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Federal Health Minister 'Very Confident' About Medical Cannabis Legislation To Be Tabled Wednesday

Medical Cannabis Legislation: 'I Am Very Confident'
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, Ashley Thompson inspects marijuana plants inside the
ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2015 file photo, Ashley Thompson inspects marijuana plants inside the

Legislation allowing cannabis to be grown for medicine or research will be introduced by the Federal Government today.

Health Minister Sussan Ley told Channel 9 show Today she was "very confident" the proposed amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 would be passed.

"I am very confident because we have had lots of conversations across the parliament," Ley told Today.

"We are providing the missing piece in the patient's journey with the legislation that we are introducing today.

"I expect everyone to support it and I know that many of my colleagues have heard the stories and had the representations from those who really seek to get urgent access to medicinal cannabis."

The amendments would not decriminalise cannabis for individuals.

"This is not a product that you smoke," Ley told Today.

"It is usually a treatment that is applied to you or perhaps inhaled, and it may in fact not have the narcotic agent that people associate with cannabis."

Among several emerging studies, cannabis derivatives are being investigated to stop drug-resistant epilepsy, especially in children, and has also been shown to be an effective painkiller.

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