Victorian opposition leader backs medical marijuana legalisation October 5, 2014 A Mernda couple will continue giving their son illegal cannabis medication, despite hospital orders banning him from using it. Their defiance comes as Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews reinforced his pledge to legalise medicinal marijuana, if Labor wins the election. Three-year-old Cooper Wallace takes cannabis oil four times a day. “If its helping him we will continue to do so,” mother Cassie Batten said. But its illegal and last week, lawyers from Eppings Northern Hospital banned Cooper from receiving cannabis oil at the facility. Against doctors orders, the couple removed Cooper from hospital. “If they suspected or saw us then they would confiscate it and call the police,” Mrs Batten said. Today the Opposition reinforced its push to legalise medicinal marijuana. “A very sad situation where the lawyers are determining the healthcare that Cooper gets, rather than the doctors,” he said. “Ive committed our team to changing this law to drag this law into the 21st century.” Doctors are divided; while clinical research is encouraging, they warn families shouldnt take matters into their own hands. “The use of medicinal cannabis needs to be done in controlled circumstances in specific situations,” Dr Tony Bartone said. The state government has approved more clinical trials of cannabis-based medicines, but today the premier softened his stance, saying patients such as Cooper could apply for an exemption. But Coopers parents say, they dont have any time to waste. “As a parent you shouldnt be put in that predicament,” father Rhett Wallace said. 9news.au/national/2014/10/05/19/53/victorian-opposition-leader-backs-medical-marijuana-legalisation
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 12:23:50 +0000
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