The Campbelltown MP, who grew up in Dubbo, has been a strong advocate for medicinal cannabis said now was the time to act. Speaking in parliament, Mr Warren said he felt the NSW government could no longer stall.

“The government could spend years of valuable time and millions of dollars on another clinical study, or we could work together to listen to the thousands of patients from all over the world who all say the same thing: that medicinal cannabis does work as an incredibly effective pain reliever,” Mr Warren said.

The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney is holding a trial- established in association with the University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital- to see if the drug cam reduce nausea and vomiting for cancer patients.

However, Mr Warren said the trial only began accepting patients in December, 20 months after it was announced. From there, there would be five years of trial, before the results were considered and action taken, Mr Warren said.

“Terminally ill patients in New South Wales do not need another clinical study. Many of them have been forced into the illegal purchase and use of cannabis because they have known for years what the law has failed and still fails to reflect—that is, cannabis can and does often bring significant pain relief,” he said.

Mr Warren said every day of inaction was another day of suffering.

“Every minute of every day we have the opportunity to improve the lives of those we are privileged to represent. There is no more fundamental way any legislator or public representative can improve the lives of citizens than by alleviating their physical pain and suffering through any means available.”