Shadow Attorney-General Lara Giddings has welcomed a reported softening in the Liberals’ stance on medicinal cannabis.
“It is pleasing to see the Liberal Government finally supporting the Legislative Council committee’s investigation of the benefits of medicinal cannabis and leaving the door open to a trial in Tasmania,” Ms Giddings said.
“It has taken growing community support across the state and country to get the Liberal Government to soften its stance on this issue.
“There are now over 1500 signatures on the e-petition calling for legalising the production, processing and administration of medicinal cannabis in Tasmania and many more on hard-copy petitions being collected across the State.
“Unfortunately the slowness of the Liberals to respond has given other states a chance to overtake Tasmania in the debate around medical cannabis, with the NSW Premier Mike Baird indicating support and now Queensland’s Premier Campbell Newman has joined the bandwagon.
“The Liberals’ failure to act earlier could cost Tasmania a multi-million dollar industry similar to the poppy industry in this state and leave patients without access to medication which could be beneficial to their health.”
The petition is available from Labor MP’s offices while the e-Petition is on the Parliament of Tasmania website at www.parliament.tas.gov.au/EPetitions/House/ and go to Current Petitions.
Lara Giddings MP Shadow Attorney-General
