Is Cannabis now legal for people with terminal illness?

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BTR

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#243449 12-Dec-2018 09:54

I have read the bill to decriminalise Cannabis has passed its third reading an a NZH news article seemed to suggest that people with terminal illness now have a legal defence if they are caught provided a doctor provides the OK (supposedly this can be done retrospectively aswell)

I cant find anything on this.

Please do not turn this into a debate on whether you agree about the law changes or not, I don't care I am simply asking a question. If you want to discuss your opinion on it please start about topic.

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MikeB4
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#2143896 12-Dec-2018 10:02

My understanding is It does not come into force until late 2019 but there is protection now for near death patients who get caught with it.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

gehenna

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#2143897 12-Dec-2018 10:03

It is a legal defense. It's not legal yet.

gzt

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#2143898 12-Dec-2018 10:04

Is Cannabis now legal for people with terminal illness?

As I understand it there is some kind of 12 month amnesty period for those users while parliament figures out the next step.

The National Party appears to be promoting the bill as decriminalization of cannabis which I don't think is the case at all.

Oblivian

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#2143911 12-Dec-2018 10:16

The big cheese that reports to her highness now needs to sign it off

Third reading

This is the final stage in the House. It is the last opportunity to debate and decide whether the bill should be passed in the form in which it has emerged from the committee of the whole House. It is a debate more for summing up than on the provisions in detail. The debate can last up to two hours.

Once a bill’s third reading has been agreed, it has been passed by the House but it has one further step before it becomes law.

Royal assent

The Sovereign (The Queen, represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General) forms part of Parliament but is completely separate from the House. It is the Sovereign’s role to sign a bill into law by giving it the Royal assent. Assent is given on the advice of the Prime Minister (or the most senior Minister available) and the Attorney-General.

https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/pbrief6/

tdgeek

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#2143919 12-Dec-2018 10:33

gzt:
Is Cannabis now legal for people with terminal illness?

As I understand it there is some kind of 12 month amnesty period for those users while parliament figures out the next step.

The National Party appears to be promoting the bill as decriminalization of cannabis which I don't think is the case at all.

Entirely correct, and I detest these lies. Its US based fake news, I prefer to call it lies.

It's never been decriminalising, it could not be clearer, its for medicinal reasons.

The bill sets up a statutory defence which allows those close to death in palliative care to consume illicit marijuana with a legal defence if prosecuted. This is intended as a bridging mechanism until the full Medicinal Cannabis Scheme is set up, which will make the process much more simple, likely by allowing pharmacies to sell regulated marijuana products.

Fred99

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#2144874 13-Dec-2018 16:56

As I understand it, NZ First had an concession to allow for legal defense for use by those in palliative care - not limited to end of life patients. That's good, "terminally ill" was IIRC going to be defined by having an illness with a prognosis of less than 12 months survival - which would be a dumb rule, as in most cases, it's an "educated guess" based on probability, but still just a guess.

"Terminal illness" isn't a very useful phrase. Steven Hawking had a terminal illness for over 50 years.

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tdgeek

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#2144877 13-Dec-2018 17:05

Fred99:
As I understand it, NZ First had an concession to allow for legal defense for use by those in palliative care - not limited to end of life patients. That's good, "terminally ill" was IIRC going to be defined by having an illness with a prognosis of less than 12 months survival - which would be a dumb rule, as in most cases, it's an "educated guess" based on probability, but still just a guess.

"Terminal illness" isn't a very useful phrase. Steven Hawking had a terminal illness for over 50 years.

Wasn’t aware of that, a good outcome

Coil

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#2144878 13-Dec-2018 17:15

It is so vague, But a friend who is terminally ill and her condition is only relieved by smoking weed or taking a medicinal product has been on a program for a while now.
There was a video she posted about one of the leading doctors on the topic saying the doctors are not educated on how to obtain it etc.

This is a far far reach from having a few pot plants in your garden for "Medical" reasons

MikeB4

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#2144879 13-Dec-2018 17:17

This is good but now Parliament needs to take the next step, e.g for those suffering unrelenting chronic pain and spasms.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

JimmyH

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#2145044 13-Dec-2018 19:47

MikeB4:

This is good but now Parliament needs to take the next step, e.g for those suffering unrelenting chronic pain and spasms.

