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Australia pushes lift on medical marijuana ban

By Marilyn Malara

SYDNEY, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Australian Department of Health is moving forward in its efforts to expand access to marijuana for medical and scientific purposes.

The government on Saturday announced proposed changes to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967, citing its sympathy for citizens dealing with medical issues. If approved by parliament, medical marijuana -- primarily used as an oil -- will be legal to grow locally.

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"This Government is incredibly sympathetic to the suffering of those Australians with debilitating illnesses and we want to enable access to the most effective medical treatments available," Health Minister Sussan Ley said in a statement.

Australians cultivating marijuana for medical purposes will be given licenses while patient prescriptions will be regulated to ensure safety and sustainability. Growing and distributing marijuana for recreational purposes will remain illegal in the country, however.

"Allowing the cultivation of legal medicinal cannabis crops in Australia under strict controls strikes the right balance between patient access, community protection and our international obligations," Ley said.

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