Editorial: Mum's plea needs hearing

Karen Jeffries and her daughter Zoe.

Many - I'd like to think most - parents would do anything for their children.

How heartbreaking must it be to find yourself in a position where you think you can help your child, but the law says you must not.

Rotorua mum Karen Jeffries is in just that position. Her 6-year-old daughter Zoe was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder after her brain was deprived of oxygen at birth.

Zoe suffers as many as 100 seizures a day and is dependent on pharmaceutical drugs, which Karen says make her drowsy and unresponsive.

Ms Jeffries is convinced cannabis oil would help her daughter and says New Zealand, which has often led the way and been progressive on important issues, is the perfect place to legalise medicinal cannabis oil.

It's clear that Ms Jeffries loves her daughter and is desperate to do more to help her.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation says evidence to support the medicinal use of cannabis is "not yet overwhelming". But it also says it's "well-established enough to suggest cannabis has therapeutic benefits in treating people" with serious conditions, including chronic pain and neurological disorders.

As with any controversial issue, the internet is a battleground of contradictory expert opinions.

But at least on this issue it does appear progress is slowly being made.

Just days ago, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill to establish a medical marijuana programme.

In New Zealand, the Minister of Health has the power to authorise the use of cannabis for medicinal reasons. The Drug Foundation says there have been only a few applications and approval has been granted for only a small number.

I wonder what it will take to achieve greater agreement about the risks and benefits of medical cannabis.

If there's potential relief for parents like Karen Jeffries and sufferers like young Zoe, they deserve the attention of those who can make a difference.