One of Victoria’s largest suppliers of medical cannabis has been charged with serious trafficking offences, despite a push by federal and state governments to decriminalise the drug for those suffering from terminal illnesses and chronic pain.
Police raided the Carrum Downs home of Matthew and Elizabeth Pallett on May 20 and seized more than five kilograms of marijuana and derivative products, before charging the couple with possession, cultivation and trafficking offences.
The disabled pensioners have openly provided cannabis-based tinctures, chocolates and butters to about 80 regular clients, who suffer from medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy and Crohn’s disease.
“We only accept donations. And we only give it to people who show us a medical report confirming diagnosis with legitimate medical needs,” Mr Pallett said.
Mr Pallett, 54, has self-medicated with cannabis for more than 35 years since suffering a spinal injury as a 12-year-old. Ms Pallett, 65, also uses the drug to manage chronic back pain.
“Many of those we are helping are fibromyalgia patients [sufferers of chronic pain] for whom the medical industry has no help. But a teaspoon of our lemon and mango butter morning and night gives them almost total pain relief,” he said.
The couple claim they were handcuffed and forced to sit on dining chairs for more than 30 minutes, as seven police officers searched their home.
“If you have a look around our home you’ll see there’s no proceeds of crime. We live very simply. When the coppers came through the door, they knew it wasn’t a drug dealer’s house,” Mr Pallett said.
About five years ago, the couple helped establish the Compassion Club, which provides a black market source of medical cannabis along with information on how members can use the drug to treat illness and mitigate pain.
Teresa Nissanka, 39, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 and required a range of pain-relief medication, including week-long ketamine transfusions that left her with intense nausea and blurred vision.
“I was desperate, and I came across Elizabeth [Pallett] on Facebook. I started with lemon butter and then moved onto the tincture and was basically pain-free the whole time,” Ms Nissanka said.
She made one donation of $50 for the products.
A trained nurse, Ms Nissanka stopped using the products about four months ago, because of concerns she would lose her licence and be unable to drive her two sons to school functions and football training.
Mr and Mrs Pallett will appear before the Frankston Magistrates Court on September 3. It will not be their first brush with the judiciary.
In 2007, they faced similar charges for cultivating and possessing 110 grams of marijuana and were fined $250 on each count in the County Court of Victoria. Despite avoiding conviction, they unsuccessfully appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.
But the latest drug charges against the couple come as the Victorian Law Reform Commission prepares a report on the legalisation of medical cannabis, which has the backing of the Andrews Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews recently announced the first trial involving children afflicted with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy would begin in Victoria next year.
Mr Andrews said the decision had been influenced by the case of four-year-old, Cooper Wallace, who suffers from brain damage, epilepsy and cerebral palsy after suffering a bacterial infection after he was born.
Medical cannibas had “transformed” Cooper’s life according to his mother, Cassie Batten, who was arrested in 2014 after admitting in a television interview that she administered the drug. Police dropped the case against Ms Batten on advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has also been moved by Cooper Wallace’s plight and advocates the use of medical cannabis on a “case-by-case” basis.
In a letter sent to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on April 27, Mr Abbott provides advice on how Cooper’s family could access the drug under the Special Access Scheme.
“I appreciate how difficult this must be for Cooper and his parents to manage, particularly where existing treatments are less effective. In these circumstances, I can understand their interest in accessing cannabis oil for medicinal purposes,” Mr Abbott said.