Thank you for visiting our petition page. I deeply appreciate your interest in our proposed Documentary Series.
Some time ago you signed a petition I started with my son Dan- YOU helped us change the law in Australia to make medicinal cannabis legal.
I am writing to you to ask for your support again to tell the story that we began together. It's an important story that really needs to be told.
I have started a GoFundMe to enable us to do so. If you can help, in any small way it will shine a light on the subject and help current Australian patients- some of whom are still being left behind.
Read on for more information and here is the link to our fundraiser
“In Plain Sight” is a 3-Part Documentary exploring the global medicinal cannabis story from a unique Australian perspective.
I’m Lucy Haslam. I’m no one special. I’m a mother, a wife, a grandmother, and an advocate for medicinal cannabis to treat a range of symptoms and side effects including chronic pain and the side effects from chemotherapy that my own son Daniel, my meaning of life, was suffering through on a daily basis . The opioids and painkillers he was prescribed offered little relief, and over time addiction. As any parent would, my husband and I searched for answers, and eventually heard about medicinal cannabis and how it could help our son.
We lost Daniel to bowel cancer back in 2015. Through my work with politicians on state and federal levels, doctors, scientists, lobby groups and industry leaders medicinal cannabis was legalised in Australia in 2016. They called it “Dan’s Law”, named in honour of my son, following the work we and many others put into the legal, political, medicinal, and wider social conversation. My foundation ‘United In Care’ continues to work toward these goals to this day. Which is why we’re here.
So much has happened since then, and in 2024 the landscape and the sector has evolved into a billion dollar industry with many players, good and bad, that a topical, up to date story needs to be told, simply because it would help so many people and their physical and psychological value of life. I’ve enlisted the talents of award winning filmmaker Jay Richards, who has made a number of engaging documentaries and is inspired to tell this wide ranging story with his team.
SYNOPSIS
“In Plain Sight” is a compelling and insightful 3-Part Documentary Series that explores the complex and often misunderstood world of medicinal cannabis. This enlightening film delves into the historical, medicinal, scientific, political, societal and personal aspects of medicinal cannabis alongside the wider industry itself, unravelling its past stigma and illuminating its potential in modern medicine.
The backbone of the series is led by the science behind medicinal cannabis, and how and why it works as a medicine. This is not a documentary about recreational cannabis use. We provide an in-depth look at the plant’s components, particularly THC and CBD, known as phytocannabinoids, explaining how they interact with many different receptor systems throughout the body, as well as the endocannabinoid system, which is present in all mammals, was so named because of research involving cannabis.
Featuring interviews and stories with more than three dozen people including patients and their families, leading researchers and scientists, advocates, industry leaders, policy makers and politicians, the legal profession, and of course health care professionals like GP’s, all of whom are at the forefront of the field, offering insights into the current understanding of its therapeutic benefits and limitations.
Through the involvement of Australian Lucy Haslam, who was largely responsible through her advocacy for getting medicinal cannabis legalised in Australia in 2016 after her son died of cancer, we already have direct access through her relationships with 90% of the people, patients, scientists and medical practitioners, politicians, advocates and industry leaders mentioned in this outline.
Central to our story is the exploration of the intimate experiences of patients, their families and carers. The film presents a series of deeply personal narratives from individuals who have turned to medicinal cannabis often as a last resort, a beacon of hope. These personal narratives showcase the profound impact medicinal cannabis can have on people's lives. Their stories not only provide a human face to the debate but also challenge the viewer to reconsider their preconceptions and stereotypes about medicinal cannabis and the patients who use it.
In 2024, it’s an industry generating billions of dollars each year. The legal and political aspects of medicinal cannabis are also critically examined. Our documentary travels across various regions including Australia, Canada, Israel and the USA, comparing the legal frameworks governing medicinal cannabis use and the impacts of these policies on patients and health care systems. All to see what we in Australia can learn from their failures and successes.
The story’s emotional climax brings viewers back to some of the personal stories we saw earlier, showing where each individual's journey has led them. The impact of medicinal cannabis on their lives is tangible, painting a vivid picture of transformation, relief, and newfound hope, considering the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead in the medicinal cannabis field. We end on a note of hope and cautious optimism, advocating for continued research, education, and an open-minded approach to this complex and often misunderstood, yet still largely unexplored medicine.
Please do help us fund this series of deeply human stories which explores the global cannabis story from a uniquely Australian perspective. Whether you can contribute $10 or $10,000, you will be making a difference that can only benefit everyone. These stories are are at the same time too big and yet very personal not to tell, but I need your help to be able to do this. Together, we can collectively make a difference.
Thank you. Feel free to get in touch for more information.
Sincerely,
Lucy Haslam.
http://www.unitedincompassion.com.au/