Historic though it is, the Medicinal Cannabis Bill that passed its 3rd reading last week is hardly the panacea patients were hoping for. Until cannabis is treated entirely as a health issue, patients are being denied access and punitive measures levelled at sick New Zealanders seeking, using or growing cannabis to alleviate symptoms. Thousands of patients, carers and compassionate growers are left wanting. Eddy has refractory nocturnal epilepsy and enjoys more nights seizure free with medicinal marijuana. It fails patients like my son, and countless more, who do not fall within the narrow confines of terminal illness or palliation. Patients with chronic pain or other severe, debilitating