For me, this weekend has been both inspiring and hugely frustrating. Many people have been brave enough to share their personal stories with me and some with the wider audience during the panel sessions.
I say again…..personal narratives are powerful instruments of change.
As introduced during the various sessions, my advocacy for better patient access pathways to Medicinal Cannabis is well regarded and wide-ranging throughout South Australia and beyond.
I receive contacts, not dissimilar to those received this weekend, regularly. It is a telling sign of the society we live in when there are so many people who may benefit from Medicinal Cannabis therapy and yet affordable and simple access is all but unreachable.
For the record – I am not able to provide ‘advice’, nor am I qualified to. That said, I can share information I have gathered/learned so that you may make your own choices.
Some background
For those of you who don’t know what started my advocacy, here is the back story. There is always a back story.
When my father was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer about 12 years ago – it was not operable and metastasised to his bones – he died in September 2009. It was during that time I started my quest for better treatment options for him during the palliative time.
Cannabis was an option but accessing it was futile and it was a criminal act to access it. Not much has changed – though legal now – the patient access pathways are cumbersome and expensive and medical professionals are mostly uneducated and unwilling to consider cannabis as an option.
Not putting too finer a point on it, the lead up to his death was painful and we lost him long before he died thanks to the opiates he was prescribed for pain relief – he was mostly so sedated he couldn’t communicate and all activities of daily living were done for him by my sister, my mother and I.
An undignified death for a dignified man. My fight for better access to Cannabis is both personal and ongoing.
Fast forward to 2019
Whist there is a Federal legal framework (from 2016) for access to Medical Cannabis the States/Territories have the responsibility for regulation.
As I mentioned above, safe, affordable patient access pathways remain the challenge.
Here are some useful links
If you go decide to venture down the legal path it may be useful to review this link: http://www.integrativehealthsolutions.com.au/2017/10/03/patient-pathway-to-access-medicinal-cannabis/
This is the most recent guidance from the TGA https://www.tga.gov.au/medicinal-cannabis-guidance-documents/
Here is some info regarding access in our State (SA). The challenge will be to find a doctor willing to prescribe.
There are many resources available and this is one I often refer people to https://grannystormcrowslist.wordpress.com/the-list/
Simply search for the diagnosed the condition/s and a range of link will come up – ranging from studies to scholarly articles.
United in Compassion – this extract is from the UIC Website. Please take a dip into the site in an effort to understand Dan’s story and the incredible work this organisation is undertaking. I have nothing but pure respect and admiration for Lucy Haslam and her team.
https://unitedincompassion.com.au/
Our philosophy is the dignified alleviation of suffering with compassion & empathy according to ‘Dan’s Test’
Our primary mission is advocating for patient access to Full Spectrum herbal Medicinal Cannabis extracts and dried herb Cannabis; in a manner which is safe, effective, affordable, equitable and favorable for patients, for the dignified relief of suffering.
Dan’s test – sets high quality product expectations, that are legally and easily accessible to patients when they need it, with no one left behind :
- Equitable and favorable for patients
- Naturally outdoor/greenhouse grown herbal Medicinal Cannabis
- Organic principles.
- Incorporates a wide range of herbal Medicinal Cannabis varieties, to treat a wide range of health conditions.
- Full Spectrum plant extraction processes.
- Dried Herb (Cannabis floral clusters); for use in electric personal vaporisation devices.
- Ensures high standards of production & manufacturing, by employing the principles of Quality Assurance
Dan Haslam was instrumental in bringing the issue of the therapeutic use of herbal Medicinal Cannabis to the forefront and into the national Australian consciousness. Dan benefited dramatically from his use of local Australian grown herbal medicinal varieties of Cannabis, during his battle with cancer.
Dan passed away on the 24th of February 2015, but his legacy lives on. “Every step we take on Medical Cannabis, will be built on the footsteps Dan Haslam left behind” Mike Baird – Premier of New South Wales
UIC supported the making of the documentary High As Mike.
If you wish to host a screening of this most compelling documentary visit FanForce to learn how:
https://fan-force.com/films/high-as-mike/
For those of you who saw the doco in Adelaide you would have come to understand that many people can benefit from Cannabis therapy.
From this weekend alone, it was clear to me that many people are either accessing the alternative market (with risk) or going without, too frightened to run the risk of becoming tangled in the criminal justice system. Sadly, too many are dying waiting.
It is understood about 1 million Australians have turned to the alternative market in Australia, a market which is estimated to be worth $4.5Billion in Australia each year. It does make you think!
I hope one day, in the not too distant future, the landscape is very different.
Be an advocate – tell your story – Don’t raise your voice, simply improve your argument.
Strength to each and every one of you.
Yours sincerely
Dianah 💚💚💚
Hi, I read your blogs regularly. Your writing style is awesome,
keep doing what you’re doing!
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little research on this.
And he actually bought me breakfast because I found it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your web page.
Hi, just wanted to say, I liked this post. It was inspiring.
Keep on posting!
Great delivery. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the great
effort.
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your blog posts.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same subjects?
Thank you so much!
Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to
be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they
plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having
side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
Thanks
Hey very nice blog!
Nice answers in return of this query with solid arguments and explaining everything on the topic of
that.
I’d like to find out more? I’d care to find out more details.
Attractive component of content. I just stumbled upon your site and
in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing in your augment and even I achievement you get right of entry to constantly fast.
Very soon this web site will be famous among all
blog people, due to it’s fastidious posts
Very energetic blog, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Hi to every body, it’s my first visit of this website; this
website includes remarkable and truly excellent data for visitors.
Excellent post. I will be going through a few of these issues as
well..
Ahaa, its pleasant discussion about this article at this place at this
website, I have read all that, so now me also commenting at this place.
I do not even know how I ended up right here, but I believed
this publish was once good. I do not know who you’re however certainly you are going to a well-known blogger
if you are not already. Cheers!
I simply want to tell you that I’m very new to blogging and site-building and absolutely loved you’re web site. More than likely I’m want to bookmark your site . You definitely have wonderful posts. With thanks for revealing your blog site.
Hello mates, its impressive piece of writing concerning cultureand
completely defined, keep it up all the time.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it
up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later.
Cheers
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It’s always exciting to read through articles from other writers and use a little something from their sites.
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging
for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your
web site is fantastic, as well as the content!
Hurrah! In the end I got a blog from where I know how to truly take helpful facts regarding my study and knowledge.
I like reading a post that will make people think. Also,
thanks for allowing for me to comment!
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future
and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this
article. I desire to read even more things about it!
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills
and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it
yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to
see a great blog like this one nowadays.
My brother recommended I might like this website.
He was entirely right. This post actually made my day.
You cann’t imagine simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Aw, thіs waѕ ɑ reɑlly gοod post. Finding the
timе and actual effort tо make a gⲟod article…
but what cаn I saү… I put things off a ⅼot and don’t seｅm to get neаrly ɑnything done.
I got this web site from my friend who informed me concerning this web site and now this time
I am browsing this website and reading very informative posts at this place.
Excellent items from you, man. I’ve be aware your stuff prior to and
you are just too excellent. I actually like what you have bought right here, really like what you are stating and the
way in which you are saying it. You’re making
it enjoyable and you continue to care for to keep it smart.
I can’t wait to learn far more from you. That is really a tremendous site.
Thanks for sharing such a good opinion, article is pleasant, thats why i have read it completely