The advocacy group, United in Compassion, will be officially launched at a landmark medical marijuana symposium in Tamworth in late November.

Its website – www.unitedincompassion.com.au – aims to become a one-stop shop for cannabis medicine patients, offering support, research, the latest news and building a network of users and suppliers.

United in Compassion CEO Damon Adams, who converted to medical marijuana after suffering a severe knee injury as a police officer, said it was another step in breaking the stigma of cannabis.

“It will be for everyone; it could be a parents whose child has severe epilepsy and wants evidence-based information on how cannabis could help,” Mr Adams said.

“There will also be a lot of advocacy so people aren’t so fearful about using cannabis when traditional pharmaceuticals aren’t working.

“Desperate people should not be made criminals because they want to use something that gives them a better quality of life.”

After 11 years in the navy, including a tour of Afghanistan, Mr Adams was a police officer in Adelaide for four years before badly injuring his knee while completing an obstacle training course. 

He was prescribed Oxycontin, an opiate-based painkiller, for the excruciating pain but suffered an adverse reaction.

“I was constantly itchy and I couldn’t sleep next to my wife at night because I’d wake up dripping in sweat,” he said.

“I got to the point where I knew there had to be something else – a friend who’s suffering from MS suggested I try marijuana.”

The first time he used the drug, his pain eased dramatically.

“I then had to unlearn all the propaganda I’d been taught about marijuana and have a close look at the studies and research,” Mr Adams said. 

“I lost a lot of friends from the military and police when they found out.”

The father of two also lost his job as a teacher’s aide last month after appearing on the SBS program Insight to extol the virtues of medicinal marijuana.