What started as a small initiative to get a medicinal cannabis documentary in front of a local audience, turned into a sell-out event, with a list of eager film-goers waiting for another screening to be announced in September.
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UPDATE: The next screening is scheduled for September 9 at Majestic Cinemas, Nambucca Heads.
Megan Mathew event host and member of the Medicinal Cannabis Users Association of Australia said the screening of documentary High As Mike attracted people from all over the Valley to Majestic Cinemas last Wednesday, July 24.
After the documentary, which follows brain tumour suffer Mike Gallagher as he explores the medical options of medicinal cannabis and the problems and costs associated with obtaining it legally in Australia, guests were invited to a Q & A session with Bellingen GP Dr Gull Herzberg.
As a practitioner Dr Herzberg explores investigative and therapeutic avenues complementary to those regularly used by his medical colleagues and is a prescribing doctor for medicinal cannabis.
Founding member of Medicinal Cannabis Users Association of Australia Gail Hester said a topic that attracted great audience discussion on the night was the struggle and cost to access medicinal cannabis as an option for treatment.
"Points raised in the Q & A were much the same as we hear in our facebook group - people are having problems finding doctors to prescribe and when they finally do, the cost of the products is prohibitive for most," Gail explained.
"Even though approvals are being given, not all patients can afford the products so the scripts are not filled. "No one seems to know why a product that costs around $80 in Canada, with a similar exchange rate, increases to $360 here. Someone is making big dolllars."
"General consensus is the government are covertly doing their best to stop patients getting access to medicinal cannabis. It's a continual up hill battle... it's a case of once you have your prescription you are marched through the process again to get a repeat prescription.
"One of the most exciting things for me on the night of the screening was chatting with locals after the show," Gail said.
"Many seem keen to get together as a local action group to organise events that raise awareness of the issues and the situation.
"So in response we are organising a get together for any locals who want to get involved or who are interested in knowing more about cannabis as medicine. We invite all interested parties to meet up with us at Macksville Ex-Services Club on August 12 at around 7pm and we can take it from there," Gail said.
The grassroots organisation will also be attending the Hemp Health and Innovation Expo in Brisbane in October.
You can find the MCUA of Australia on facebook and at www.mcuainc.org.au
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