Cannabis oil comes to the fore again
FOURWAYS – The Forever Changed Global Awareness Campaign hosted it's second press conference at Montecasino recently, where the need for alternative treatment and official policy in the workplace were discussed.
Cannabis oil for medical use came to the fore again when the Forever Changed Global Awareness Campaign hosted its second-ever press conference at the Palazzo Hotel at Montecasino on 12 July as part of the fight against cancer.
The organisation was started by Addi Lang four years ago after she was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and is dedicated to helping those afflicted by the disease, as well as to call for better access to alternative treatment options and the inclusion of cancer policies in the workplace. Among the presenters on the day were Narend Singh, chief whip for the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Parliament and advocate Anthony Mitchell of the same organisation, who addressed the current legal status of cannabis.
“I met Addi Lang a few years ago, and I am very impressed with the passion she has for the tasks she has taken on, on the behalf of thousands in this country,” Singh told Fourways Review. “The Medical Innovation Bill, which calls for the legalisation of cannabis for medical use, was spearheaded by Mario Oriani-Ambrosini in 2014.
“After Oriani-Ambrosini passed away [from cancer] I continued the work he started. He and I wanted to see people have access to alternative medicine, as people should have the freedom of choice when it comes to medical treatment.”
Singh and his supporters want to see the cannabis oil legalised so that it can be used to treat pain and in cases of palliative care. The substance is currently available, but selling and buying it is not yet legal and he has concerns about the quality and regulation of the substance.
“We decided to withdraw the [Medical Innovation] Bill after last year’s court ruling [in the Western Cape High Court regarding marijuana].
“The Department of Health is currently reviewing about 20 applications for a licence to grow the plant, but it is a long process. We are not just concerned about cannabis, but rather the innovation of medicine generally.”
Besides addresses from Singh and Mitchell, the conference also saw discussions about how businesses can support those fighting the disease, ways in which cervical and breast cancer can be screened for and a screening of the Forever Changed documentary.
