Public consultation held in Ballarat to discuss medicinal cannabis use

Seeking feedback: Victorian Law Reform Commissioner Dr Ian Freckelton.

OVER the counter access to cannabis was one of many topics discussed at Ballarat’s first public consultation to review medicinal cannabis laws.

The Victorian Law Reform Commission held its second of eight regional public consultations on Monday.

Commissioner Dr Ian Freckelton QC led the discussions at Ballarat Town Hall, with about 20 locals providing feedback.

The public consultations follow the government’s recommendation for VLRC to review and report on options for legislative change to allow people to be treated with medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances.

An issues paper was released in March, with the public asked to respond by April 20.

More than 70 submissions were received by the commission.

Issues surrounding the sale of medicinal cannabis over the counter were also discussed.

One participant, who cannot be named for confidentiality reasons, said the laws needed to consider those who used medicinal cannabis for pain relief. “Do we leave them in that excruciating pain ... if we have a method of treating them?” he asked.

The commission will travel across the state seeking feedback on the laws.

It will visit Bendigo, Mildura, Wodonga, Shepparton, Bairnsdale and Morwell between May 19 and June 23.

The state government recently announced medicinal cannabis trials in Victoria, asking the Victorian Law Reform Commission to advise on legalising medicinal cannabis.

The commission has been asked to report to the Attorney General by August 3. If you want the right to grow your own cannabis and to be able to obtain cannabis legally here in Australia then please SHARE. #BringBackCannabisMedicine