Picture: THINKSTOCK
Picture: THINKSTOCK

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CANCER-stricken Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini is to table legislation to decriminalise the medical use of marijuana in South Africa, he said on Wednesday.

"I have published and will be introducing tomorrow (Thursday) a bill — a simple bill — to enable doctors to make decisions with respect of terminal cases of cancer and other diseases," he said during a state of the nation debate in Parliament.

Mr Oriani-Ambrosini said doctors should be able to "prescribe innovative systems such as medical marijuana and bicarbonate of soda and many other therapies which are available out there".

The Medical Innovation Bill, published in the Government Gazette this week, is "to make provision for innovation in medical treatment and to legalise the use of cannabinoids for medical purpose and beneficial commercial industrial uses".

Mr Oriani-Ambrosini, who returned to the National Assembly after months of absence, made an impassioned plea to President Jacob Zuma and his government to decriminalise "medical marijuana".

"You’ve known me for 20 years and I’m sure you had a few occasions to curse my name," the gaunt-looking MP said as he spoke directly to Mr Zuma. "I’m speaking to you today somehow as a changed man, not to oppose, but to plead with you to provide the laws on behalf of many people in my condition who do not have a voice."

Mr Oriani-Ambrosini admitted to having illegally smoked marijuana in South Africa as an alternative treatment to his condition.

"I was supposed to die many months ago and I am here because I had the courage of taking illegal treatments in Italy in the form of bicarbonate of soda and here in South Africa in the form of cannabis, marijuana or dagga," he said. "Otherwise, I would be pumped with morphine and I would not be able to speak to you, Mr President."

In November last year, a national working group made presentations to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on the subject.

"What this paperwork stands for is the proposition that there is no rational argument for continuing to deprive medical marijuana to people like me who need it," Mr Oriani-Ambrosini said. "It is a crime against humanity not to allow that to take place."

The decriminalisation of marijuana for medical and industrial purposes was a huge opportunity for the country, he said.

"Medical tourism is something on which we can make real income for the country, as we can with hemp ... for commercial and industrial purposes. The Chinese government is making huge investments in hemp as a fabric and construction material."

The MP, who introduced the first private member’s bill in Parliament after a victory in the Constitutional Court, also aimed his pleas at Dr Motsoaledi.

"He (Motsoaledi) has got guts and backbone," he said.

While Dr Motsoaledi could not respond as he had already spoken during the debate, his Cabinet colleague Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu did promise Mr Oriani-Ambrosini some good news.

"It hurts me to see you in the state you are in," Ms Sisulu said. "I had a word with the minister of health and he indicated to me that we are very keen to be following up on discussion and research around the world on the issue of the potential of ... decriminalising medical marijuana. We are a caring society."

Mr Oriani-Ambrosini announced in May last year that he had been diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer. At the time, he said his doctors did not expect him to see Christmas 2013.

Sapa