THE region’s Country Women’s Association (CWA) branches have joined a growing rally to fix medicinal marijuana legislation once and for all.
With state and federal elections around the corner, Lucy Haslam is set on getting the system fixed.
She spoke at the Wanthella CWA annual general meeting in Tamworth on Wednesday and called on the region’s women to get behind the cannabis cause.
Mrs Haslam has successfully lobbied to changes laws at federal and state levels, but claimed political motivations have made patient access to cannabis products severely restricted.
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“Australia has managed to produce some of the worst legislation possible,” Mrs Haslam said.
She shared the story of her late son Dan and how cannabis “gave him hope” and some control over the way he was effected by his cancer treatment.
His story left a lasting impact on former NSW premier Mike Baird, who said after Dan’s death: “every step we take on medical cannabis will be built on the footsteps he left behind.”
Mrs Haslam said Dan would still be a criminal if he was alive today, due to the restricted access to cannabis.
Earlier this week, Mrs Haslam spoke a conference at Sydney University called “Is there anything wrong with medicinal cannabis?”
Joined with medical and legal academics at the Sydney conference, she told the CWA meeting she was shocked at the number of cannabis companies talking about the billions they would make.
“They don't make the connection their customers are patients,” she said.
The Wanthella group, which takes in 10 branches between Uralla and Tamworth, offered a resounding yes, when asked if it was ready to join the fight.
“We need to get this back on track and I’m hoping as an organisation you can make a conscious decision to help,” Mrs Haslam said.
Wanthella president Betty-Anne White said “whatever we can do to help her, I’m sure we will.”
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
