❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions the Minister for Health, Dr. K.D. Hames, accusing him of using the issue of medicinal cannabis for political gain. The Minister denies the accusation and clarifies the government's stance against recreational marijuana use.
AnsweredQoN 675Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CANNABIS —
MEDICAL USE — MINISTER FOR HEALTH'S COMMENTS
675. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Why does the minister not
admit that is just trying to score cheap political points —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition —
Dr
K.D. Hames : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : I am
sorry, nobody could hear the question. Can the Leader of the Opposition please
repeat the supplementary question.
Dr K.D. Hames : I
heard it, and I will answer it.
The SPEAKER : Well,
I never heard it. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to repeat the
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Wanneroo to order for the first time. I am sorry, but I
never heard the question. Can the Leader of the Opposition repeat the question,
please.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
does the minister not admit that he was just trying to score cheap political
points on an issue of grave —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear
the question, and I want to hear the answer quickly.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
does the minister not admit that he was just trying to score cheap political
points—he was wrong—on the backs of people who are terminally
ill and chronically sick who would love to have the opportunity to be
prescribed medicinal cannabis?
MEDICAL USE — MINISTER FOR HEALTH'S COMMENTS
675. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Why does the minister not
admit that is just trying to score cheap political points —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition —
Dr
K.D. Hames : Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER : I am
sorry, nobody could hear the question. Can the Leader of the Opposition please
repeat the supplementary question.
Dr K.D. Hames : I
heard it, and I will answer it.
The SPEAKER : Well,
I never heard it. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to repeat the
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Wanneroo to order for the first time. I am sorry, but I
never heard the question. Can the Leader of the Opposition repeat the question,
please.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
does the minister not admit that he was just trying to score cheap political
points on an issue of grave —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear
the question, and I want to hear the answer quickly.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why
does the minister not admit that he was just trying to score cheap political
points—he was wrong—on the backs of people who are terminally
ill and chronically sick who would love to have the opportunity to be
prescribed medicinal cannabis?
AnswerView source ↗
If there are provable benefits to those drugs for that group
of patients, there should be a very easy process of proving that it works, and
proving that the side effects are acceptable. That should be done at a national
level. There was no scoring of cheap political points. I was making the very
strong point that this government is totally opposed to marijuana as a substance
that people use socially, as the opposition promoted by allowing people to have
two plants. The opposition is trying to merge those issues together, and it is
not acceptable.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the first time. The Minister for
Health.
Dr K.D. Hames : I
have finished.
of patients, there should be a very easy process of proving that it works, and
proving that the side effects are acceptable. That should be done at a national
level. There was no scoring of cheap political points. I was making the very
strong point that this government is totally opposed to marijuana as a substance
that people use socially, as the opposition promoted by allowing people to have
two plants. The opposition is trying to merge those issues together, and it is
not acceptable.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the first time. The Minister for
Health.
Dr K.D. Hames : I
have finished.
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