Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has expressed his support for medical marijuana to Talkback radio host Alan Jones in a letter saying no further testing is needed if medical marijuana is legal in similar jurisdictions. PM Abbott recently said he has no problem with making medical marijuana legal. He said he believes if a drug has been validated for medical purposes, the legality should be out of the question.
The New South Wales Premier Mike Baird recently approved a clinical trial of medical marijuana with reporting on the results to become available by the end of the year. He explained new guidelines are in the works to clarify for the NSW Police Department to not arrest terminal cancer patients who are in possession of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana legislation will be introduced by members of the Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy and Law Reform within the month.
Green, Australia senator Richard Di Natale suggested that the Therapeutic Goods Administration should make a separate category for medical marijuana. Kevin Anderson, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, is drafting the private members bill and is hopeful the State Government will take into consideration the legislation for next election, saying,
“There are no other jurisdictions across Australia that are this far advanced in terms of what this government is doing.”
