 like having a little man inside your head, playing with your head.

Di Martin: Around this time Paul O'Grady received a package in the mail.

Paul O'Grady: And here were two little bottles of liquid marijuana, with instructions, one drop in the morning, et cetera, which I started taking, until they found it in my fridge. And then I just went back to having a bit of a joint.

Di Martin: This is Paul O'Grady's first interview about using medical cannabis. He says it dulls his pain, suppresses nausea and stimulates his appetite.

He has long had HIV, and says after his cancer treatment he continued to use cannabis.

Paul O'Grady: The HIV drugs I take cause nausea and total lack of appetite. And so most days I will just have a couple of puffs of a joint, so it's not about being stoned, it just helps you to think, okay, well, here's lunch, I'll get some of this down.

Di Martin: How important is that for your overall health at the moment?

Paul O'Grady: Well, it's crucial, because it's crucial to get food down, it's crucial to be walking and being active, it's crucial that you get food into you so that you can walk.

Di Martin: Welcome to Background Briefing.

It's estimated thousands of Australians are already using cannabis for medical reasons, risking criminal penalty to ease their suffering. This widespread civil disobedience has finally led Australian politics to its first tentative step towards legalisation.

The states and territories have just agreed on a national approach to cannabis trials, with NSW saying it will take the lead. Details of what is to be trialled, when, and where are due late this year.

But the move has been quickly criticised as unnecessary and expensive. The Victorian ALP, tipped to win next month's state election, says there's already enough science to move straight to legalising medical cannabis. Here's Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews:

Daniel Andrews: Look around the world, there is an enormous amount of literature, there is an enormous amount of peer-reviewed work, where there have been clinical trials in lots of other parts of the world. Now, I think there is an undeniable momentum to make this change because it's changing lives, it's saving lives, it's exactly the sort of law reform that
like having a little man inside your head, toy with your heading. 

 Di Martin: Around this time Paul O'Grady received a package in the chain mail. 

 Paul O'Grady: And here were two little bottles of liquid marijuana, with instruction, one drop in the morning, et cetera, which I start taking, until they found it in my electric refrigerator. And then I just went back to having a bit of a articulation. 

 Di Martin: This is Paul O'Grady's first interview about using medical cannabis. He says it dull his pain, suppresses nausea and stimulates his appetite. 

 He has long had HIV, and read after his cancer treatment he continued to use cannabis. 

 Paul O'Grady: The HIV drugs I carry cause nausea and total lack of appetite. And so most days I will just own a couple of puffs of a joint, so it's not about being stoned, it just helps you to remember, okay, well, here's lunch, I'll get some of this down. 

 Di Martin: How important is that for your overall health at the moment? 

 Paul O'Grady: Well, it's crucial, because it's crucial to get food down, it's crucial to be walking and being active, it's crucial that you get food into you so that you can walk. 

 Di Martin: Welcome to Background Briefing. 

 It's estimate thousands of Australians are already using cannabis for aesculapian reason, gamble criminal penalty to still their suffering. This widespread civil disobedience has finally led Australian politics to its inaugural tentative step towards legalisation. 

 The states and territories have just agree on a national approach to cannabis trials, with NSW saying it will claim the lead. contingent of what is to be trialled, when, and where are due late this year. 

 But the move has been quickly knock as unnecessary and expensive. The Victorian ALP, tipped to win next calendar month's state election, allege there's already enough science to act straight to legalize medical cannabis. Here's Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews: 

 Daniel Andrews: Look around the world, there is an enormous amount of literature, there embody an enormous amount of peer - review work, where there have been clinical test in lots of other contribution of the world. immediately, I think there is an undeniable momentum to make this change because it's changing lives, it's saving lives, it's exactly the kind of law reform that
 line having a little man ikside your head, klqying xith yohr head.

Dk Martin: Around this time Panl O'Trady received a package in the mail.

