I'll be in Canberra next week meeting with senior politicians from across the political spectrum to discuss the ongoing problem of patient access to medicinal cannabis. But there's going to be one glaring omission. Sadly, it appears the Federal Health minister, Greg Hunt, doesn't have time to meet with our delegation which consists of my own organisation United In Compassion, Epilepsy Action Australia, Chronic Pain Australia, the NSW Nurses & Midwives Association along with the Country Women's Association among others.

This is at a time when the government's own Review of Australia's medicinal cannabis programme (published only last week) reports that 'expectations have not been fulfilled' and that 'a relatively small number of patients are receiving prescribed medicinal cannabis, it is mostly imported and it is expensive.'

But it comes as little surprise since a letter I wrote to Minister Hunt recently was met with platitudes and outright denial of many of the points that were raised. Others went completely unanswered.

Meanwhile, he and the Health Ministry talk of helping sick Australians who need cannabis products but the reality is that patients who've managed to get an approval and can afford to fulfil their scripts represent a drop in the ocean compared to those still forced onto the black market.

So along with our forthcoming trip we're asking if you can help us.

We've started a 'Fixing Fund' on the GoFund me platform to help not only with getting us to Canberra but also with our plans to:

1. Bring the voice of current patients in desperate need of relief to the forefront of the agenda, supporting them and their families to help address misinformation about medicinal cannabis;

2. Address the lack of prescriber doctors to help get medicinal cannabis in the hands of those who need it. Funding the delivery of an educational course for health professionals will help them navigate the system. The syllabus is already written and accredited ...we just need to get it out there;

3. Continue to deliver our annual symposium that draws in key medical, research and industry figures and stakeholders to help cut the red tape. Our October 2020 event is locked in at the ICC in Sydney. It will take me 12 months to organise and we have some big names confirmed.

Please keep your support coming. We're gradually winning this struggle but there's still a long way to go!

Thank you,

Lucy