The Leaf THE LEAF May-June 2019 | Page 6

Would You Give Cannabis Oil To Your Child If It Took Away Pain And Suffering? By admin - July 9, 2018 “Health & Fitness” Recently, a journalist wrote about a gut wrenching issue: GPs sending dying patients underground in the search for medicinal cannabis. It’s utterly soul destroying to hear of what sick adults and children must do to access a potent plant that can relieve pain and suffering, restore some dignity, give them control and autonomy over their bodies, and even extend their lives. Two years ago, a father gave cannabis oil to his two year old daughter, who had an advanced, rare form of cancer. He was arrested and charged. The father, Adam Koessler, said after using cannabis oil the difference in his daughter’s condition was miraculous: “Her cancer-ridden little body was alive again – Rumer had almost instant quality of life. She would say ‘Daddy, tummy’s not sore’ and she would be able to eat like a champion and began to gain weight. Her energy was up and she wanted to go outside with me instead of lie on her back with her legs curled up. Her skin colour came back, her eyes were sparkling again and we just looked at each other in complete amazement”. After he was reported to police, his daughter’s condition was completely reversed. She was placed into hospital care, and hooked up to morphine. Her health deteriorated, and she passed away soon after. Cannabis Oil Is Still Mostly Illegal In Australia We often hear how cannabis oil can stop seizures (even when medications have been ineffective), and breathe new life into cancer patients. It shows promising results for diabetes and obesity, and can stop tremors in those with Parkinson’s Disease. These life changing stories aren’t just in cases of terminal or serious diseases. Cannabis oil is helping those with a range of emotional, mental, and physical problems. Patient access is a major issue, however. Only about 24 Australian medical specialists – authorised prescribers who must go through a time-consuming ethics approval – are allowed to prescribe it, via the restricted access scheme. If that weren’t a big enough hurdle for sick and suffering Australians, especially those who are chronically or terminally ill, there are two other problems: finding out who those specialists are, as well as there being strict criteria for prescriptions. The program is limited by very specific conditions, on a state-by-state basis. For example: In Victoria, the Department of Health allows only kids with severe epilepsy – where medications are not working – to access medicinal cannabis In NSW it is limited to people with a terminal illness Tasmanian authorities say they will not limit the patient cohort These hurdles make it extraordinarily difficult for the vast majority of people in need to obtain quality, high potency cannabis oil, via legal channels.