Gino Kenny urges expanded access to medicinal cannabis program
Gino Kenny spoke on 24 Nov 2021 about access to medicinal cannabis and urged changes to make the medical cannabis access programme work for more patients. He welcomed that three people will be registered and receive prescriptions next week, but warned many patients still face significant barriers.
Immediate development
Gino Kenny said three people will be registered next week and will receive prescriptions under the medical cannabis access programme, calling that very good news because it provides legal and medical access for the first time for those individuals.
Access gap and patient stories
He said the route to access has been "absolutely torturous" for many and described widespread frustration among campaigners, families and patients. He warned that some people have to travel abroad or go without medication, and recounted seeing children in pain when access was denied.
Therapeutic impact
The speaker said he has seen how the medication can be "absolutely transformative, completely transformative" for loved ones, stressing the potential life-changing benefits when prescriptions are granted.
Appeal to the minister and Department of Health
Kenny complimented a minister who had intervened in individual cases and urged the minister and the Department of Health to reduce hurdles and make the programme accessible to the countless people who could benefit. He said he will pursue the issue with the Minister for Health and the Department of Health to seek greater access and fewer administrative obstacles.
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I want to raise an issue that I have probably raised countless times in my five-and-a-half tenure here is in relation to access to medicinal cannabis. I will give you a compliment. I do not give you too many compliments, but I know you personally got involved in a number of cases in the past, and that is to your credit. I think this issue sometimes transcends politics. Now, I have some good news in relation to three people. In the next week, we will be registered and we will get prescriptions under the medical cannabis access programme. That is very, very good news because that could be transformative for them, three people, because legally and medically, for the first time, people will get access via prescription. That is good because this has been an absolutely torturous road in relation to getting access to that route. That is good news, but I think many people that would contact me and others, campaigners and families, will look to see if they can get it for their loved ones. I understand that there is a criteria in relation to the conditions under the programme, but many people are extremely frustrated in relation to access. Some people have to go abroad, some people have to go abroad, or even worse, some people have to do it without. I have seen it. I have actually seen how people have gone without, and they have saw their children in pain. It is terrible, absolutely terrible today. I have also seen how this medication can be absolutely transformative, completely transformative to your loved one. So, in that case, on a personal level, please, please, can you make this programme work for the countless amount of people that this could benefit? Thank you. President Adam pile what Mr Neil ex for health care. I do, I do accept that it is attent型 for years. I do, I accept that it isadelphia and Mary, just doing everything for talking to engineers specifically for James Dabrack. I am glad to hear from you, but unfortunately, there are three people that have been a lockdown. I have no more ministryggi prohibiting your medical care program. will pursue the issue with the Minister for Health and the Department of Health in respect of this in terms of greater access to that programme and less hurdles that we have all been jumping on behalf of people for so long.
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