I'd like to Thank each and everyone of you who
contributed to this discussion. It has exceeded my
expectation. However for me its now run its course.
Again Thank You once again and hopefully I shall
see you on other discussions.

Just as a post-script, 2000 years ago the Chinese were using cannabis as an anti-inflammatory specifically for rheumatoid arthritis, among other conditions.

As far as mature adults are concerned, the question isn't whether this product ought be legalised or not but rather, should government be presuming to make that moral judgement for mature adults who have lived 50 years and more ie., to restrict their choices in using it?

One could argue that very often it is the expensive drugs with lots of nasty side effects that are distributed by big pharma that should be regarded as 'alternate' medicine.

If cannabis wasn't already illegal, what possible evidence and what possible reasonable argument could a Government put to justify restricting its use by mature age adults.

At this juncture I should say that I have never used Cannabis myself. But then I do not suffer the chronic conditions and pains of the elderly either, and I can afford quality alcoholic tipples, which I don't use much of anyhow.

It is outrageous that mature age citizens are denied a cheap alternative for the pain relief that can enable them to function better and enjoy their lives, while at the same time reducing some of the other expensive and risky drugs they are being required to take.

I oppose regulation for the sake of it. If granny wants to spice her homemade oatmeal biscuits with some home grown MJ to relieve herself of her pain burden, to stimulate her appetite (it does that) and get her frame into action, why the hell shouldn't she? Who are we to be leaning over her shoulder and in the vast majority of cases, bothering her without bothering to lend a hand to help.

Let granny save $$ on her homemade relief and she might them be able to pay those skyrocketing council rates, or buy some protein, some chicken maybe.

Dear OTB,

Thank You for you additional thoughts on the topic.
You obviously feel very passionate about this issue.
I don't know enough about the side effects of cannabis.
I have never smoked it either. However, I understand what
you're saying about the elderly. It will be interesting
what the future government decisions will be as well
as that of the Australian Medical Association. I guess we'll
have to wait and see.

Hi ONTHEBEACH...

I agree with most of what you've said about permitting seniors (adults) access to the product as an alternate means of chronic pain relief. Further if it were to be legalised for that specific purpose, then it could be regulated by governments, in terms of it's purity, weight, pricing and distribution ?

The only difficulty that I can see, as I indicated in an earlier thread, somehow they need to be able to 'prise-out' or extricate any of the criminal element who may attempt to exercise control over any part of the process. Be it Cannabis, or Heroin or Ice, drugs are very big business in this country, in fact in the entire western world. For this reason, criminals won't relinquish their existing tight control, without formidable resistance I believe.

That said, the politicians (even a bipartisan approach perhaps) should take a bold step and actually legalise the drug, for the reasons that we've both prescribed herein. I really don't see a major problem myself ? All it would take, is some real leadership, in order to allow access to the drug, for the therapeutic and restorative benefits, as a legitimate analgesia for chronic pain. It could be easily achieved, by including it amongst the existing 'Schedule 8' drugs, with just a small stroke of a pen. So why not ?

I suffer from psoriatic arthritis and the good old weed serves me well. I don't give a rats what some moron.gov says. They'd rather I poison myself with Prednisolone[tm] which made me worse! Even the doctor who prescribed it screwed up and nearly killed me.

Just grow it inside under a grow lamp. No one from screwem.gov needs to know.

Hi there RAWMUSTARD...

Look, as long as the stuff aids in giving you substantial relief from the awful symptoms of Arthritis, I say good on you. I've been taking Morphine in several different forms, since I retired from the police force. Sure it provides some relief, but not for long. It's a case of increasing one's dose commensurate with the steady increase in pain, to a point that I will be on it for the rest of my life !

RAWMUSTARD it's a matter that I'm now consigned to being restrained in 'chemical handcuffs', until my death. What a extraordinary existence. It's for this reason my friend you have both my sympathy, and my blessing, for what it's worth ! Even spending over 32 years of police service, I don't even possess the personal courage of trying the Cannabis route ! Ridiculous really, like a frightened little child, yet in the past I've stared down some pretty heavy crooks, what an absolute joke... trouble is it's on me !