"We recognise the risks and negative effects of crude cannabis use, particularly via smoking, and by no means do we endorse the recreational use of cannabis," she said. "However, the committee considers that on the basis of the available evidence, providing for a very small and specific group of patients to use crude cannabis products for medical purposes legally is both appropriate and compassionate." Ms Mitchell said the committee concluded that people who are at the end of their lives should not be criminalised for taking steps to relieve severe pain or to stimulate their appetites. "These people should not be subject to the humiliation and stress of arrest and appearing in court," she said. The parliamentary committee comprises two members of the National Party, one from the Liberal Party, one from Labor, one from the Greens and one from the Shooters and Fishers Party.

Committee member Adam Searle, a Labor MP, said "as politicians, many issues divide us every day, but on this subject, we put differences aside to address the issue of real human suffering". "We looked at the evidence from sufferers, carers and clinicians and found their evidence compelling that cannabis and cannabinoid products could play a useful role to ease suffering. "However, cannabinoid pharmaceutical products are not readily available in Australia and are expensive. This needs to be addressed and this will take time, which is why the committee has recommended that people suffering from terminal illness or AIDS and their carers should be immune from arrest and prosecution." NSW Labor MP Luke Foley – who initiated the parliamentary inquiry – said members of the upper house "rarely agree". “When I moved for this inquiry, my motivation was to revive this important policy debate, and for that debate to be evidence based," he said.

“A consensus has emerged among politicians from five parties for a compassionate approach to the use of cannabis by patients for whom cannabis could have a profoundly relieving effect." Committee member John Kaye, a Greens MP, said members were moved by the plight of people who are experiencing intolerable pain and approaching the end of their life. "Many of them already use cannabis as a pain relief but have to break the law to obtain and possess the drug. Stress from the fear of prosecution adds to their already appalling suffering," he said. "The evidence we received was deeply persuasive. Despite every political party and every shade of belief being represented on the committee, the recommendations were unanimous. "It is now up to Premier Barry O'Farrell and Opposition Leader John Robertson to join with all members of the committee to bring some relief to the pain and suffering for people who are dying."

Saxon Smith, vice-president of the Australian Medical Association NSW, said the AMA does not endorse the medical use of cannabis, but is willing to consider the recommendations of the parliamentary review. "While the AMA doesn't formally endorse the use of medical cannabis we recognise the strong submissions and support of the benefits to seriously ill patients and AIDS patients," Dr Smith said. "The long-term side effect profile is unknown in patients. We know cannabis as a recreational drug is very harmful. "People have a very individualised response to cannabis. We don't want these patients to have intolerable side effects and potential psychosis on top of their significant medical illness." Dr Smith said controlling the use of cannabis would need to be thoroughly addressed. He said an education campaign would also be needed to enable doctors to understand the certification process involved.

Sally Crossing, spokeswoman for Cancer Voices NSW, said she was delighted with the committee's recommendations. "We welcome it very warmly because it was what we suggested and because they have gone to some lengths to turn their recommendations into practice," she said. "We were happy to see their strong recommendation for pharmaceutical cannabis products which could go through the Therapeutic Goods Administration process, which takes a long time. "We also welcome their short-term proposal to make raw cannabis available in carefully controlled ways to carefully selected people."