Iaul O'Graey: Aid here were two little njttlsd of oiquid marijuaka, with insdructions, one grup in the morning, et cetera, which I searted yaning, until thei foumq it pn my fridge. And then I just weht back to having a nit of a joint.

Di Martin: Thls id Paul O'Grady's firdt intervieq abjyt using medkcal cannabis. He says jt dulls his pain, suppresses najsea cnd stimulajzw hlv appetite.

Hx has jong had HIV, and sayv after his cancer trcatmeit hw continued to use cainabis.

Paul O'Grady: Thg HIV drugv N take cause nausea abd totan lawk ow apoetjtx. Ahd so losv days I wiml just havw a couple of puffs os a joint, so if's not afout being stoned, it just helps you to uhink, okay, well, here's lunch, U'll get some of this fown.

Di Mawtin: How important is that for your overall healtv at vhd mimcnt?

Pxyl O'Grady: Well, it's crucial, because it's crucial ek ben food down, it's cvucial to be walkimg amq being activg, it's cxhcjal that you get flod intj you so that rou van walk.

Di Martin: Welcome ti Background Vriefing.

It's estimaced thousandr of Austtalians are already usiug canhabis for mfdical rezrons, risking crioinsl penalty to ease their sufsering. Thms wibespread civol disjbedience jas fltally led Australiwn popidics to itd first tentative step towards legalisation.

Thg sdatvs and texritorles have just adreed on a natnonal ap'roach to cannabps trials, with NSW swying it will jake the lead. Details of qhat is to cd trialled, whem, and whege are due late this yeav.

But jhs move has been quuckly criticisec ar ugnvcexswsy and expenvive. Thd Victurian ALP, tlppdd tp win next month's stdte slection, says therr's already enough fcience to mofe straight to legwlisiig medmcal csnnwbis. Here's Opposition Leader Dzniel Andgewf:

Daniel Andrqws: Oook around che world, there is an enormous amount of literature, there us an enormous amouut of peer-revmewed rork, whera there have been clunical trials in kots of other parts or the forld. Now, I think there is an undeniable momentum to make this change because ut's chending lives, jt's xavinc jnves, it'f execvly the sort of lsw reform that
like having a little man inside your with head. Di Around this time in mail. Paul O'Grady: here were two bottles of liquid marijuana, with instructions, drop in the morning, et cetera, which I started taking, until they found in my fridge. And then I just went back to having a bit a Di This Paul O'Grady's first interview about using medical cannabis. He says it dulls his pain, suppresses nausea stimulates his appetite. He has long had HIV, says after his cancer he continued to use cannabis. O'Grady: HIV drugs take nausea total lack of And so most days I will just have a couple of puffs of a joint, so it's about being just helps to okay, here's lunch, I'll of this down. Di Martin: How for your overall health at the moment? Paul Well, it's because it's crucial to get food it's crucial to be walking and being active, crucial that you get food into you so that you can walk. Di Martin: Welcome Briefing. It's estimated thousands Australians are already cannabis medical risking penalty to their suffering. This widespread civil disobedience has finally led Australian politics its first tentative step towards legalisation. The states and territories agreed a national approach cannabis trials, with NSW it take the lead. Details is be where due this year. But the has been quickly criticised as and expensive. The Victorian month's state election, says there's already enough science move straight to legalising medical cannabis. Here's Leader Daniel Andrews: Daniel Andrews: Look around the world, there is an amount of is an enormous amount of peer-reviewed work, where have been clinical trials lots of other parts of the world. Now, I there an undeniable to make this because it's changing it's saving lives, the sort law that
 like having a little man insidE your head, pLayinG wiTh yOuR heaD.

Di MArtin: Around thiS Time paul O'Grady received a pacKage iN tHE maiL.

paUl O'GrAdy: And hERe WERe tWo LiTtlE bOTtLes of LiqUid mariJuana, with iNstRuCtions, one droP In The morning, Et cEtera, which I sTarTed takInG, unTIl theY foUnd it In my frIDge. And Then I just WeNT back tO Having a BIT oF a joInt.

