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'This isn’t the devil’s drug': Cannabis oil producer fears people will die after police raid

A medicinal cannabis oil producer fears her patients will die after police raided her operation on Wednesday.

Jenny Hallam provides the cannabis oil free of charge to more than 200 people around the country.

But now the Adelaide woman is worried patients like 19-year-old Ben Oakley and little Queensland girl Suli Peek will suffer.

Jenny Hallam fears for patients like Suli Peek. Source: 7 News
Jenny Hallam fears for patients like Suli Peek. Source: 7 News
Cannabis oil. Source: 7 News
Cannabis oil. Source: 7 News

“It could be deadly for Suli and it could be deadly in a matter of days,” Medicinal Marijuana Advocate Rebecca Bridson said.

“There’ll be nobody else to blame other than the government and the police force that went through (Ms Hallam’s) door.”

Ben’s father Michael said the family was unsure how to continue sourcing the former triathlete’s life-saving treatment.

Luckily for Ben, the State Government has agreed to help the 19-year-old be listed for cannabis trials currently underway in NSW.

Ben Oakley. Source: 7 News
Ben Oakley. Source: 7 News

“I don’t want to see people suffer any more,” Ben said.

“I’ve seen too much of that.”

But Ben’s victory does little to help the Peek family, with eight-year-old Suli suffering from a regressive neurological disorder that results in severe seizures.

“(The cannabis oil) has given her the only chance of improved quality of life,” Suli’s father Steve Peek said.

The Sunshine Coast family is pleading for help, given Ms Hallam has been threatened with a jail sentence if she tries to again produce the cannabis oil.

Adelaide woman Jenny Hallam. Source: 7 News
Adelaide woman Jenny Hallam. Source: 7 News

The Acting Health Minister of Queensland said the government did not support patients cultivating their own cannabis for therapeutic use.

It comes as State governments across the country hold differing views on whether or not the treatment can be successful.

The NSW State Government is giving some ill people access to medicinal cannabis by funding two trials – one for chemotherapy patients and one for palliative care.

Up to 160 people are in the trials, which could expand to 500 under a $21m plan.

Cannabis oil is being used in a NSW trial. Source: 7 News
Cannabis oil is being used in a NSW trial. Source: 7 News

“Open your eyes, this isn’t the devil’s drug,” Michael Oakley said.

“This is a miracle cure for so many different conditions.”