Home And Away’s latest storyline weighs in on medicinal cannabis

As producers continue to push the envelope with topical storylines, Home And Away is wading into a controversial medical debate that has divided the world.

As producers continue to push the envelope with topical storylines, Home And Away is wading into the controversial medicinal cannabis debate.

In the latest boundary pushing plot for the popular soap, Orpheus Pledger’s character, Mason, resorts to making his own cannabis at home to help his younger sister who suffers from debilitating epilepsy.

“The sole reason Mason decided to do this was to help his little sister because she is going through epilepsy,” Pledger told Confidential.

“He couldn’t see any other way and so alternative measures were taken. It has nothing to do with recreational use.”

Home And Away actors Olivia Deeble and Orpheus Pledger’s characters are at the centre of a medical cannabis storyline. Picture: David Swift

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Mason’s younger sister, Raffy, is played by 16-year-old Olivia Deeble.

“The storyline is absolutely controversial,” she said. “It is a hugely current discussion but the feedback I have had has been really positive and a lot of people with epilepsy have reached out to me.

“Home And Away is such an influential television show and we have so many viewers so I think it is important that we are tackling these issues to show we aren’t hiding it or pretending that it is not there.”

In NSW, patients dying from terminal illnesses were first given permission to use medicinal marijuana in 2016. The Therapeutic Goods Administration are reviewing the parameter of who should be allowed to access medicinal marijuana.

Soaps are evolving with the times. Just last year, Neighbours televised Australia’s first gay wedding. Picture: Supplied

Producers brought on Lisa Todd, nurse and Epilepsy Action Australia spokeswoman, to consult on the storyline to ensure it is accurate.

”It is a topic you need to be careful with in that you have to be careful between the distinction between recreational cannabis and medicinal cannabis,” Todd explained.

Home And Away, along with rival soap Neighbours have increasingly been adopting newsy plots to reflect modern day society.

Neighbours for example broadcast Australian television’s first gay wedding last year and recently introduced a trans character to the show.

“It is really amazing that we are exploring these kinds of stories,” Pledger said. “The people watching, my friends and family, get an up to date perspective on these factual matters that are going on in the world. That is really special and important.”