A TASMANIAN woman who suffers from severe osteoporosis was moved to tears yesterday when describing the positive impact medical cannabis has had on her health. Inga Oates gave evidence at the third and final day of an upper house inquiry into legalised medicinal cannabis, alongside her husband and carer Ian. Mrs Oates told MLCs that medical cannabis had provided effective pain relief where other medications had failed and alleviated about a dozen ailments including nausea, asthma and boils. The inquiry heard Mrs Oates had not looked back since taking the medicine, and would be devastated if it was taken away. ‘‘I just couldn’t believe that such a miracle had happened,’’ Mrs Oates told the inquiry. ‘‘I just sobbed my heart out to think that there was such a miracle.’’ Mr Oates said his wife’s quality of life was the best it had been in more than 40 years. Tasman Health Cannabinoids (TasCann) chief executive Troy Langman likened depriving people of the medication to a crime against humanity, arguing patients should not be forced to grow their own plants. Mr Langman told the inquiry clinical trials in Tasmania were unnecessary, saying medical cannabis had been proven to be non-toxic, non-lethal and non-addictive. ‘‘We should look to international best practice and what is being achieved overseas so we make sure it’s done right and we don’t put people in harm’s way,’’ he said. Mr Langman said ongoing research and development could be conducted once the medication was on the market. In July, the state government rejected a proposal from TasCann to conduct a trial in conjunction with the University of Tasmania. It has since softened its stance on medicinal cannabis. Mr Langman said while his company’s head office was shifting from Hobart to Sydney, he would be open to a collaborative trial including more than one state. The upper house committee is expected to release an interim report in coming weeks before submitting its findings to Parliament next year.
A TASMANIAN woman who suffers from severe osteoporosis was moved to tears yesterday when describing the positive impact medical cannabis has had on her health.
Osteoporosis sufferer Inga Oates, with her husband Ian, yesterday described medicinal cannabis as a ‘‘miracle’’.
Inga Oates gave evidence at the third and final day of an upper house inquiry into legalised medicinal cannabis, alongside her husband and carer Ian.
Mrs Oates told MLCs that medical cannabis had provided effective pain relief where other medications had failed and alleviated about a dozen ailments including nausea, asthma and boils.
The inquiry heard Mrs Oates had not looked back since taking the medicine, and would be devastated if it was taken away.
‘‘I just couldn’t believe that such a miracle had happened,’’ Mrs Oates told the inquiry.
‘‘I just sobbed my heart out to think that there was such a miracle.’’
Mr Oates said his wife’s quality of life was the best it had been in more than 40 years.
Tasman Health Cannabinoids (TasCann) chief executive Troy Langman likened depriving people of the medication to a crime against humanity, arguing patients should not be forced to grow their own plants.
Mr Langman told the inquiry clinical trials in Tasmania were unnecessary, saying medical cannabis had been proven to be non-toxic, non-lethal and non-addictive.
‘‘We should look to international best practice and what is being achieved overseas so we make sure it’s done right and we don’t put people in harm’s way,’’ he said.
Mr Langman said ongoing research and development could be conducted once the medication was on the market.
In July, the state government rejected a proposal from TasCann to conduct a trial in conjunction with the University of Tasmania.
It has since softened its stance on medicinal cannabis.
Mr Langman said while his company’s head office was shifting from Hobart to Sydney, he would be open to a collaborative trial including more than one state.
The upper house committee is expected to release an interim report in coming weeks before submitting its findings to Parliament next year.
