A TAMWORTH family’s controversial push to legalise marijuana for the dying will feature on one of the nation’s top-rating current affairs programs tomorrow.
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Channel 7 news flagship Sunday Night spent four days in Tamworth last week filming interviews with the Haslam family and other local supporters of their remarkable campaign.
Dan Haslam, who has terminal bowel cancer, his wife Aleyce and his parents Lucy and Lou have become the unlikely public faces of the medical marijuana push after revealing they were being forced to buy the drug on the black market to give Dan relief from the crippling nausea and appetite loss associated with chemotherapy.
Sunday Night reporter Helen Kapalos said the Haslams’ story was too compelling to be ignored.
“They are such a powerful example and not the typical family you would associate with this,” Ms Kapalos said.
“That’s why this story has the power to connect and why it’s resonated with so many, from politicians to ordinary people.
“My hope is that this story has the cut-through and gravitas to change the view of politicians.
“It’s certainly a conversation Australians have to have.”
While in Tamworth, Ms Kapalos also interviewed local police chief, Superintendent Clint Pheeney, who said he refused to arrest the Haslams because there were “real criminals” to worry about.
She also interviewed local gym owner Dwone Jones, a cancer survivor who first revealed the power of cannabis oil to the Haslams, and shows how the Tamworth community has backed the family’s campaign.
After spending four days in Tamworth, the crew followed Dan and Lucy Haslam to Sydney and filmed their interview on the Alan Jones radio show.
The mother and son will also make an appearance on Channel 7’s Sunrise on Monday morning and their story will air on Channel 10’s Studio 10 the same day.
Mrs Haslam said the support of such high-profile television shows was a critical part of winning the campaign.
“We just want people to consider cannabis from the point of view of the sick, rather than throwing up the long-term, recreational-use argument,” Mrs Haslam said.
“We need people to adopt a more compassionate approach.”