite carers were not able to administer the treatment because it was illegal. Psychiatrist: cannabis is not necessarily safe Dr Eric Ratcliff, from the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, told the inquiry a medicinal cannabis trial probably would be a good idea but it must be a proper scientific trial and not one based on a few stories that tug at the heartstrings. He said he and his colleagues wanted to inject some caution into the hearing because they knew the dangers cannabis posed in terms of psychosis and schizophrenia. There is a concern that your deliberations and the publicity surrounding them is assisting the idea that this is a safe, versatile drug without dangers and this is not the case, he said. He said over the past 40 years illegal cannabis had been cultivated to contain higher and higher concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and that lawful crops should be far less potent. Its been modified in a way thats negative. What weve go to do is redress that, go back to a product that is more balanced and less likely to cause the adverse effects that weve observed, he said. Council keen to adopt a new industry The inquiry also heard from the Huon Valley Council which looked favourably upon medicinal cannabis as a potential new industry for the region. Given the Huon Valleys high rate of youth unemployment the council was keen to adopt a promising new industry, believing medicinal cannabis would help diversify the local economy and improve economic development. The Tasmanian Government had already made a written submission to the committee saying it would back clinical testing in the right circumstances. The New South Wales Government, meantime, was setting up a clinical trial of medical marijuana. On Wednesday Prime Minister Tony Abbott weighed into the debate saying he had no problem with the medical use of cannabis. The revelation was was picked up by the Oppositions Lara Giddings in State Parliament. I never thought Id see the day where I absolutely agree with Tony Abbott and the comments hes made around medical cannabis, she said. Premier Will Hodgman wants to discuss consistency and security around medicinal cannabis at a federal level. The issue is expected to be on the agenda at next months Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra. The Upper House inquiry will hold more hearings on Friday and Monday. abc.net.au/news/2014-09-18/parliamentary-inquiry-into-legalized-medicinal-cannabis-begins/5752716
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:58:48 +0000
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