Earlier this year, Nationals MP for Tamworth Kevin Anderson drafted a private members bill to allow terminally ill patients to use cannabis.

The plight of 24-year-old Daniel Haslam, in Tamworth, whose family has been accessing cannabis for relief of the nausea brought on by chemotherapy treatment for his bowel cancer, served as catalyst for the move.

Mr Baird later announced the NSW Government would run clinical trials of the drug. A symposium discussing the issue will also be run next week.

It has even been said Prime Minister Tony Abbott has thrown his support behind the trial.

You can’t blame Batemans Bay doctor John Franzi for his cynicism though – in 2003 the NSW Government, led by Bob Carr, proposed a four-year clinical trial of medicinal cannabis. 

The trial never happened.

In some countries cannabis is available for medicinal use for certain conditions but debate continues about its effectiveness.

In the US state of California for example, patients and their caregivers can possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use under the recommendation or approval of a California-licensed physician.

It can legally be used for treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, as well as common complaints including insomnia, PMS, post-traumatic stress, depression, and substance abuse.

There, it is perhaps too lax, with pop up shops, displaying ‘Get your medical marijuana card here’ a common sight throughout Los Angeles.

Medical opinion is divided but anecdotal evidence of medicinal cannabis use for cancer patients in particular is overwhelming.

Reducing pain for terminally ill patients surely is a priority.

Let’s hope the trial is not all smoke and mirrors.