freitasm:

 

 

 

That was profound 

Enable Javascript and you might see a Tweet there. Basically government relaxing rules for medical use of marijuana - RNZ.

freitasm:

 

Enable Javascript and you might see a Tweet there. Basically government relaxing rules for medical use of marijuana - RNZ.

 

*shudder* I'll pass.

JimmyH: Ultimately, I think the bar for harm to others has to be set quite high to ban something for adults. I tend to think that the default should be that adults can make their own decisions about what they do to themselves, and there should be a pretty overwhelming case for serious harm to others before the government takes that freedom away.

 

I don't objectively care if you enjoy tobacco and are prepared to risk cancer. I do care if you enjoy meth and have a material probability of killing me or someone else in a psychotic rage. Hence how I got to the position above.

I find this quite a difficult issue in NZ. 

We socialise the costs of accidents and illness to a high extent, so risk taking behaviour impacts everyone via tax rates and ACC levies.  With ACC to some extent this can be managed via different rates for different activities.

i.e there is a direct public interest in minimising risky behaviour.

freitasm:

 

Enable Javascript and you might see a Tweet there. Basically government relaxing rules for medical use of marijuana - RNZ.

 

I also get a blank page with javascript enabled on two different browsers. However, I am familiar with the story from another source. Hopefully it is a sign that there will finally start to be some movement on this issue.

It still seems pathetic that the Ministry of Health has to sign off on medical cannabis for seriously ill patients...WTF. It is far less potent that opium based medicines that GP's can sign for yet Cannabis has less side effects for seriously ill patients. I guess the Government is saying it has no trust in the GP's or Specialists!!! 

and

It will still cost the patient more than purchasing it illegally.

Pumpedd:

 

It still seems pathetic that the Ministry of Health has to sign off on medical cannabis for seriously ill patients...WTF. It is far less potent that opium based medicines that GP's can sign for yet Cannabis has less side effects for seriously ill patients. I guess the Government is saying it has no trust in the GP's or Specialists!!! 

 

and

 

It will still cost the patient more than purchasing it illegally.

 

 

 

It is not unusual, I have two medications that require MOH approval that has to be done every six months.

MikeB4:

 

Pumpedd:

 

It still seems pathetic that the Ministry of Health has to sign off on medical cannabis for seriously ill patients...WTF. It is far less potent that opium based medicines that GP's can sign for yet Cannabis has less side effects for seriously ill patients. I guess the Government is saying it has no trust in the GP's or Specialists!!! 

 

and

 

It will still cost the patient more than purchasing it illegally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not unusual, I have two medications that require MOH approval that has to be done every six months.

 

I too have a drug that requires MoH approval, but at least the GP can prescribe it. Most MoH approvals are based on cost as they dont trust GP's not to over prescribe. This isnt a cost issue as the patient has to pay full costs of the drug.

Official attitudes towards marijuana have been hysterically disproportionate since the days of Reefer Madness in the 1930s. This is a small step in the right direction, but at least it is a step.

I do think it is time for medical cannabis extract to be able to be prescribed. 

Could (initially at least) be treated the same as ADHD meds which requires annual assessment by a specialist, GP prescribes and as it's a restricted med the script is faxed direct to the pharmacy and there is a delayed pickup.  If the patient is in hospital then the specialist could prescribe and the hospital issue.

If someone is seriously ill they will be seeing a specialist anyway.

MikeAqua:

 

I do think it is time for medical cannabis extract to be able to be prescribed. 

 

Could (initially at least) be treated the same as ADHD meds which requires annual assessment by a specialist, GP prescribes and as it's a restricted med the script is faxed direct to the pharmacy and there is a delayed pickup.  If the patient is in hospital then the specialist could prescribe and the hospital issue.

 

If someone is seriously ill they will be seeing a specialist anyway.

 

Yes, its usually for the seriously ill or where pain/discomfort cannot be treated conventionally due to immunity or nasty side effects. I see no need for the government to be involved at all other than safety/guideline issues. Overuse of paracetamol can be lethal whereas overuse of cannabis extract is not lethal.

This is great news.

I hope the option is given to patients INITIALLY. Where they can opt for a Natural pain relief rather than a vicious drug with possible side affects. Because, At the end of the day the worst that can happen is you get stonned ^ and it doesn't relieve pain. Would you rather that or 5 years of drugs not working then trying it to find it works. 

I dont believe in treating people as guinea pigs with drugs trying to find what works. Not saying that Medical cannabis is a cure to all but rather they should be testing the natural methods before harsh drugs.
I had a family member here with cancer, He was in inhumane amounts of pain for years and there would be some new drug every 6 months we would try. All it did was cause another side affect or worsen the situation.

The best 'new drug' we found was cookies, cant really put it into words the difference it made but you would have to experience it as a family to understand. Step in the correct direction.

 ^ (If it contains THC, But medical extract is CBD without the THC component so nothing would happen)

TimA:

 

This is great news.

 

I hope the option is given to patients INITIALLY. Where they can opt for a Natural pain relief rather than a vicious drug with possible side affects. Because, At the end of the day the worst that can happen is you get stonned ^ and it doesn't relieve pain. Would you rather that or 5 years of drugs not working then trying it to find it works. 

 

I dont believe in treating people as guinea pigs with drugs trying to find what works. Not saying that Medical cannabis is a cure to all but rather they should be testing the natural methods before harsh drugs.
I had a family member here with cancer, He was in inhumane amounts of pain for years and there would be some new drug every 6 months we would try. All it did was cause another side affect or worsen the situation.

 

The best 'new drug' we found was cookies, cant really put it into words the difference it made but you would have to experience it as a family to understand. Step in the correct direction.

 

 ^ (If it contains THC, But medical extract is CBD without the THC component so nothing would happen)

 

I dont believe you get high as such from Sativex. Even so most people cannot afford it as it costs $3k just to import it each time plus the thousands the drug costs. It is still crazy that the patient needs to go to a GP...the to a specialist...then the MoH decides. In my mind the Government did nothing today. If Pharmac decide to supply then that would be something.

But to still treat this drug as something more difficult to get than opium based drugs is plain stupid. Even more stupid to take the decision away from the patients medical teams.

Not sure what to make of this but an item on Voxy indicates that Peter Dunne is being taken to court for violation of cannabis laws!

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/274911