FAR Northern MP Warren Entsch says it’s time to legalise medicinal marijuana and has vowed to do everything he can to change the country’s laws — including taking his case to the Prime Minister.

The veteran Liberal member said it was unacceptable for everyday Australians to be forced in to “dark alley deals” to provide relief for loved ones suffering from life-threatening diseases.

Mr Entsch said legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes had been on his radar since he lost a family member to an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis nine years ago.

MORE NEWS...

HOW AQUIS WILL TACKLE PROBLEM GAMBLERS

NO GHETTO HERE: GAVIN KING

GANGS, BOOZE AND SEX - GHETTO LIFE IN AUSTRALIA

CBD PARKING DRIVES REVENUE

HAIR TODAY, TOP FASHION TOMORROW

COUNCIL GOES CHOPPO ON BATS

SHAKESPEARE SHAKES THE TANKS

CAPITAL REEF IDEA

WATCH! GOOGLE JUST GOT SMARTER

CHILLING DETAILS EMERGE IN KILL PLOT

“The only thing that could stop the horrific shakes he had no control over was marijuana,” he said.

“If it hadn’t been for marijuana, he would have killed himself.”

Mr Entsch said there was clear evidence medical marijuana also made a huge difference for families with severely epileptic children. “When you have a situation where a kid is suffering over a thousand fits a day and by using this as medication it gets down to single digits, you’ve got to say why the hell aren’t we doing this,” he said.

The Cairns Post readers had a mixed reaction to the move.

Read the response on facebook or leave your comment below.

WHAT YOU THINK OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Post by The Cairns Post Sub-type: comment CAPTION: (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Post by The Cairns Post. Sub-type: comment CAPTION: (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Post by The Cairns Post.

A Port Douglas mother of a young woman diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder is among the families calling for a change to the nation’s laws.

The mum, who spoke to The Cairns Poston the condition of anonymity, said her daughter, aged in her early 20s, had shown signs of improvement since she began to take small amounts of marijuana one year ago.

“I see that it helps her sleep and helps with her stress levels and appetite, which is so ­important when she’s sick,” she said.

But the difficulties and expense in accessing marijuana has put further strain on the family. “We are busted broke,” she said.

“We’ve got nothing left but I do my best to ensure she has little bits of cannabis for day-to-day use.”

GREEN GROCER- DRUG DEALERS TUCKSHOP

The mother’s extensive research into her daughter’s condition has repeatedly pointed towards the effectiveness of cannabis oil as a treatment.

But she said a single recommended dosage would set her back thousands of dollars.

“As a mum my number one priority is getting her better,” she said.

While Mr Entsch remains strongly ­opposed to decriminalising cannabis for recreational use, he pointed to Tasmania’s poppy industry as an example of successful cultivation of a narcotic crop in Australia.

media_camera DEBATE: Should Australia legalise medicinal marijuana? Leave your comment below.

“Far North Queensland is one of many places it could be grown and it certainly could be another crop, but my role is initially to make sure we get it on the agenda,” he said.

The Member for Leichhardt is among the members of a cross-party parliamentary group on drug policy and law reform who will outline a draft of policy recommendations with the intention of legalising cannabis for medicinal use.

The group includes Liberal, Labor and National MPs, a Greens senator and a former director of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital’s alcohol and drug service.

The Australian Medical ­Association last month called for more research into the benefits of medicinal marijuana.

Should marijuana be legalised for medicinal purposes? Would the Far North be able to capitalise on this market? Leave your comment below.