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Green Cross says time is right for marijuana legalisation

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Thu, 07 Jul 2011 6:58a.m.

The group wants medicinal marijuana legalised (Reuters file)

The group wants medicinal marijuana legalised (Reuters file)

A medical marijuana group says the outcome of a court case indicates that the time is right to legalise the use of cannabis for pain relief.

51-year-old Timaru man Peter Davy has been sentenced to six-months home detention for growing 45 marijuana plants to help him deal with a tumour.

Supporter and Director of Green Cross Billy McKee says people who need marijuana for medicinal purposes shouldn't have to live in fear.

“I’m in a wheelchair all the time after a drunk driver hit me, and I’m in pain and discomfort all of the time. The only thing that works to calm it down that I can actually use over a long period of time without getting serious side-effects is cannabis,” says Mr McKee.

The Law Commission last year recommended that herbal cannabis be made legal for patients able to obtain prescriptions from their doctor.

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Comments

13 Jul 2011 11:14p.m.

graeme wrote:

booze a class b drug,yet we still sell it to our teens,its the fist thing u see at supermarkets,i gave up booze at 21,assoon as i tryed weed i new i wouldnot drink again,im now 57,have been around weed all this time,and have never seen aney agression,adiction,ect,its a safe drug,now im glad i take weed,ive got bone and joint problems,a drink in the morning takes all the pain away,with top ups wen neaded,i dont like geting to stoned and never have,iv tryed this synthetic cannabinoids becouse i hated looking for cops all the time,it dont have the same afects as weed,and i dont like it,so ime back to weed again,it would be soo cool if they legallised it so i dident haveto look over my sholder we i am haveing a hit,and would make the efects so much more pain efishint,so lets get it legal;;l,.

10 Jul 2011 02:00p.m.

Peter Davy wrote:

Billy McKee is in a wheelchair. As somebody who just spent the last 5 years caring for a person in a wheelchair... I can tell you their quality of life is not great. Imagine if you spent every day in a wheelchair? People with serious illness and disability should be allowed to experiment with any natural medicine they choose without interference from the Government. End of story.

10 Jul 2011 01:12a.m.

Beadwired wrote:

great article! i agree 100% with Mr.Billy Mackee. but i was disappointed to hear Mr Mackee was arrested 2 days after this article was publish. SHAME on the NZ government! the time is RIGHT to end cannabis prohibition AROUND the world... Cannabis is NOT toxic & NO one has ever died of an overdose... let the sick medicate themselves & ease their suffering. WAKE-UP people! Alcohol & Tobacco KILLS ~ Cannabis HEALS :) Cannabis should NOT be a crime! no one should be in jail for using, growing or selling cannabis... God made Cannabis > who do you trust? if you are a Christian & care > please join my Facebook group: WORLDWIDE CHRISTIANS FOR CANNABIS :) God bless Billy for speaking the truth publicly ~

09 Jul 2011 09:18p.m.

Brandon Hutchison wrote:

It has always been the right to time to relegalise cannabis and to also have a look at the the other illict drugs as well. A detailed assessment of illicit and licit drugs published in the Lancet put alcohol at the top of the harmfulness list, ahead of heroin and methamphetamine and miles ahead of cannabis, LSD and ecstacy.I object to state-funded thugs brutally persecuting Mr Davy and now today Mr McKee also for their choice of medicine.

09 Jul 2011 08:44p.m.

Lord Zealand wrote:

It is completely unacceptable to most New Zealander's that cannabis remain illegal and that we can think of no better use for the resources of our crack undercover cops than to bust old guys in wheelchairs. It's a bloody disgrace on all of us New Zealand! Cannabis is non-toxic and it's active ingredient THC kills cancer cells, what more do you want to know? The link with schz is overblown and all the harms of cannabis disappear once you don't smoke it and you dont prohibit it.

09 Jul 2011 08:44p.m.

Lord Zealand wrote:

It is completely unacceptable to most New Zealander's that cannabis remain illegal and that we can think of no better use for the resources of our crack undercover cops than to bust old guys in wheelchairs. It's a bloody disgrace on all of us New Zealand! Cannabis is non-toxic and it's active ingredient THC kills cancer cells, what more do you want to know? The link with schz is overblown and all the harms of cannabis disappear once you don't smoke it and you dont prohibit it.

09 Jul 2011 07:27p.m.

Blair Anderson wrote:

Media should be asking Tony Ryall. He is hiding behind Simon Power. It is on Tony's warrant as Health Minister that the Police act. Ultimately the buck stops with Ryall. Cannabis can be rescheduled by order in council. No need for 61 politicians to vote in the house. Cannabis into Class D. End of the arrests. Further the House of Representatives Health Select Committee should INSTRUCT the Minister of Police that 'advocates of law reform' should not be targeted for special attention consistent with their previous 'protection' given to those who submitted to Select Committee. Such practice is in the best interests to all, and consistent with Disability law "no decision about us, without us" equity and best practice policy development' say the MildGreens. (no doubt Security Intelligence will be passing this right along to Police National HQ Drug Intelligence ASAP). Free Billy!

09 Jul 2011 06:10p.m.

pm wrote:

It really does make you wonder about our police ... and dispair.

09 Jul 2011 05:54p.m.

Sara wrote:

This is a travesty. The truth is just like Hillary Clinton said... we can't legalize it, we make too much money from keeping it illegal... I am sorry to be an American, we have forced our stupid drug policies on most of the world, and look what is happening...

09 Jul 2011 05:11p.m.

John wrote:

Looks like the cops are making the most of being able to bust someone in a wheel chair while they still can. Great work NZ police, bet that was a hard arrest to carry out. Go do some real work... or does that sound too hard, plenty of murders still sitting unsolved.