Don't forget illegal drug that can heal

MALCOLM BROWN'S opinion piece, ''Time and again, drug money corrupts even our finest'' in Thursday's Herald, is further proof of the disaster that the so-called war on drugs has been since it was declared by US President Richard Nixon in 1971.

By InvestSMART · 26 Aug 2011

By InvestSMART ·
26 Aug 2011

Comments

I remember attending a Marijuana Party rally in Hyde Park with hundreds of other people in 1976 during the election campaign leading up to Neville Wran's Labor Party taking office in 1976. Word had gone around that Labor was sympathetic to the decriminalisation of cannabis, and it wouldn't be long before the young people's drug of choice would be able to be used without the threat of penalties. Those young people are now approaching retirement and nothing has changed.

On Tuesday, August 23, there was a medical marijuana rally outside state Parliament House. The police and media were in attendance as Tony Bower of Mullaway's Medical Cannabis, with just a few supporters, attempted to urge the NSW government to approve his application to manufacture and distribute the medicine he has developed. Tony is currently giving away his liquid cannabis tincture to about 300 people around Australia, a couple of whom were in attendance.

One was a young man, Matt, who flew up from Melbourne and has suffered with Crohn's disease for 10 years. The doctors threw everything at him (including chemotherapy) and nothing worked. They told him there was nothing more they could do and when he suggested medical marijuana their response was ''next question please''.

Matt contacted Tony Bower, who has been supplying him with the tincture since June. He has gone from 20 bowel movements a day to about four and the constant pain in the guts, which he said felt like someone stabbing him constantly with a knife, has gone, as has the constant anxiety and insomnia.

Tony Bower's medicine is oil and alcohol-based, extracted from the cannabis plant with all of the drug's illegal properties removed. The benefits claimed for his medical cannabis are extensive.

Meanwhile, a plant that has a record of medicinal uses for thousands of years remains illegal and anyone who dares to use it is threatened with the full force of the law and the people responsible for that law continue to be corrupted by it.

Charles Dickens was correct when he said ''the law is an ass'', particularly while this medicine is unavailable to the multitude of people it could help.

Phil Garratt

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is the main point of the article about medical cannabis and the 'war on drugs'?

The article argues that the long-running 'war on drugs' has been a disaster and highlights how cannabis — a plant with a long history of medicinal use — remains illegal for many despite reported benefits. It uses examples like rallies and patient stories to show the tension between public need and current drug laws.

Who is Tony Bower and what is Mullaway's Medical Cannabis doing according to the article?

Tony Bower of Mullaway's Medical Cannabis is described as a developer of a liquid cannabis tincture who has applied to the NSW government to manufacture and distribute the medicine. He is reportedly giving the tincture away to about 300 people around Australia while seeking official approval.

What patient results does the article report for medical cannabis use in Crohn's disease?

The article gives an anecdotal example of a patient named Matt, who had Crohn's disease for 10 years. After using Tony Bower's tincture since June, he reportedly went from about 20 bowel movements a day to roughly four, with major reductions in gut pain, anxiety and insomnia. The article presents this as a personal testimonial, not as clinical proof.

Is the medical cannabis described in the article legal in New South Wales (NSW)?

According to the article, cannabis generally remains illegal and people using it risk legal consequences. Tony Bower has applied to the NSW government for approval to manufacture and distribute his tincture, which indicates regulatory permission is required and not yet granted in the situation described.

What public and political activity around medical marijuana does the article mention?

The article references a 1976 Marijuana Party rally in Hyde Park and a more recent medical marijuana rally on August 23 outside the NSW Parliament House. The recent rally included police and media and was connected to Tony Bower's attempt to persuade the NSW government to approve his application.

What regulatory and legal risks for medical cannabis providers are highlighted in the article?

The article highlights regulatory uncertainty and legal risk: cannabis remains illegal in many respects, manufacturers and distributors need government approval (as Tony Bower is seeking), and people who use or supply the medicine can face enforcement under current laws. This underscores the importance of approvals and compliance.

What should everyday investors take away from this article about the medical cannabis sector?

The article signals strong public demand and anecdotal patient benefits alongside ongoing legal and regulatory challenges. Everyday investors should note that policy and government approvals are central to commercial access and that patient advocacy and political change can influence the sector — but the article does not provide financial or investment advice.

Does the article present scientific proof or clinical trials supporting the effectiveness of the cannabis tincture?

No. The article offers personal anecdotes and historical references to medicinal use but does not cite clinical trials or peer-reviewed scientific studies to substantiate the reported benefits of Tony Bower's cannabis tincture.