Shame on you Helen Clark

GreenCross Medicinal Cannabis Users Support Group
Media release
14 February 2007

Shame on you Helen Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark is ignoring due process by keeping cannabis, a medicine used for over 5,000 years, unavailable to sick, injured and dying people, said Billy Mckee, the director of the GreenCross medicinal cannabis support group today.

"We know what works for us, and we have been doing it for years. We want the police to
leave us alone."

"Just last week in the Bay of Plenty four medical users were arrested for growing their medicine. They were aged between 50 and 80 years old. Where is the justice in that? They are labeled criminals now and being dragged through the failing justice system."

"People are sick and dying with unnecessary suffering, with our human rights violated by denying us the most effective medicine."

The Ministry of Health has found compelling evidence to supports medicinal use, as did two parliamentary Health Select Committees in 1998 and 2003 and numerous other credible studies. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and the international guiding agreement The Single convention on Narcotic drugs (SCND) both make allowances for medicinal use.

"What has happened to our democracy when the leader of the Labour Party, the party of the people, sells out the most vulnerable people? Where is her compassion for these suffering people?

"It is bad enough being ill or in constant pain but when the only medicine that works for you is controlled by the criminal element (that is a result of prohibition) and very expensive (another result of prohibition) - especially for many invalids who are on benefits - then a lot more stress is caused.

"I urge everyone to contact their local MP and Helen about this. C`mon Helen, cut us some slack," said Mr McKee.

ENDS

GreenCross is a patient's support group for medicinal users of cannabis. www.greencross.org.nz

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