Discussion of the Medical Innovation Bill in parliament without public participation. The audio recording is basically inaudible.

PC Health: Medical Innovation Bill : briefing by Mr N Singh MP; Department of Health 1st Quarter Performance 1

Summary, mention of letters received, letter read from cannabis user with spinal compression injury. James: Rational, evidence based thinking required put aside emotions of Marios death. Bill does two things: provision for innovation, commercialisation of cannabis. James has difficulty with supporting commercialisation. Mutters on about prevention of the various types of cancer. Reads a document describing cancer methodology, how it grows. Science has not provided an answer to the problem, further research required and this is what scientific innovation is. Cannabis is still harmful despite the claims (can’t od, doesn’t lead to cancer..) : current strain potency (WTF? Regulate, clearly publish THC % content like we do with alcohol), dependency (WTF? where is the context relative to alcohol, cigarettes and pharmaceutical drugs?), constant use interfering with job (WTF? generalised, unsubstantiated statement), exposure to minors (WTF? We don’t want this either. Regulate removes it from the streets and puts it behind the counter. Put edibles in clearly marked, child proof packaging. As if prohibition works?!).Lots of waffling .. ‘ first do no harm’ .. ‘patient needs sufficient info to make informed decisions’ .. mention of quality control seen as a major weakness in the debate. Closure summary: Bill mentions innovation, commercialisation, says nothing about curing cancer, mentions treatment, pain control, safety needs to be established. Check and balances and safe guards important. 53:18 -SG

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