With the exception of Queensland, the developed world is pretty much universally on-board with social progress towards the legalisation of cannabis, especially from a medicinal standpoint.
Mid-last month, Victoria became the first state in Australia to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes, while the federal government got the ball rolling back in February — and the drug is now legal in some form or another in 23 American states. Given its recent reputation as a bit of a buzzkill state, it's encouraging, then, that the nation's first ever expo and symposium on the benefits of medicinal marijuana — the Hemp Health & Innovation Expo — has been announced to be held at Sydney's Rosehill Gardens this month.
Set to be opened by state Premier Mike Baird, the expo — which also entails the second annual 'United In Compassion' Medicinal Cannabis Symposium — will feature a range of expert speakers discussing myriad aspects of the legalisation debate, including Dr Ilan Linder, an Israeli paediatric neurologist; Dr Bonni Goldstein, a decorated medical professional with more than 25 years of experience; Dr Ethan Russo, a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher and the medical director of biotech company PHYTECS; Robert C. Clarke, a plant breeder and agronomist; Dr Jeffery Hergenrather, a GP specialising in cannabis/cannabinoid medicine; Lucy Haslam, the executive director of United In Compassion and the mother of the late Daniel Haslam, a terminally ill man who championed the cause of medicinal cannabis prior to his passing; and many more.
The speakers will be covering a range of topics tied to the expo's mission, which is "to provide compassionate access to cannabis medicines in a manner which is safe, effective, affordable and equitable, for the dignified relief of suffering".
"It is now time for humanity to be smart about medicinal cannabis," Haslam said in a statement.
"Dan wanted unnecessary human suffering reduced by allowing the legal access to reliable and safe medicinal cannabis. He wanted medicinal cannabis patients to be supported by the medical and legal systems. Dan’s dying wish was for the truth about medical cannabis to be recognised by Australia.
"It is my intention to make that happen through the work of United in Compassion. With support from Australians we can make this a reality based on compassion and science rather than fear and dishonesty.”
The first-ever Australian Hemp Health & Innovation Expo & second United In Compassion Medicinal Cannabis Symposium will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May.
Tickets are available now; see the event's website for more information.
full speakers list
- The Hon. Mike Baird, Premier of NSW
- Dr Ilan Linder MD, Paediatric Neurologist, Israel
- Dr Bonni Goldstein MD, USA
- Dr Ethan Russo MD, USA
- Robert C. Clarke, Plant Breeder & Agronomist, USA
- Dr Jeffery Hergenrather MD, USA
- Lucy Haslam, Executive Director, United In Compassion
- Justin Sinclair, Herbalist, Pharmacognosist & Educator, AU
- Professor Cristina Sanchez — Complutense University Madrid, Spain
- Associate Professor Dr David Caldicott, Consultant Emergency Physician, AU
- Alice O'Leary-Randall, Board Member, American Cannabis Nurses Association & Mary's Foundation Of Caring, USA
- Bill Turner, Head, Office Of Drug Control, Australian Government Department Of Health, AU
- Ma'ayan Weisberg, Tikun Olam Medicinal Cannabis, Israel
- Inbal Sikorin, Tikun Olam Medicinal Cannabis, Israel
- Tim Harding, Symposium Host
- Simon Eckermann, Senior Professor Of Health Economics, Flinders University, AU
