Letter to your local Member

Proforma letter to your local Member

Letter to your local Member
Photo by Michael / Unsplash

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Postcode]

[Date]

[Member's Name]
[Member's Address]
[City, State, Postcode]

Dear [Member's Name],

Re: Urgent Need for Amnesty on Medical Cannabis Home Growing

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent to address an urgent issue affecting many patients in our community: the need for an amnesty on home growing of medical cannabis.

The current system of accessing medical cannabis, while a step in the right direction, leaves many patients unable to afford their medication. Legal medical cannabis can cost thousands of dollars per year, an insurmountable barrier for many, especially those with chronic conditions or disabilities that may limit their income.

I would like to bring your attention to Recommendation 20 from the 2020 Senate Inquiry into current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia.

The committee recommends that the Australian Government, through COAG, encourage a review of state and territory criminal legislation in relation to:  

  • amnesties for the possession and/or cultivation of cannabis for genuine self-medication purposes; and            
  • current drug driving laws and their implications for patients with legal medicinal cannabis prescriptions.

This recommendation acknowledges the gap between patient needs and the current legal framework. An amnesty would provide immediate relief to patients while the legal market develops and becomes affordable for all patients.

The benefits of such an amnesty include:

  1. Increased affordability and accessibility for patients
  2. Reduced burden on the public health system
  3. Decreased reliance on pharmaceutical opioids
  4. Potential reduction in illicit market activity

I urge you to consider advocating for the implementation of this amnesty in our state/territory. This could be achieved through:

  1. Introducing legislation to enact a state-level amnesty
  2. Pushing for the implementation of the Senate Inquiry's recommendation at a federal level
  3. Initiating a parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility and benefits of such an amnesty

Patients should not have to choose between effective medication and breaking the law. An amnesty would provide a compassionate, interim solution while we work towards a more comprehensive and affordable medical cannabis framework.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you. Could we arrange a meeting to explore how we might move this important issue forward?

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

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