Government dismisses calls for medicinal cannabis review to be widened
9 May, 2021 08:49 PM
4 minutes to read
A medicinal cannabis advocate says patients are still unable to access medicinal cannabis legally due to its cost and lack of availability. Photo / 123RF
A medicinal cannabis advocate says patients are still unable to access medicinal cannabis legally due to its cost and lack of availability. Photo / 123RF
RNZ
By Craig McCulloch of RNZ
A Ministry of Health document leaked to RNZ shows officials will not even consider extending an amnesty to allow all chronically sick people to use illicit cannabis.
Medicinal cannabis campaigners say the Government s dogmatic approach is ludicrous and ignores that the current regime is not working.
Photo: 123rf.com
Medicinal cannabis campaigners say the government s dogmatic approach is ludicrous and ignores that the current regime is not working.
In late 2018, MPs passed legislation creating a temporary criminal defence so people with life-limiting illnesses could use cannabis while the wider medical regime was being set up.
Ministry officials are required by law to deliver a report to Health Minister Andrew Little by mid-December on whether the amnesty is still needed or should be amended.
But an internal document, obtained by RNZ, shows officials have pre-emptively ruled out expanding the protection to cover people with less serious conditions.
Mike King: Ministry needs to sort out crisis in mental health services
9 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
OPINION:
Is anybody else confused by the shortage of mental health counselling services around the country right now?
Over the past six months, we have seen a steady flow of alarming media stories highlighting the chronic shortfalls in mental health services, including but not limited to underfunded services, excruciating wait times of up to 12 months and burn-out by mental health professionals.
As someone who stood alongside the Prime Minister at a press conference and defended the Government from attacks by the opposition parties, going on record to say that this Government has done more in six months than the last government did in nine years , I am disappointed and embarrassed by the state of mental health support today.
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