Mullaway to Challenge Validity of Police Warrant after Raid on Medical Cannabis Plantation

Mullaway to Challenge Validity of Police Warrant
after Raid on Medical Cannabis Plantation

30 March 2012

Tony Bower, Director of Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd will challenge the validity of the Search Warrant obtained by police to enter his property and the seizure of over 200 medical cannabis plants and business records notwithstanding that police unlawfully entered the premises before obtaining the Search Warrant.

Mr Bower said "I am not walking away from this or from the hundreds of patients who use Mullaways Medical Cannabis Tincture. I have inspected the police application for the Search Warrant held at Kempsey Local Court House and found that the reasons given by the police to obtain the Search Warrant were false and misleading.

Tony Bower said "I intend to defend the charges and have served a subpoena on the Registrar of Kempsey Local Court for full access to the warrant application and supporting documents. A subpoena hearing is listed for 16 April in the Local Court at Kempsey on the same day police commence court proceedings against Mr Bower.

We have ascertained from the warrant documents that police failed to state in the application that the premises belonged to my company, Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd and that I showed them documentation that the medical cannabis was cultivated for patients suffering and dying from serious conditions such as cancer. "

Tony Bower said he held up the Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd company sign when the police helicopter was hovering over the medical cannabis plants. Tony Bower said "I walked across the road and spoke to police when they landed on an adjoining property. I fully informed police that the medical cannabis grown at the premises was for seriously ill and dying patients and to call the health department.

The police ignored everything I said and entered my premises without a warrant. They made no enquiries before applying for the search warrant even though I showed police business documentation. Police remained on the property while waiting for a search warrant. Once the search warrant was obtained I was taken into custody and was not present throughout the search of my premises.

There were no complaints made about the medical cannabis plants or tincture to the health authorities however police conducted this raid as part of their annual cannabis eradication program. It was clear that this was not a drug trafficking operation What drug trafficker has a website and a company registered under Commonwealth law. What drug trafficker has letters from their client's doctors recommending that their patients use medical cannabis to treat their medical conditions.

I am deeply offended that my business premises were raided in this manner and that I have been charged by the NSW police as a criminal under the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act." Tony Bower, Director of Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd, says he has maintained clear accountability and transparency in his business. All relevant State and Federal Government departments have been fully aware of Mullaways operations for years.

Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd has been open and forthright with all government departments, especially the New South Wales Police. Tony Bower said "I have endeavoured to comply with all government requirements for the past three years to get my company up and running and in the interim continue to get the medicine free of charge to chronically ill and dying people."

"I have worked tirelessly to bring my medical cannabis tincture under Commonwealth and International health laws and have been using a health model to ensure the safe and timely delivery of the tincture to patients however I continue to be blocked and treated with disrespect by the NSW government."

"It is clear that in the case of Mr Bower road blocks have been thrown up that would not have been there if he had been a multinational pharmaceutical company or the primary seedstock were not related to a recreational drug," Greens MP John Kaye said in an interview on 29 August 2011.

Mullaways Medical Cannabis Tincture is a therapeutic medicine used for therapeutic purposes by chronically ill and dying patients to relieve pain and suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, arthritis and other serious illnesses. At all times the medical cannabis used to make the tincture has been grown for therapeutic use. Each medical cannabis plant seized by police was labelled for specific patients.

Many patients have been using Mullaways Medical Cannabis Tincture for years. Most patients have letters of support from their doctor. Mullaways is the only company in Australia providing medical cannabis. The only other avenue for patients to access medical cannabis is through the Commonwealth Government's Special Access Scheme. This is a long and expensive process as this cannabis product is required to be imported from an overseas medical cannabis company. Many patients are unable to afford it as it is unavailable on the PBS.

Mr Bower said he would also like to make it clear that "growing a herbal plant for medicine is part of my culture and my culture does not allow me to refuse chronically ill and dying patients access to my medicine. I know that I can help and even heal people with my medicine."

Almost half of Americans now have access to legal medical cannabis and European Union Companies are funded to develop medical cannabis products.

Does the New South Wales Government have a plan for the chronically ill and dying patients in this state who use medical cannabis as part of their therapeutic regime? We need to urgently address this issue here in Australia.


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More info at www.mullawaysmedicalcannabis.com.au

Wallangu :)...