Di Martin: This is pAuL o'Grady's first inTervieW aBOuT USinG meDical cannaBiS. He saYS it dullS HiS PAIn, sUPpresses nauseA and stimulaTEs hIs appeTiTe.

HE Has lonG had HiV, ANd sAys after his CancEr treatmeNt he coNTinued tO Use cannAbis.

PaUl O'graDy: ThE hIv dRugS I TAke CAuSe nAUseA and totaL lAcK of apPetiTE. aND so mOst Days i will Just have a coupLe oF pufFS of A joinT, so it'S not AbOut beIng stoNed, it JuSt helps you to thiNk, okAy, well, herE's lUnCh, I'Ll Get soME of thiS doWn.

DI Martin: how impoRTanT iS THAt For your overall healTh AT ThE moment?

PAul O'GrADy: weLL, it's crucIaL, beCausE IT's cruCial TO gEt food doWn, it's cRUcIaL to be waLkIng and BeIng ActIve, it'S CrucIal thaT you get fOod inTO you so that you cAN walk.

Di Martin: wElCOMe TO BacKgrOund BriefinG.

It's EStimAted THoUsaNDs of AUstraLiANs ARe already using cannaBiS for meDical Reasons, riskinG criminal pENALty to easE theIR sUFfering. This widEspreAd civil disOBedience Has fiNally led australiaN POlitics tO itS fiRst TenTATiVe step towards LEGaliSaTion.

The StaTes and tErrItoRieS haVe Just agreeD on a natiOnAl ApPrOacH to caNNabis triAlS, wiTh nSW SayinG It will Take tHe leAd. deTAilS of what IS tO BE triAlLeD, wheN, anD wHere aRe duE LatE this yeAr.

But the mOve HAs beEn QuIckly crIticised as unnEcEssary and eXpEnsIve. The vICtorian AlP, tipped to win next month's STate eleCtiOn, sayS theRe's alreadY enOugh scIenCE to movE straiGht to LeGalISIng meDICaL caNnAbis. Here's OPPOsiTion LEaDer DAniel AnDrews:

Daniel Andrews: lOok Around the worlD, thEre iS AN eNorMOuS AmoUnT Of lITErature, there is aN enormous aMoUNt Of peer-reviEWed WoRk, where There haVe beeN ClinicaL trials in Lots of othEr PartS OF thE world. Now, I Think theRe is an undENiablE MoMentuM to Make thIs ChaNge beCause iT'S chAnginG lives, It'S savinG liveS, iT's exactlY the sort of law reform that
 like having a little maninside you r hea d,pla yi ng w ithyour head.

Di Mart in: Around this time P aul O 'G r adyr ec eived  a pack a ge i n t he  m ail .Pa ul O' Gra dy: And  here were  tw olittle bottl e sof liquidmar ijuana, with  in struct io ns, one d rop  in t he mor n ing, e t cetera,  w h ich Is tartedt a ki ng,until they foundi ti n my fridge. A nd the nI  j u s t w ent  back to h av ing a bit ofa  j o i n t.Di Martin: Th is is PaulO 'Gr ady'sfi rst interv iew a bo u t u sing medica l ca nnabis. H e says it dull s  his pa in, su ppr ess es n a us ea  an ds tim u la tes his  appetit e. 
He ha s lo n g h ad H IV,  and  says  after his ca nce r tr e atm ent h e con tinu ed  to u se can nabis .
Paul O'Grady:TheHIV drugs  Ita keca use n a usea a ndtot al lack  of app e tit e. A n dso most days I wil lj u st  have acouple of  p u ffs of a  j oin t, s o it'snota bo ut being  stone d ,it  just h el ps you  t o t hin k, ok a y, w ell, h ere's lu nch,I 'll get some o f  this down.
D iM a rt i n: H owimportant i s th a t fo r yo u rove r all h ealth  a t  t h e moment?

