Page 4463 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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Madam Speaker, I accept that this is third-hand, so it is not going to be enough; but my staff member informs me, having spoken to the general manager, Matthew Gillett, that he said that he had spoken to Mr Connolly. In fact, we interjected a number of times. When Mr Connolly was speaking, we interjected, "Tell us what Matthew Gillett told you personally". I am not using this to help form the background. What Mr Gillett said, according to what he said to my staff, was that the AIDS Action Council did support this piece of legislation. But, Madam Speaker, that is third-hand; so, while it sets the picture, it is not the most important thing. The most important thing, Madam Speaker, is what is in writing, the press release of the AIDS Action Council, with Matthew Gillett's name at the bottom of it, on the AIDS Action Council's official paper. Madam Speaker, I think it is appropriate that I read the press release in full so that it can be seen that I am not taking things out of context. This is a press release issued on AIDS Action Council paper. It is headed "Canberra Doctor to Approve Cannabis Use Immediately", and it says this:
The AIDS Action Council of the ACT announced today that people with AIDS would benefit from the provision of cannabis for medical use.
It goes on:
Dr Peter Rowland, a Canberra General Practitioner who specialises in AIDS care, said "Cannabis is an extremely valuable drug for relief of pain, anxiety and sleeplessness. I will start providing certificates for my patients as soon as I establish the necessary research protocol".
Madam Speaker, this is printed on AIDS Action Council paper. It continues:
Cannabis may also be very important as an appetite inducer for people who are suffering from the so-called "wasting syndrome" sometimes associated with AIDS.
Actually, Madam Speaker, it reads "form" instead of "from"; there is a typing mistake in it. It continues:
"When people with AIDS are ill it can become very difficult for them to get the necessary nutrients simply because they do not have the appetite to eat well. Many people have found that cannabis is their best solution to this" said Matthew Gillett, General Manager of the AIDS Action Council.
The large number of drugs that many people with AIDS need to take means that access to viable alternatives is very important.
Reinhold Bergmoser, Executive Member of ACT People Living With Aids, says that medical use of cannabis could mean a significant improvement in his health management: "Using cannabis would mean I could reduce the number of tablets I take by about 2,000 to 3,000 tablets per year. This is better for my health and cheaper for the health system".
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