MEDICAL cannabis grew closer to being legalised yesterday although Warrnambool’s chief medical officer has raised concerns, describing the move as the “thin end of the wedge”.
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Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state government had asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) to review options regarding cannabis legalisation.
Warrnambool chief medical officer John Philpot said the move set a dangerous precedent and would further the cause of recreational use supporters.
“(Medical cannabis) is the thin end of the wedge,” Dr Philpot said.
“Once you open the door to its use, those campaigning for the recreational use will be in a position of strength to argue their cause.
“There are plenty of ways of dealing with medical conditions that require pain relief without resorting to medicinal marijuana.”
Dr Philpot said legalising medical marijuana would “normalise” the drug in the wider community and the public would then start to accept legal recreational use.
“Once we let the cat out of the bag, the case from those advocating recreational use will grow louder,” the Warrnambool GP said.
“The problems around drug-induced psychosis are awful — it has ruined many lives. Some dismiss cannabis as a harmless drug, but try telling that to the people whose lives have been torn apart (by it).”
Marijuana is legal, or essentially legal, for recreational use in the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Uruguay and four American states — Washington, Colorado, Alaska and Oregon.
Medical cannabis is legal in far more countries but the type of products prohibited and permitted differs from nation to nation.
Both Victoria and New South Wales have made moves in recent months towards examining the merits of medical cannabis, with Mr Andrews advocating for legislative changes during the state election campaign.
The Premier said yesterday the VLRC would report back to the government by August 2015 and would advise on how medical cannabis would be legalised “responsibly and efficiently”.
“Parents shouldn’t have to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer,” Mr Andrews said.
“Children are in pain, families are suffering, people are living in fear and outdated laws are getting in the way.”
South Australia was the first state to decriminalise minor marijuana offences in 1987.