And also establish some sort of mechanism for legal supply to those who qualify. There is little point is letting someone with a qualifying condition posses and use it, if there is no legal way for them to actually obtain it. I would rather not have to see terminal cancer sufferers etc having to get to the local tinnie house and deal with their friendly local gang to get the relief they are entitled to use.

tdgeek

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#2145048 13-Dec-2018 19:54

JimmyH:

MikeB4:

This is good but now Parliament needs to take the next step, e.g for those suffering unrelenting chronic pain and spasms.

And also establish some sort of mechanism for legal supply to those who qualify. There is little point is letting someone with a qualifying condition posses and use it, if there is no legal way for them to actually obtain it. I would rather not have to see terminal cancer sufferers etc having to get to the local tinnie house and deal with their friendly local gang to get the relief they are entitled to use.

Thats coming, you can get it at pharmacy'd in due course. But thats not a 5 minute job. If you need to get tinnies, get them, you are protected. But, it also needs to cater for others as Mike suggests. And while National would never ever do this, they wont remove it when they next get into power.

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Elpie

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#2148631 21-Dec-2018 00:57

BTR:

I have read the bill to decriminalise Cannabis has passed its third reading an a NZH news article seemed to suggest that people with terminal illness now have a legal defence if they are caught provided a doctor provides the OK (supposedly this can be done retrospectively aswell)

I cant find anything on this.

Please do not turn this into a debate on whether you agree about the law changes or not, I don't care I am simply asking a question. If you want to discuss your opinion on it please start about topic.

That's kinda, sorta right. People have been able to bring in (personally, not importing or mailing in) up to a month's supply of medicinal cannabis if they have obtained it legally and have supporting documentation from a doctor. That's been the case for several years now. S8, I think it is, of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Also, doctors have been able to get Ministerial approval to import and prescribe medical cannabis. I knew someone that was receiving this from his doctor around eight years ago, so its now new.

Some reading here:https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicines-control/medicinal-cannabis/cbd-products

Medical cannabis is very different to weed, the cannabis recreational users use. It's treated differently under the law too. For now.

epr

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#2148654 21-Dec-2018 06:50

MikeB4:
This is good but now Parliament needs to take the next step, e.g for those suffering unrelenting chronic pain and spasms.

I completely agree I know other people with MS who use weed for both of these things and I would rather they didn't have to become criminals to do it. Personally it would be nice for me to get stoned occasionally but not an mmj thing just a get out of my headspace thing. More importantly I think it shouldn't cost people their life savings to get cbd oil in this country. It is all very well allowing doctors to prescribe something but making it unaffordable to get doesn't help anyone except the wealthy.

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Horseychick

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#2148680 21-Dec-2018 08:50

My husband is currently being prescribed medicinal CBD oil by our GP as he has cancer. It is from a Canadian company called Tilray and we obtain it from our local chemist. It cost's $550 for 100ml bottle which lasts him about 5-6 weeks.

This is legal and has been for a some time. We have also been able to travel to both Aus and the USA with this without any issues. We are very fortunate that we can afford this, but I do feel very sorry for those with chronic pain illnesses that are unable to sustain the cost. From being someone who never touched drugs and disagreed with legalising them I have become much better educated in this past year and now believe strongly that medicinal cannabis should be available on prescription at a reasonable cost. I have read many stories of parents who need it for children with severe conditions through to MS sufferers who are able to get through the day with CBD oil.

My husband came out of hospital on 80mg of morphine a day with the associated constipation, diarrhea, appetite enhancing drugs to go with it - it was a long list. Within 10 days of being on the CBD oil he was finished with ALL those drugs that were messing him up badly. He has been through 6 rounds of chemo (18 weeks) and a subsequent 5 rounds of radiation whilst still on the CBD oil and hasn't vomited once. He started to sleep much better once he was on it and his appetite returned. I really can't rate it highly enough for what he has been through and now have no problem with people using it.

As others have said I don't believe the police will be actively trying to prosecute anyone using cannabis for a diagnosed medical condition. If anyone has any questions then please feel free to ask.

epr

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#2148682 21-Dec-2018 09:02

Thank you for this information as due to not using or currently needing CBD I only know it is expensive but do not know how expensive it is.

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