Medicinal cannabis in Norfolk Island backed by more than 14,000 in online petition

IT was meant to be the budding industry that would save struggling Norfolk Island’s economy but the community’s chance to lead the charge in medicinal cannabis treatment has gone up in smoke.

The fight to save Cannabis Island

THE people of Norfolk Island are fighting for the territory’s right to become Australia’s legally-grown cannabis capital — Cannabis Island.

More than 14,000 supporters have rallied behind a petition to allow medicinal cannabis to be grown on Norfolk Island.

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Earlier this month, Norfolk Island’s health minister Robin Adams issued a licence to medicinal cannabis growing company TasCann.

Last week that licence was overturned by Norfolk’s Australian government representative Gary Hardgrave who has the final say on these matters.

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So the island’s chance to lead the charge in the treatment of medical conditions with legally grown cannabis has essentially gone up in smoke, but the Island locals are not going to take this one lying down.

Gary Hardgrave, administrator of Norfolk Island has vetoed a licence permitting medicinal cannabis to be grown on the island.

Since Mr Hardgrave announced the decision to veto the licence that Norfolk’s Legislative Assembly granted, Norfolk resident and natural medicine student Gabrielle Beaumont has led a campaign to “stop blocking access to medicinal cannabis”, and her change.org petition has been backed by more than 14,000 signatories in less than 36 hours.

“While thousands of Australians, and every published poll shows that most people support the decriminalisation of medicinal cannabis — the Australian government has just blocked the people of Norfolk Island from growing it for medical use,” the petition reads.

“It’s shocking, unfair, and just wrong — and it means that for thousands of families, the challenge of trying to cope with terminal illnesses gets even harder.”

Picturesque Norfolk Island. Pic: Phil Hawkes

“The people of Norfolk Island are well and truly behind this,” Ms Beaumont told news.com.au.

“It’s a no-brainer really. I think if the Australian government had actually looked at the evidence their decision would be different. Their logic is that growing and using cannabis has always been illegal in their lifetime, therefore it’s not going to change. I haven’t actually seen any reason why this decision would be made by Mr Hardgrave if he was informed.”

Medicinal marijuana is legal in parts of the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel and 23 states in the US.

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Another petition started by NSW mum Lucy Haslam to decriminalise medical cannabis for people like her terminally ill son, has prompted a bill to be considered in state parliament.

Federal MPs are working on the bill to legalise it in Australia, but Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton is yet to lend his support.

The island’s tourism industry has not recovered from the GFC and is looking for a saviour. Picture: Phil Hawkes

Ms Beaumont also argues the economic benefits of growing medicinal cannabis could bring to the struggling community.

“It’s no secret Norfolk Island is in dire financial straits,” she said.

“There’s a growing market internationally and there’s obviously people in Australia who need it and people who are wanting something like this.

“The company is there, willing, the product’s available to grow, it’s just government and red tape and legislation in place, that’s the only hurdle. I just hope not only for Norfolk Island but for Australia this decision will be reversed.”

CEO of TasCann Troy Langman has arrived on Norfolk Island to join members of the public rallying to reverse the Australian Government’s decision.

“We’re obviously disappointed,” he said.

Troy Langman, CEO of TasCann.

“The ramifications will be that the public will be denied access to relief that they desperately need. That’s the reality.

“People’s lives will continue to be put at risk, such as children with Dravet syndrome, epilepsy, cancer, there’s a whole list fo medical conditions cannabis can help with.”

Norfolk Island’s health minister Robin Adams has called for community consultation and has urged the Australian Government to reverse the decision.

“It is most regrettable that an economic initiative with the capacity to generate substantial income and employment for this community over time has needed to be put on hold,” she said in a statement.

“But I give the community the assurance of both myself and my ministerial colleagues that we will continue to work with the Commonwealth Government to achieve what we trust can be a satisfactory outcome that a further licence can be issued to TasCann.”

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