A Mernda family is relieved medicinal cannabis will be grown and sold in Victoria within the next two years.
Cassie Batten and Rhett Wallace’s four-year-old son Cooper has severe brain damage, cerebral abscesses, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and cerebral palsy and suffers from daily seizures unless administered with cannabis oil.
Ms Batten said she was overjoyed the state government would legalise access to locally manufactured medicinal cannabis for “exceptional circumstances” as early as 2017.
The Victorian Law Reform Commission’s report on medicinal cannabis, tabled in Parliament last Tuesday, contained 42 recommendations that address eligibility criteria, the role of doctors, the regulation of manufacture and distribution, and which forms of medicinal cannabis should be permitted.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state government would fully accept 40 of the commission’s recommendations, and two in principle.
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Ms Batten and Mr Wallace were one of only two non-government or medical professionals the commission privately consulted with while compiling its report.
While the couple will continue to illegally purchase medicinal cannabis from their two suppliers until legislation is changed, Ms Batten said the state government’s announcement was a light at the end of the tunnel. “You can’t change laws overnight and we understand that.”
She said the report was in line with their expectations.
“It looks exactly as we would have imagined. We’re very happy with it.”
Ms Batten said she and Rhett were supportive of the commission’s recommendation to have medicinal cannabis be made available in the same way as prescription medication, as opposed to a “grow your own” scheme.
Among the recommendations are for treatment to be limited to only the most gravely ill sufferers of epilepsy, sever pain arising from cancer, HIV or AIDS, and sever muscle spasms or paid from multiple sclerosis, for treatment only to people who ordinarily live in Victoria, and for only specialist medical practitioners to determine whether a person is eligible for the treatment.
In the meantime, Ms Batten said her family have no choice but to procure cannabis oil illegally.
“Everyone knows we’re breaking the law, but some chose to turn a blind eye.”
The state government will introduce legislation reflecting the commission’s recommendations before the end of the year.
