TAMWORTH medical marijuana campaigners are rallying behind a Brisbane father who has been criminally charged for using cannabis oil to treat his dying daughter.
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Adam Koessler was charged at a Brisbane hospital last Friday for supply dangerous drugs to a minor after giving his two-year-old daughter, Rumer, medical grade cannabis oil in a desperate bid to treat her stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer.
Mr Koessler has been bailed to face court on January 20 but as part of his bail conditions is unable to have contact with his daughter.
Since being forced off the cannabis oil last week, Rumer’s condition has dramatically worsened and she is now in intensive care on morphine.
The arrest has outraged medical cannabis advocates, who claim parents should have the right to treat their own children with an effective medicine.
Mr Koessler said the oil, which contains none of the compound which gets recreational users high, was having a “miraculous” effect on his daughter.
“What we saw when Rumer was given the medical cannabis oil was nothing short of miraculous,” he said.
“Her cancer-ridden little body was alive again – Rumer had almost instant quality of life.
“She would say ‘Daddy, tummy’s not sore’ and she would be able to eat like a champion and began to gain weight.
“Her energy was up and she wanted to go outside with me instead of lay on her back with her legs curled up.
“Her skin colour came back, her eyes were sparkling again and we just looked at each other in complete amazement.”
Mr Koessler’s arrest comes as the NSW government rushes towards medical marijuana reform, with a range of clinical trials announced last month.
Tamworth mum and medical marijuana crusader Lucy Haslam said Mr Koessler’s arrest had the potential to set back the national debate.
“Queensland Premier Campbell Newman knows about this issue and I find the timing very interesting,” Mrs Haslam said.
“This has the potential to be a real election issue.”
