Love her or loathe her, Pauline Hanson’s stance on medical marijuana is admirable.
The Senator has asked Australia’s Prime Minister to “please explain” why medicines are not yet readily accessible in Australia.
This follows an incident where Adelaide woman Jenny Hallam, a medical cannabis user and supplier, had her premises raided by police recently.
Senator Hanson is well known for her polarising effect relating to a number of important issues in Australia, but on medicinal marijuana she appears to have wide support.
“I will continue to call on the Prime Minister to be compassionate to the families of sick and dying Australians and call a medical cannabis amnesty,” said Senator Hanson.
“Is it fair to say that medical cannabis has been declared legal because it is an effective medicine and then deny desperate families that medicine? I’m sorry but that fails the common sense test.”
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation political party’s official policy stance is that it upholds the right of Australians to access medical cannabis, ” that may give them quality of life and life itself”.
This hasn’t been a case of the party jumping on the recent public outrage bandwagon – it went to the last federal election in Australia with that policy in place.
Senator Hanson has joined forces with Member for Buderim Steve Dickson (LNP), another staunch medicinal marijuana supporter.
Mr. Dickson says a survey he carried out indicated 98% of respondents supported the use of medicinal cannabis to treat chronic illnesses.
“Importantly, 97% of people surveyed would treat their dependent child with medicinal cannabis,” said Mr. Dickson.
Senator Hanson is encouraging Australians to contact the Prime Minister’s office about the situation.
“The PM’s office is waiting for your comments on medicinal cannabis and creating an amnesty on suppliers of the drug to patients in need,” Senator Hanson stated on Facebook in an earlier post.
“Call now and nicely explain why you support an amnesty on medicinal cannabis suppliers in Australia. Phone. 02 6271 5111. Tell him Pauline sent you.”
The reporting of Jenny Hallam and loss of her medicines has no doubt been an incredibly stressful experience for her and those who rely on her. It remains to be seen if the ensuing outcry proves to be a watershed moment in Australia’s medical cannabis journey.