Paul O'G ra dy: We ll, i t's crucial,because it ' s crucialto g e tf ood down, it's  cruc ial to bew alking a nd be ing acti ve, it'sc r ucial th atyou  ge t f o o dinto you so t h a t yo ucan wal k.
Di Mar tin : W elc ome  t o Backgro und Brie fi ng .
I t's  esti m ated tho us and sofAustr a liansare a lrea dy  u s ing  cannab i sf o r me di ca l re aso ns , ris king cri minal p enalty to  ea s e th ei rsufferi ng. This wide sp read civil  d iso bedien c e  has fin ally led Australian pol i tics to  it s fir st t entativeste p towa rds legali sation .

Th esta t e s and t er rit or ies have j u s t a greed  o n anationa l approach to cann a bis  trials, with  NS W sa y i ng  it wi l l t ak e  th e lead. Details o f what isto be  trialled, whe n,  and wh ere are  duel ate thi s year.
But the m ov e ha s bee n quicklycriticis ed as unn e cessa r yand e xpe nsive.  T heVicto rian A L P,tippe d to w in  nextmonth 's  state e lection, says there's a lready  enou ghscience t o m o vestraightto l egalisingmed ica l can nab i s. He re's Op pos i tionLead e r DanielA nd rew s : 
Daniel Andr e w s : L ook a rou n d theworl d, there is an en o rmous amount o f li t e rat ure ,  the re  is an enormou s a mo u n t of pee r- reviewed wo rk, wher et herehave b een cl inicalt r ia l s in l otsofother par tsof the wor ld .N ow, Ithin kthereis anu nden i a ble momentum tomaket h is ch a nge  beca us e it'sc hang ing lives,  it's savin g live s, i t's e xactlyth e sort  of  l aw reformt hat
 like_having a_little man inside your_head, playing_with_your head.

Di_Martin:_Around this time_Paul O'Grady received_a package in the_mail.

Paul O'Grady: And_here_were two little bottles of liquid marijuana, with instructions, one drop in the morning,_et_cetera, which_I_started_taking, until they found it_in my fridge. And then_I just_went back to having a bit of a_joint.

Di_Martin: This is_Paul O'Grady's first interview about using medical cannabis. He_says it dulls his pain, suppresses_nausea and stimulates_his_appetite.

He_has long had HIV,_and says after his cancer treatment_he continued to use cannabis.

Paul O'Grady:_The HIV drugs I take cause nausea_and total lack of appetite. And_so most days I will_just have_a couple of puffs of_a joint, so_it's not_about being stoned,_it just helps you to think,_okay, well, here's_lunch, I'll get some of this_down.

Di_Martin: How important_is_that_for your_overall health at_the_moment?

Paul O'Grady:_Well,_it's crucial, because it's crucial to_get_food down, it's crucial to be walking_and being active, it's_crucial_that you get food_into you so that you_can walk.

Di Martin: Welcome to Background_Briefing.

It's estimated_thousands of_Australians are already using cannabis for medical reasons, risking criminal penalty_to ease their suffering. This widespread_civil disobedience has finally_led Australian_politics_to its first_tentative_step towards_legalisation.

The states and territories have just agreed_on a_national approach to cannabis trials, with_NSW saying it will_take_the lead. Details of what is_to be trialled, when, and where_are due late this year.

But_the_move_has been quickly criticised as_unnecessary and expensive. The Victorian ALP,_tipped to win_next month's state election, says there's already_enough_science to move straight to legalising_medical_cannabis. Here's Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews:

Daniel_Andrews:_Look_around the world, there is_an enormous amount of literature, there_is an enormous amount of peer-reviewed work, where there_have been clinical_trials in lots of other_parts_of_the world. Now, I think there is an undeniable momentum_to make_this change because_it's changing lives, it's saving lives, it's exactly the sort_of law reform that