Laws allowing terminally ill patients to use cannabis could be passed in NSW within two months following support from senior cabinet ministers and the backing of Australia’s largest medical unions and the Cancer Council.
Nationals MP Kevin Anderson will introduce a private members’ bill to the NSW Parliament in August, which if widely supported would allow dying patients across the state to legally access the drug.
Mr Anderson has outlined his proposal to Premier Mike Baird, Attorney-General Brad Hazzard and Health Minister Jillian Skinner, who on Monday said she supported ongoing clinical trials of medical cannabis in NSW and Tasmania.
“I’ve been encouraged by the support of my parliamentary colleagues,” Mr Anderson told AAP on Monday.