MICHAEL Moore has my sincere sympathy in having lost his mother at 92 years. I, too, lost a relative, but not for refusing to take enough morphine.

Under the national illicit drug policy she was given indifferent advice about choosing to take drugs, but told, if taking them, do it safely. Mr Moore says there are safeguards in the ACT Greens Medical Cannabis Paper. But there were supposed to be “safeguards” when my relative died.

Mr Moore says side effects like addiction, schizophrenia and lung cancer are “simply irrelevant for the dying”.

The persons dying may live for some years. What happens if they get lung cancer or emphysema? Are they just additional “side-effects”? How is the additional pain handled then? Do we put a bong alongside the bed and allow them to smoke themselves to death?

The TGA and AMA must be allowed to conduct their inquiries, because emotion is not medical evidence.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Sharing the little victories

NATIONAL Brain Injury Awareness Week ends on August 17. Some 1.6 million Australians live with a brain injury, yet for many people the realities of brain injury are unknown, largely because brain injuries are not always visible to the wider world.

The challenges that people with brain injuries experience should not be understated – in many instances people have to start their lives over, including relearning things others may take for granted, like tying up shoelaces or buttoning up a jacket.

For people living with a brain injury and their family, these small victories are hugely significant.

Through my work, I see the everyday impact of brain injury and urge our local community to get behind Brain Injury Awareness Week, whether through supporting initiatives such as “Bang on a Beanie” to help fundraise for brain injury (bangonabeanie.com) or through supporting our Small Victories campaign.

Maurice Blackburn would also love to hear from people who have a story, photo or video of hope with their recovery from brain injury at  facebook.com/smallvictoriesau or email smallvictories@mauriceblackburn.com.au

Walter Hawkins,

Maurice Blackburn, Civic