The Liberal government failed to demonstrate leadership in voting to defeat the Greens’ Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2014, without accepting their responsibility to propose any alternative to provide temporary protection from prosecution to Tasmanian families currently using medicinal cannabis, Greens Health spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said today.
“It is bitterly disappointing to see the Hodgman government turn its back on those Tasmanian parents and children who rely on medicinal cannabis to ease severe medical symptoms, by its knee-jerk voting down of the Greens’ bill without suggesting any alternative,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The spectre of potential arrest and prosecution remains hanging over these families.”
“The Greens have consistently said we were happy to discuss any amendments to improve our Bill, but while raising concerns about the Bill’s drafting the Liberals failed to offer anything constructive, unlike Labor who did develop constructive amendments, and voted in support of the Bill.”
“That is an irresponsible cop-out. It leaves Tasmanians who are using medicinal cannabis and their families in legal limbo, relying on police not to prosecute despite the fact that the law is being broken.”
“The Greens will continue to fight for legislative reform to ensure all Tasmanian parents, children and individuals, who rely on the proven and therapeutic assistance of medical cannabis in order to secure a modicum of quality of life, can do so without legal fear or impediment,” Ms O’Connor said.
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Health spokesperson
