MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL DELAYED: CARR

Preliminary legislation to allow the medical use of cannabis has been
delayed until the next session of parliament because of its
complexity, NSW Premier Bob Carr said.

The government must overcome many difficult legal and moral issues
before the trial can go ahead, including how to control the supply of
medicinal cannabis.

Mr Carr said an exposure bill for the scheme would be released late
this month, with a three week consultation period to follow.

"There are a number of issues to work through in order to set up the
trial," he said.

"In particular, we need to carefully consider options for
supply."

The government wanted the exposure bill tabled in the current
parliamentary sitting, Mr Carr said.

"However, due to the complexity of the issues involved, the
legislation has taken longer than expected to draft," he said.

"We will seek the views of experts and the community on the exposure
bill and be ready to introduce legislation in the spring session of
parliament."

An exposure bill is draft legislation made available for public
comment.

Mr Carr announced in May the government would set up a four-year trial
to allow the medical use of cannabis to alleviate the chronic
suffering of people with severe pain.