A woman battling cancer has publicly called for the relaxation of Fiji’s cannabis laws, saying the plant carries vital health benefits that should not be ignored under the proposed Narcotics Bill.
Bua Women’s representative Mereoni Taginadavui, 64, told public consultations that she personally relied on cannabis during her illness.
“I used to crush the leaves with my fingers and squeeze its water into a cup, which I then drink,” she said, adding it helped numb “the pain”.
“I did not use it for any other purpose.”
Ms Taginadavui said she is a cancer survivor for more than 25 years, thanks to early diagnosis and herbal medicine like cannabis.
“Going through treatment was very tough. There were times I crawled to the bathroom because my system couldn’t handle the chemo drugs.”
She said she used cannabis to numb the pain and to treat the cancer as recommended by a friend.
“I used cannabis to help me with my fight against cancer. We need to consider its health benefits and relax the law to allow its proper use.”
Fiji currently has no specific legislation permitting the controlled medicinal use of cannabis, despite many patients with chronic illnesses relying on it.
“If we ignore its potential, we may be denying patients a chance at a better quality of life,” she stressed.
Ms Taginadavui also noted that strict rules could regulate cannabis safely for medical treatment while preventing abuse.
Vinaina Ratuvelawa also backed reform.
“We should see marijuana as having a positive impact,” she said. “God saw what He created and saw that it was good. I believe there are many health benefits.”
Narcotics Bill consultant Inspector Jemesa Lave said discussions on industrial hemp had begun and the concerns raised would be taken to the Ministry of Trade.
