The IFP will rework its Medical Innovations Bill, which would allow for the medical use of marijuana (dagga), or pursue amendments to other pieces of legislation in a bid to allow sick people access to the drug as quickly as possible.
The bill was first introduced to parliament in 2014 as a private member’s bill by the late IFP MP Mario Ambrosini, who had used cannabinoids in the treatment of his own lung cancer.
“There is no rational argument for continuing to deprive medical marijuana to people like me who need it,” he told parliament at the time.
President Jacob Zuma heard his plea and promised to pursue the matter.
However, after several delays, the legislation came to a standstill.
IFP chief whip Narend Singh said yesterday he hoped to have some resolution to allow people to use medical marijuana by year’s end.
After Ambrosini’s death, the bill was transferred into Singh’s name.
Singh said there had been some submissions made to parliament around the bill, but the party had halted these to enter bilateral negotiations with the ANC.
The ANC had indicated that it was “keen” to see the bill passed for the use of cannabinoids in palliative care and a research team comprising the director-general of health, members of the Medicines Control Council and parliamentary legal advisers had been assembled.
The bill had been stalled as the Department of Health awaited a pronouncement from the United Nations on the use of the plant for medical purposes.
However, the UN’s April pronouncement was not in favour of its use, despite decisions by countries including the US, Canada and Germany to legalise its use for medical purposes.
The first incarnation of the bill also allowed for the use of cannabinoids in industry and manufacture, but Singh said a new, reworked version would focus solely on its medical use.
But he said the party was not “married” to the idea of a private member’s bill and would accept changes to current legislation.
He said a parliamentary legal adviser had indicated that the Drugs Act, read together with the Medicine’s Act, allowed for the use or manufacture of the drug for medicinal purposes, provided permission had been granted by the director-general of health.
However, it appears that while many such applications had been made, few, if any, had been granted.
IFP to rework bill on dagga for medical use
The bill was first introduced to parliament in 2014 as a private member’s bill by the late IFP MP Mario Ambrosini, who had used cannabinoids in the treatment of his own lung cancer.
“There is no rational argument for continuing to deprive medical marijuana to people like me who need it,” he told parliament at the time.
President Jacob Zuma heard his plea and promised to pursue the matter.
However, after several delays, the legislation came to a standstill.
IFP chief whip Narend Singh said yesterday he hoped to have some resolution to allow people to use medical marijuana by year’s end.
After Ambrosini’s death, the bill was transferred into Singh’s name.
Singh said there had been some submissions made to parliament around the bill, but the party had halted these to enter bilateral negotiations with the ANC.
The ANC had indicated that it was “keen” to see the bill passed for the use of cannabinoids in palliative care and a research team comprising the director-general of health, members of the Medicines Control Council and parliamentary legal advisers had been assembled.
The bill had been stalled as the Department of Health awaited a pronouncement from the United Nations on the use of the plant for medical purposes.
However, the UN’s April pronouncement was not in favour of its use, despite decisions by countries including the US, Canada and Germany to legalise its use for medical purposes.
The first incarnation of the bill also allowed for the use of cannabinoids in industry and manufacture, but Singh said a new, reworked version would focus solely on its medical use.
But he said the party was not “married” to the idea of a private member’s bill and would accept changes to current legislation.
He said a parliamentary legal adviser had indicated that the Drugs Act, read together with the Medicine’s Act, allowed for the use or manufacture of the drug for medicinal purposes, provided permission had been granted by the director-general of health.
However, it appears that while many such applications had been made, few, if any, had been granted.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos