Australia set to legalize cultivation of Medical Marijuana
Posted by Sagar Satapathy on February 10, 2016.
A new legislation, seeking to make the cultivation of medical marijuana legal in Australia was produced before the Federal Parliament on Wednesday. The marijuana cultivation scheme was a result of the trials conducted last year by several Australian state governments. The aim of the legislation is to produce medical-grade marijuana for treatment purpose.The Australian lawmakers have committed to legalize the growing of medical marijuana in their state, which is known for zero tolerance and harsh penalties against illegal drugs. Australian Health Minister Susan Ley introduced the proposed amendments relating to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967. She is hopeful that the bill would be passed by both houses by this weekend.
The government as well as the opposition have pledged their support to the new legislation, paving the way for smooth passage of the bill. In 2013, a government survey had showed that at least 69% of the respondents in Australia supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purpose.
Medical marijuana has long been considered as a powerful pain-relief treatment for those suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, Dravet Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma and Parkinson's disease.
At least four Australian states - Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia explored the legalization options of medical marijuana last year. Under the Australian Federal law, no illicit drugs, including marijuana can be imported into the country. However, as medical marijuana plays a key role in treating several serious ailments, efforts are being made to legalize the medical use of pot. comments powered by Disqus
