Calls for medicinal marijuana

An HIV positive man joined calls during a rally last week at Parliament House for medicinal marijuana to be legalised in NSW

An HIV positive man joined calls last week for medicinal marijuana to be legalised in NSW at a Parliament House rally drawing supporters from as far north as Nimbin.

Mullaways Medical Cannabis company director Anthony Bower organised the protest over the state Government’s continued refusal to licence commercially manufactured medicinal marijuana.

He has developed a special liquid cannabis tincture, which he currently provides to around 300 people across Australia with various health conditions, including to Sydney bartender Justin Brash.

“I have HIV but suffer from cannabis prohibition,” Brash told SX at the rally.

Brash, 56, has been living with HIV/AIDS since 1988.

“For me, marijuana helps with nausea control and appetite stimulation but the side benefits are insomnia relief and pain relief,” he said.

Brash also cited to SX a signed doctor’s certificate from the Taylor Square Private Clinic.

“If legally permitted to do so, I would consider prescribing cannabis to this patient for this condition,” the certificate reads.

Bower said the state Government has left him waiting for two years to obtain a commercial manufacture licence despite already receiving approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as a ‘fit and proper’ person.

“They’ve taken my money, held onto it for two years but still no licence … It’s a legal and binding contract,” he said.

A contingent of Greens MPs met with Bower during the rally.

“It is clear that in the case of Mr Bower’s road blocks have been thrown up that would not have been there if he had been a multinational pharmaceutical company or the primary feedstock were not related to a recreational drug," Greens MP John Kaye said.

A NSW Health spokesperson told SX while it has "no record of monies received from Mr Bower" there are no provisions under current law to authorise cannabis tinctures for medical use in any event.

The Director-General can provide an exemption, however, under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act when satisfied “that such cultivation, supply and possession is for the purpose of scientific research, instruction, analysis or study”.

The spokesperson said Bower has been advised he could apply for the exemption but has yet provided the required information to the Director-General.

“Subsequently, Mr Bower’s application has not been able to be progressed,” the spokesperson said.

Leading Australian drug expert Dr Alex Wodak from St Vincent's Hospital meanwhile confirmed to SX that “it has been clear for more than 10 years that the scientific case for using cannabis medicinally is very strong”.

In the US, 16 states currently allow patients access to medical marijuana, while a UK company provides cannabis-based Sativex on prescription in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Spain.

Photo by: Serkan Ozturk