Crowe's death sparks renewed calls for legal medical cannabis

By Dale Owens

There are renewed calls to push through the legalisation of medical cannabis in New Zealand after it was revealed Martin Crowe was self-medicating with liquid marijuana.

The detail around the cricket legend's use of medicinal marijuana was revealed in a British newspaper.

Crowe fought lymphoma for four years, facing his battle against the illness with as much dignity and grace as he'd shown at the crease.

But since his death it's been revealed he was forced to use illegal drugs to help manage his pain.

"It's pretty sad isn't it? That one of New Zealand's most amazing sports people, humble guy forced out onto that market to get illegal cannabis - is he not mature enough to decide what would keep him comfortable when he was dying? We made a criminal of him in his last month of life," says former president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Helen Kelly.

Ms Kelly has terminal lung cancer. She's applied to the Ministry of Health to use a cannabis oil product from the United States, but she's still waiting for permission, and says many like her are seeking alternatives.

"It's not surprising to me that Martin Crowe was using it. There is a network of people in New Zealand helping people out and we're all experimenting and trying to keep each other safe, but it shouldn't be like this," she says.

Medicinal cannabis has been a big issue for years. In 2011, Levin man Billy McKee was convicted of possession of 66 cannabis plants.

He says the plants were grown to help people like Crowe.

"Imagine them having to go to a gang-land tinnie house or something. 'Oh can I get a couple of tinnies off you bro? I'm spewing all night and I can't get to sleep and I need to get some weed to get to sleep.' That's a disgusting way to treat people, whether they're famous or not famous," he says.

The call to legalise is getting louder. Australia recently passed laws to allow marijuana to be grown and distributed, which could open a door to travelling Kiwis.

"Here we are three hours away, and New Zealanders will be able to go over there and get products [it] looks like under New Zealand law, even bring them here if they are Australian patients. So the whole thing is going to become more and more farcical," says Ms Kelly.

It's too late for Crowe, but his use of the drug for pain relief is now part of the on-going debate back in New Zealand.