FEBRUARY 24, 2016: I will be meeting with people in the region who have expressed an interest in growing medicinal cannabis, following today’s historic passage of legislation to legalise the process.Amendments passed to the Narcotic Drugs Act will ensure that people who would benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana will have access to a safe, legal and reliable supply.I have had calls from growers in the region who are keen to diversify into the production of medicinal marijuana and I will be presenting their case to the Health Minister Sussan Ley.Our region has good fertile soil and plenty of water, so we have a lot to gain from the introduction of a new crop like this.It could provide jobs in our region and a great boost to our economy.The legalization of medicinal marijuana is a cause I have been championing for some time.There is plenty of evidence to support the use of medicinal marijuana for people suffering from a whole range of debilitating illnesses.Today we have secured the passage of legislation so producers can legally grow medicinal marijuana in this country and the whole process from cultivation to supply will be overseen by a national regulator.It’s important to note that we are not talking about legalising “pot” or “weed” because the active ingredient in recreational marijuana (THC) exists only at very low levels in medicinal cannabis.This is about establishing a carefully managed supply of medicinal cannabis products from farm to pharmacy, and the whole process of cultivation and manufacture will be strictly controlled.