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Greens minister Shane Rattenbury has welcomed a new poll showing almost 66 per cent of Australians support the legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes and called on ACT politicians to act in the community interest. The national automated telephone poll of 3400 people conducted by ReachTEL this week found support for medical marijuana was highest among Greens supporters, at 79.4 per cent. A total of 69.9 per cent of Labor supporters and 56.6 per cent of Liberal and National Party supporters said they were in favour of marijuana being legal for pain relief. ''The public discussions about the medicinal use of cannabis are ongoing, and I am encouraged by the level of debate and discussion that is happening at all levels of our community," Mr Rattenbury said. Respondents aged 51 to 65 were most in favour of the reform, at 69.9 per cent. The poll found women were more likely to support medical marijuana at 66.5 per cent, compared with 65.3 per cent for men. The poll results were released days after Mr Rattenbury released a proposed private member's bill that would allow terminally and chronically ill Canberrans to grow marijuana and use the drug to alleviate their pain and symptoms. The balance of power MLA and Territory and Municipal Services Minister has called for community feedback before the bill is introduced to the ACT Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson both said they would consider the bill, but it appears unlikely to become law in the territory. New South Wales Premier Mike Baird gave conditional support to medical marijuana on Wednesday, despite concerns about its supply and regulation. Opposition Leader John Robertson said he was willing to work with the government to reform laws governing cannabis use but only if research showed it relieved pain. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said this week he had an open mind on the issue but wanted research from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Mr Rattenbury said: ''Having released draft legislation this week to allow medicinal use of cannabis, I look forward to more in-depth discussions with my Assembly colleagues in the coming days and weeks to further progress the issue and build a consensus on legislation that reflects community opinion and expectations. ''I have already received many emails and letters in the short time since I released the discussion paper, and it is clear that the community has welcomed discussion of this issue and is ready to support the legalisation of medical cannabis." Mr Rattenbury said the legislation, released during National Pain Week, aimed to show compassion to long term suffers. The Australian Medical Association's Saxon Smith said more research was needed on medical marijuana. "The AMA's position on medical marijuana is one of caution in the space of needing some more information about the benefits and negatives of it," Dr Smith said. A cross-party group of MPs in the Federal Parliament last month launched a renewed push for the introduction of medical marijuana laws, including Victorian Liberal MP Sharman Stone and Labor's Melissa Parke.

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