The Leaf THE LEAF July - August 2018 | Page 23

Growing support for medicinal cannabis by Melinda Reed Sorell Times, May 2018 Before mother and grandmother Libby Wiggins passed away in January 2017 after a long illness, medicinal cannabis helped reduce pain and improve her quality of life. “We used a mixture of hemp oil and cannabis oil to relieve her joint pain plus I’d give her some drops which would help with her anxiety and breathing,” her husband Linly explained. “We also used it in palliative care – it was a lot better than the other drugs they give you,” he said. On Sunday 29th April, the day that would have been their 46th wedding anniversary, Linly gathered with family and supporters at Okines Community House at Dodges Ferry to launch Tasmania’s Little Green Trailer and promote community education about medicinal cannabis. Linly donated the trailer that the Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Tasmania group has fitted out as an educational trailer for use in Tasmania. Libby and Linly’s daughter Megan urged people to talk about medicinal cannabis in a positive way. “To see her suffer and then see the relief and calm after medicinal cannabis and see the mum we knew again was really special,” Megan said. Andrew Irving of Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Tasmania described how medicinal cannabis eased his wife Marilyn’s spasms and pain after just three weeks. “It has to be a first priority, it cannot be a last resort,” he urged. A memorial on the rear of the trailer shows Libby’s and Marilyn’s names and photos along with others who have benefited from medicinal cannabis. The community education campaign aims to spread awareness of the medicinal value of cannabis and to de-stigmatise the “extremely versatile, lifesaving” hemp plant. The Country Women’s Association of Tasmania have advocated for medicinal cannabis for more than 12 years and have made hemp their food of the year for 2018, encouraging members to learn about using hemp in cooking. CWA Tasmania president Lindy Cleland, of Orielton, explained the long-standing CWA support and about how much medicinal cannabis is helping in her brother’s battle with a series of brain tumours. “Having known Libby I think she would be really thrilled to know that this message is being shared in supporting a wonderful cause,” Lindy said. Even though medicinal cannabis is now legal for doctors to prescribe under very strict conditions, the tight restrictions and lack of awareness are severely limiting availability to people in need. Growing cannabis yourself, supplying it or using it for non-medical purposes is still illegal. Photo caption: (L-R) Andrew Irving of Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Tasmania and Lindy Cleland of CWA Tasmania with Linly Wiggins at Okines Community House, Dodges Ferry, 29/4/2018.