TAMWORTH’S fight to legalise medical marijuana will take a historic step forward today at the opening of the Inaugural Australian Medical Cannabis Symposium at TRECC.

NSW Premier Mike Baird will make a flying visit to the city this morning to launch the landmark conference on medical marijuana.

World-leading doctors, legislators, media and medical cannabis users will be on hand for the event, which runs Friday and Saturday.

It comes as the NSW government inches closer to medical marijuana reforms, with a working group set to announce details of a clinical trial in the coming weeks.

Local mum Lucy Haslam, who has organised the event and triggered a national debate on the alternative medicine, said Tamworth was helping rewrite history.

“This is a global event that’s been launched from a conservative area,” Mrs Haslam said.

“Residents here have been able to make the distinction between recreational and medical marijuana.

“If a conservative area like ours can do it, then surely the rest of the country can.”

About 200 people are expected for the symposium, which will be live streamed on The Northern Daily Leader’s website and at www.unitedincompassion.com.au

Guest speaker Justin Kander, the US-based founder of cannabisextractreport.com said the American experience should act as a template for Australia. In the US, 23 states have legalised medical cannabis and 85 per cent of residents  support the use of the drug as medicine.

“This event offers an unprecedented opportunity to inform your politicians and media about the issue,” Mr Kander said. “The message is that cannabis extracts need to be made available, especially to cancer patients. 

“I’ve seen too many patients go from terminal into remission just by using cannabinoids not to believe in it.”

He said he had heard about the story of Tamworth’s Dan Haslam back in June and was “honoured” to speak at the event.

Symposium program

Today

9am: Welcome by Helen Kapalos

9.10am: Official opening by New South Wales Premier Mike Baird

9.20am: Address by Lucy Haslam

9.30am: Professor Lester Grinspoon (USA – via video link)

10.30am: Dr Ilya Reznik (Israel)

11am: Morning tea

11.20am: Zach Klein (Israel)

12.20pm: Justin Kander (USA)

1.00pm: Lunch

2.00pm: A laugh with Steady Eddy

2.15pm: Dr Robert Melamede (USA)

3.15pm: Afternoon tea

3.35pm: Steph Sherer (USA)

4.35pm: Senator Richard Di Natale – to present bill on medicinal cannabis

5.00pm: Close 

Saturday 

9.00am: Helen Kapalos – open

9.05am: Dr David Bearman (USA)

10.05am: Mara Gordon (USA)

11.05am: Morning tea

11.25am: Professor Ian McGregor (Australia)

11.55am: Dr David Allsop (Australia)

12.25pm: Dr David W Pate (USA)

1.05pm: Lunch

Panel discussions

1.50pm: Patients and carers – Lanai Carter – David Stevens – Michael Lambert

2.20pm: Law and order – Greg Barns, barrister – Mick Palmer, ex Federal Police Commissioner – Clint Pheeney, superintendent Oxley Local Area Command

3.00pm: Afternoon tea

3.20pm: We Can Fix This – Hon Catherine Cusack MLC – Hon Robin Adams – Senator Fiona Nash – Dr Vendula Belackova – Dr Mal Washer – Shayne Ratenbury – University of New England Faculty of Law

4.45pm: United In Compassion, where to now? – Damon Adams

5.00pm: Close