12. Drugs Illegal—Medical Cannabis Legislation and National Drug PolicyJULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Associate Minister of HealthDrugs Illegal—Medical Cannabis Legislation and National Drug Policy12. JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Associate Minister of Health: Will he recommend his Government change the law so that New Zealanders with terminal illnesses using medical cannabis are not at risk of being raided by the Police and prosecuted?Hon PETER DUNNE (Associate Minister of Health): Patients using approved cannabis-based products such as Sativex and other approved non-pharmaceutical grade cannabis products are not at risk. For those choosing to use raw cannabis or unapproved cannabis-based products I have received a number of assurances from the Commissioner of Police that small-scale use by the terminally ill is not a priority and that approach is consistent with the emphasis on compassion set out in the Government's 2015 National Drug Policy. I have considered the compassionate access scheme implemented in New South Wales. However following very frank discussions with the Australian delegation at last month's United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting about the workability of such a scheme I have concluded that New Zealand's more pragmatic approach based around the pillars of compassion proportion and innovation that underpin the National Drug Policy is the more appropriate course to follow.Julie Anne Genter: So rather than changing the law to reflect the fact that we think that it is acceptable for sick people to use cannabis to alleviate their suffering is he suggesting that people should continue to break the law hoping that the police will not pursue them?Hon PETER DUNNE: I make two points in response. Firstly there is huge distinction to be drawn between raw cannabis and cannabis-based medicinal products. The Government has no interest in making any legal change nor does any other party in Parliament as far as I am aware to the status of the raw cannabis plant. With regard to cannabis-based medicines the best advice I would give any patient who feels they might benefit from such a medicine is to talk to their general practitioner and their specialist about accessing the pathway that is in place. They can view that at the Ministry of Health website; it is a very simple pathway to follow and if it is determined that that is the best treatment available to them then it can be made available to them. For people who choose to go outside that system then they do run the risk particularly if they are using the raw product but as I said earlier I have been assured by the police that they will adopt a compassionate approach.Julie Anne Genter: Without a clear legal framework or a register for patients how will the police be able to judge who is a legitimate medical user and who to be compassionate with?Hon PETER DUNNE: The member raises a good point and it was one that I pursued with the Australians when I discussed the matter with them. The absence of a register is actually no salvation in this regard because they find exactly the same problem with the register in New South Wales in determining who is a legitimate name to be included upon it—and bear in mind in the New South Wales case you can include up to three other people as supporters. But they have also found that a number of people who are suppliers when confronted by the police about being suppliers say that they supply only to patients with terminal illnesses. So the whole thing has become essentially unworkable. I think the pragmatic approach that we have here provided it is exercised with compassion is the far more prudent course to follow.Julie Anne Genter: Without a law change how can he ensure that terminally and chronically ill patients in New Zealand will not find themselves in court for using cannabis to alleviate their suffering?Hon PETER DUNNE: I did not hear the first part of the member's question but I think what she was seeking was some clarification as to how we can protect people from the potential risk. I come back to what I said in response to the earlier supplementary question. The very best step that anyone who feels that they would benefit from a cannabis-based medical product can take is to talk to their general practitioner about accessing the pathway set out so clearly on the Ministry of Health website. People who resort to just growing a bit in the backyard or talking to a mate and getting some from them do run some risks. If they have genuine health issues my absolutely strong advice is to talk to their general practitioner about accessing the pathway that is currently available.