This is an important first step in ensuring access to an effective medical treatment which provides relief from pain and suffering, but the Greens are concerned that access has been restricted only to seriously ill patients who have exhausted other options.

There is already overwhelming international evidence that medicinal cannabis can provide relief from conditions like nausea, pain and muscle spasms and the Greens will continue to campaign for medical cannabis to be available to all patients suffering chronic pain, and not just as a last resort.

The Greens have bills before the New South Wales and Commonwealth parliaments that would achieve the necessary reform to allow greater access to provide relief from pain and suffering.

Jeremy Buckingham

Greens MP

Much has already been submitted about the ban on greyhound racing. After opening my Port News today (Monday, August 1) I felt compelled to write and urge your readers not to be swayed by the full page ad on page 6 from the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association. This scaremongering is a desperate attempt to deflect bad publicity and overturn a government decision. They plead to "give us a fair go". Did that 'fair go' apply to the 50000-60000 dogs slaughtered as 'wastage' for not running fast enough in the past decade?

Times have changed. We no longer turn a blind eye to animal cruelty for the sake of entertainment and profit in the form of dancing bears or lions in tiny circus cages.

The industry has had plenty of time to clean itself up and yet sickening stories of recent and current greyhound abuse continue to emerge. ("Greyhound industry: animal cruelty images further validate industry shutdown" ABC, 31/7) The overwhelming evidence of widespread abuse, injuries, live baiting and corruption just can't be ignored. They only have themselves to blame.

I adopted a 3 year old greyhound that underperformed in the only two races of her career and was one of the lucky ones surrendered to Greyhounds As Pets last year. She is gentle, affectionate, well mannered and the perfect pet.

If you write to our local member as the ad instructs, please do so, but in support of the ban. Hundreds of dogs like mine will thank you.

Carol Irving

Port Macquarie

I note the Herald’s article last week on the election funding received by Rob Oakeshott.

To put a balance on things, the National Party has received $3,158,301.63. As the National Party will now distribute funding to their candidates to cover their costs, how much of tax payers’ money will Luke Hartsuyker receive?

Paul Barron, Port Macquarie

Homeless Person’s Week runs from 1 to 7 August.    Currently there are over 105,000 homeless people in Australia, 44,000 of which are under the age of 25, Homeless Person’s Week aims to raise awareness for those doing it tough on the streets.

One in five homeless people seeking assistance are being turned away from vital, emergency accommodation services.  In modern Australia, these statistics are alarming and there is a lot of work to be done to fix this. 

Homeless Person’s week raises awareness of these figures in the hopes of gaining support for this significant issue.

After 25 years of working with homeless youth, I have witnessed first-hand, the troubles that these people go through at such a young age. 

For the third year in a row, at Youth Off The Streets we will be running our Lace It Up Campaign to raise awareness and funds for these disadvantaged youth.

As part of the campaign we are asking people to swap out their current shoelaces for our blue, #LaceItUp shoelaces.  The idea behind the campaign is that the dangers of living on the street are so prevalent that kids living on the street often do not have the luxury of taking their shoes off before going to sleep; they must be ready to move at any moment.

Only by working together can we tackle this concerning issue of homelessness.  Visit laceitup.com.au for more information on how to get involved, and help Australia’s young and homeless.

Father Chris Riley

Founder of Youth Off The Streets

As a thoroughly lapsed Anglican, I'm surprised at the loud calls for Cardinal Pell to come (or be brought) back to Australia so that he can face allegations of child abuse.

This is the complete opposite of what is said about Australians who join Islamic State.  They are supposed to be stripped of their citizenship, so they cannot come (or be brought) back to Australia.  We are quite happy for them not to face our justice.  

It was the devoutly Catholic Prime Minister Tony Abbott who came up with the idea that we should simply give up on such (alleged) criminals, and leave them alone once they're overseas.

So what is it which makes a Catholic prelate so different?  Why can't Cardinal Pell be allowed to have the life he wants in Rome, out of our reach?  Someone should please explain.

G Agnew

Coopers Plains