Turei Metiria: Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Turei Metiria: Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 I thank members for their contributions this evening. I thank those who have agreed to support the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill or the principle behind the bill. We are talking about sick New Zealanders those who suffer and taking a compassionate approach to their needs as opposed to a bigoted or prejudiced approach about the issue of cannabis in general. 
I will address some of the issues that have been raised. It is true that cannabis issues have been debated in the House comparatively regularly and that is because no action has been taken. Nothing has really changed. Until something changes to provide relief to those patients—frankly the registration of Sativex in itself is not enough—we will continue to bring these issues before the House because sick people deserve our support and compassion. The fact that Sativex might be registered in this country and available to patients does not mean that they can access it. It might mean that those who are wealthy are able to access it but those who have been ill for some time and have had serious income issues as a result of that illness are not. People should not suffer simply because they are unable to afford the best medicine that is available to them when there is an alternative that is cheap accessible and controlled and managed by a doctor in accordance with the conditions of that person’s illness. All this bill asks for is that medication that will work for a patient and is managed by a doctor be available to that patient in an accessible way. 
There were concerns about the list of conditions that the legislation applies to. I understand the concerns and why they were raised. I note though that the list of conditions was based on the list that was provided in 2001 by the UK’s Medicinal Cannabis Research Foundation. It includes depression and mental illness as well as the conditions listed in the bill. The inclusion of those conditions was based on evidence and research that had been conducted elsewhere. I also remind members that I have said—and will continue to say—that the Green Party and I would be open to appropriate amendments to the bill if the bill were to go to the select committee. We could have that discussion there. 
There is no doubt that cannabis is an effective medicine. The research has proved it. A 2005 British survey of 500 HIV/AIDS patients found that a third of them used cannabis for symptomatic relief and more than 90 percent of them said that medicinal cannabis reduced their nausea improved their appetite and resolved their muscle pain and other symptoms. Research in 2005 found that four out of every 10 Dutch patients who had prescriptions for medicinal cannabis used it to treat multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. A 2002 British survey of multiple sclerosis patients found that 43 percent used medicinal cannabis and that 67 percent would use it if it were legal. Because they were frightened of the law they were not able to access this medicine that would be advantageous for them. 
I note the concerns of the Maori Party as to the delivery of the medicine. I reiterate that there are other forms and methods of delivery that do not involve the inhalation of hot ash and smoke—for example the use of tinctures which for some conditions are much more effective. There are ways of ingesting cannabis through the stomach whether it is in a tea or in some other edible form. That method can be much more effective for some patients. The use of vaporisers and inhalers is available for whole plant material. Both those options are available. 
Finally the public support the bill. Sixty-three percent of New Zealanders polled in a TV3 survey said they supported the provision of medicinal cannabis to patients. 
Our community needs our help. There are people in our community who are in serious daily pain that prevents them from living any kind of decent life. The only thing that prevents them from having access to relief from that pain and suffering is that this Parliament will not allow the debate on the issue to be heard. So I ask MPs again: all we seek is that the bill goes to a select committee so that those patients their families and their doctors can talk to us and provide information research and evidence which we can consider.