A UN agency censored an official paper calling for drug use decriminalization. But its message is here to stay

Queenslanders and Victorians with particular chronic illnesses may now be eligible to join New South Wales medicinal cannabis trials, due to start mid next year.

The three states will collaborate on the development of medicinal cannabis, its regulatory framework and clinical research to explore the safety and benefits of the product among three key groups:

A recent visitor from California was astounded at the cloak and dagger nature of cannabis consumption in New Zealand.

Under California State law she, a retired health professional, can openly grow her own medicinal marijuana (strictly for personal use) in the garden along with her roses and courgettes, or buy it from licensed dispensers.

The law takes the drama out of the situation by giving patients with doctors' recommendations safe access without risking arrest. Qualifying conditions include anorexia, arthritis, cancer, HIV/AIDs, glaucoma, migraine, muscle spasms, severe nausea, seizures and any debilitating condition where the use of cannabis has been deemed appropriate.

I came have been advocating for the introduction of medicinal cannabis for about 4 years.

I am a solo mother of five children and my eldest daughter, 17, suffers from Dravet syndrome, a intractable, life-limiting and progressive form of epilepsy where she would seizure up to 1000 times a day.

My daughter has been on dozens of medications. She has undergone a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) implant - one of the first in New Zealand - which was ineffective, high dosages of steroids, and other more alternative treatments such as sacral massage and naturopathic remedies.

The Roy Morgan poll found 91% of those surveyed said marijuana for medical purposes should be made legal, with strongest support in the 50-plus age group

Only 7% of Australians surveyed for their views on medical marijuana said they were opposed to the drug being made legal for medicinal purposes, a new survey shows.

In a poll released by Roy Morgan Research on Monday, 644 Australians aged 14 and above were asked: “In your opinion should the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes be made legal or remain illegal?”

MORE than nine out of every 10 Australians (91%) believe the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes should be made legal, according to a special Roy Morgan telephone survey.

Only 7% of respondants to the survey - conducted last week with 644 Australians aged 14+ - are against legalisation and 2% can't say.

This is the first time Roy Morgan Research has asked specifically about the medicinal use of marijuana.

The landslide result comes from widespread support for the legalisation of medicinal marijuana among men and women, different age groups, states of residence and federal voting intention.

Analysis by age and gender

Trials for medical marijuana should be encouraged despite "prejudice" from the medical profession, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says.

The debate over medical marijuana has sparked up after the Australian government announced a licensing scheme to allow the cultivation of cannabis for medical trial purposes this month.

And Mr Dunne says New Zealand was "highly likely" to follow suit if the trial products were approved.

He told TVNZ's Q + A programme it would be "very, very good" to get clinical trials in New Zealand.

"I do think there is a bit of prejudice there in the medical profession.

"At the moment we've got a lot of very general talk, we talk about medical cannabis - actually there's no such thing. There's medical cannabis products.

The potential reintroduction of medical cannabis in Australia is creating debate about the need for trials, which are set to start next year.  

The Victorian Government in partnership with the New South Wales and Queensland governments have committed to clinical trials for medical cannabis in 2016.

Australian medical experts say there is a need for more research into various aspects of medical cannabis in order to legalise a drug that is safe to use for patients.

In particular, medical experts believe it will not be possible to determine a safe dosage of cannabis for patients based on only one clinical trial.

New Zealand could piggyback on Australian research into the wider use of medicinal cannabis, but associate minister of health Peter Dunne is cautioning people against getting their hopes up.

A judge has said he's "not blind to the debate" around medicinal cannabis in New Zealand during the sentencing of a man who used the drug to help him cope with Crohn's disease.

Peter John Crimp, 40, appeared in the Nelson District Court on Monday charged with possession of cannabis and a cannabis pipe.

The court heard that Crimp was driving on the Moutere Highway in the Redwood Valley about 7:50pm on September 19 when he was stopped by police.

While speaking to police, the officer noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.

Police searched Crimp and his vehicle and found a small tin containing two grams of cannabis in his pocket and a small pipe.