Clay Drummond can't sleep more than 30 minutes at a time. He is permanently exhausted and in excruciating pain. Ever since being diagnosed with an inoperable tumour seven years ago, the New Plymouth man been in agonising pain - and he says the pain is not just from the tumour but from the medication he is on. Drummond spoke to the Herald on a day when he tried to stay off morphine and was fighting the withdrawal symptoms. His hands were clammy and sweaty, he had chills and th

The new legislation makes it easier for patients in the state of Queensland to get medical cannabis. Image by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP Australian Doctors and GPs in the northern state of Queensland can now prescribe medicinal cannabis to any patient with any condition, following new legislation that was passed last week. The state’s Department of Health announced in a statement last Tuesday that “any registered medical practitioner” could write a prescription for a medi

Experts have renewed calls for NSW Police to ditch unreliable roadside drug test devices, after police targets to detect almost 300,000 crimes across the state this year were revealed. Figures revealed by The Sun-Herald showed police aim to carry out almost 18,000 search warrants this year, leaving many particularly concerned over drug detection targets. The Securetec DrugWipe: New research has cast doubt on the accuracy of mobile drug testing devices. Credit:Rohan Thomson NS

- Geoffrey Guy, who founded GW Pharmaceuticals in 1998, made £5.8m last year - GW's chief executive Justin Gover pocketed an eye-watering £7.2m - Epidiolex, an oral solution to combat the seizures suffered by people with epilepsy, was approved in Europe last year - Epidiolex usually sells for up to £10,000 a year per patient A cannabis tycoon dubbed 'Dr Pot' and his business partner earned £13million last year as their company's medicinal drugs were approved for use by the NH

David Heilpern is something of a legend in the NSW Northern Rivers. The former Lismore magistrate is known throughout the region for the just decisions he handed down in relation to residents who’d been caught out by the unjust laws that govern the NSW roadside drug testing regime. The Northern Rivers region has long been a flashpoint of NSW police roadside drug testing operations, even before the Baird government announced in December 2015 that the state was tripling the amo

Recently retired magistrate David Heilpern. Photo Jeff Dawson Stopping domestic violence should be the NSW justice system’s first priority, rather than the endless war on cannabis, a recently retired local magistrate says. In his first interview after 21 years on the bench, David Heilpern has opened up about his observations regarding the devastating impact of violence within the home, and his frustration at the lack of proactive policing to address it. ‘This sort of violen

Police officials argue proposed bill, to be debated by ministers on Sunday, would lead to uptick in drug abuse, but vow to 'enforce whatever is decided' A man smoking medical cannabis at Abarbanel Mental Health Center in Bat Yam, last year. Credit: Daniel Chechik The Israeli police is expected to oppose a government-backed bill to fully legalise cannabis, senior officials told Haaretz, ahead of a Sunday ministerial meeting to discuss the proposed legislation. Police officials

As of next month students will be able to learn how to cultivate, extract and produce medicinal-grade cannabis products. Image via Pexels This article originally appeared on VICE US. One of New Zealand’s leading universities will soon become the first in the country to offer a postgraduate course in medicinal cannabis. As of next month, when the second semester of study commences on July 20, students at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) will be given the option to e

Exclusive: data shows hugely disproportionate treatment, which experts say helps trap young Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. A police officer patrolling the streets in Sydney. Research has found Indigenous people caught with small amounts of cannabis in NSW are pursued through the courts in disproportionately high numbers. Photograph: April Fonti/AAP Police in New South Wales pursue more than 80% of Indigenous people found with small amounts of cannabis throu

Actor uses THC and CBD to soothe swollen joints. William Shatner has said he uses cannabis for medical reasons. The 89-year-old actor said that he has been taking cannabis extracts such as CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) to help manage pain and swelling in his joints. Speaking to the PA news agency, the Star Trek star said: “I've got some aches and pains I didn't have a few years ago. But, I'm finding out there are many things that help aches and pains that w