New Zealand HIV-positive advocate group Body Positive has spoken out in favour of moves to legalise cannabis use for medicinal purposes. Bruce Kilmister of Body Positive believes that cannabis use among positive people is “staggeringly” widespread. “The psychological aspects can be beneficial insofar as mental wellbeing because it can be calming, reduce anxiety, it can reduce the fear,” he says in the March issue of ‘Collective Thinking' newsletter. “[Cannabis] has a number of benefits, not only mental wellbeing, but reducing side effects, and increasing appetite – encouraging people to eat.” In a 2001 survey by HIV Futures New Zealand, 46.1% of HIV-positive people reported using cannabis at least once in the last 12 months. Body Positive is one of a number of community groups supporting the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill, a private members' bill sponsored by Green MP Metiria Turei. Drawn from the Parlimentary ballot in June last year, its first reading has been delayed several times, each time as Turei didn't feel confident she had the numbers to get it through to a select committee. She is now expecting it to come up for debate in May. The bill would require medicinal cannabis users to register their details – including their name, address and details of their condition – with both the Police and Ministry of Health. They would then be issued with a medicinal users card, which would allow them to grow their own supply. The patient's doctor would regulate the amount involved. “There is a lot more sympathy for medicinal cannabis in Parliament than one might first expect,” Turei told Collective Thinking. “But it's about getting the right information to people. MPs feel very strongly that they need more information.” Ref: Collective Thinking (m)