Over the past year, the Federal medicinal Cannabis scheme has developed very slowly and sadly has excluded the vast majority of genuine patients from accessing legal supplies of safe, botanical cannabinoid products. Disturbingly, some families have made the decision to relocate to more compassionate countries such as Canada. The great majority are continuing on as criminals and taking their chances with the black market because the system to this point has failed to offer a viable alternative. It is difficult to comprehend why things have developed in this way. Is it due to vested interests of big pharma? is it due to lingering bias and misinformation left over from the war on drugs? One thing that is clear is that many doctors remain unconvinced of the therapeutic potential for a wide range of reasons…. too time poor to navigate the complex pathway, negative messages from their professional bodies and Government, fear of legal repercussions from prescribing unapproved products and the list goes on. The biggest hurdle seems to be lack of education. If doctors have no idea how the Endocannabinoid System works, it is not likely that they will be willing to get behind the science and get behind their patients who on this score are generally better educated. United in Compassion is determined to play a role in improving patient access as a part of Dan’s legacy. The best thing we can do is provide education and networking opportunities to try and encourage health professionals to get involved for the sake of the thousands of their patients using cannabis illegally. YOU CAN HELP! UIC is appealing to our supporters to add your voice to ours by becoming a UIC member. By supporting us financially if you can (We are now a registered Charity with Deductable Gift Recipient Status) We also ask that you support our education efforts by attending personally or encouraging your doctor to attend THE 2017 UIC MEDICINAL CANNABIS SYMPOSIUM in Melbourne in June. By providing CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP of the Symposium if you can. Over three days a great program will provide current information from International Keynote Speakers and Australian specialists. We encourage health care professionals to attend this great program which seeks to change the course of patient access and highlight the many valid and scientifically justified uses for medicinal cannabis. Education is key to turning wilful ignorance to compassion driven by an understanding that perhaps we have been misinformed about the science of medicinal cannabis for decades. At the Symposium we will be offering access to the first Australian Medicinal Cannabis Course written for health Professionals by Health Professionals. Please help UIC to help others. In doing so we will give thousands of disenfranchised patients the chance for a better life. Thank you for your continued support. Lucy Contact UIC for Membership or sponsorship details on lucy.haslam@uic.org.au Tickets on sale now for the SYMPOSIUM and GALA NETWORKING DINNER through our website www.uic.org.au or www.trybooking.com.au