Mike Baird Praises Medicinal Cannabis After Meeting A Little Boy Who Suffers 40 Seizures A Day

"Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be of incredible benefit to many."

NSW Premier Mike Baird has written on Facebook about his recent visit with Tyler Oldenburg, a NSW boy who suffers up to 40 seizures a day.

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"Yesterday, while visiting Randwick Children’s Hospital to announce the trials, I met a young boy named Tyler who has up to 40 seizures a day," he wrote.

"Tyler’s mum, Nicole, told me how reports of the benefits of medicinal cannabis in reducing seizures are providing hope of a better future for her family."

Baird was touring Randwick Children's Hospital, and announced world-first trials on medicinal cannabis for children. The trials focus specifically on children with severe epilepsy.

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"Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be of incredible benefit to many," he wrote, "but perhaps none more-so than children suffering from seizures due to severe epilepsy."

"There have been really promising anecdotal reports of the potential of medical cannabis to alleviate symptoms and reduce seizures, and these clinical trials will help find the safest and most effective treatment for kids."

The NSW government's push to legalise medicinal cannabis is joined by Victoria's recent announcement to start trials, as well as the federal government's decision to make changes to the drug reform laws to allow medicinal cannabis to be grown.

You can read Baird's whole post here.