For years, Horsley resident Mary Conroy suffered with chronic pain.
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She had arthritis through her body and three fused discs in her spine, which gave her so much pain that she was forced to retire from her career as a chef at the age of 59.
But now, everything has changed - because of medicinal cannabis.
The 71-year-old is a patient of Dr Michael Mumford, who along with wife Kasey has established the Southern Cross Cannabis Clinic in Dapto, the first of its kind in the region.
The clinic operates from general practice Medical Professionals Dapto, but the pair are building a standalone centre next door, with hopes it will also accommodate other health professionals who can augment the service.
Mrs Conroy noticed her pain started decreasing and she was sleeping better after Dr Mumford began prescribing medicinal cannabis about eight months ago.
She currently takes 0.5ml of a liquid medicine nightly.
Now, she can run, jump on the trampoline with her grandchildren, do handstands in the pool, ride a skateboard - activities that were once off-limits.
"It is absolutely life-changing. I'm off all medications, that's the only thing I take," Mrs Conroy said.
"And I can line-dance for two hours without stopping, twirling and kicking."
Dr Mumford said the vast majority of patients he saw were suffering chronic pain.
"They've had back operations, multiple surgeries, they're on every single opiate you could think of or they've been on it, they've tried it, and now they're coming to us for that other option," Dr Mumford said.
There was a focus on moving patients away from opiates, he said, which were addictive and could leave patients feeling "bombed out" and sleeping a lot.
But medicinal cannabis is used to treat numerous conditions, from depression and anxiety to seizures, nausea and Parkinson's disease, although the Therapeutic Goods Administration says there is currently only limited evidence about its effectiveness for use with different medical conditions.
Dr Mumford said in the four years he had been prescribing medicinal cannabis, he had not had a patient present with concerning reactions.
"It's a natural product, so there is less likely to be adverse side effects, but there can always be different reactions. This forms part of the screening consent process and the follow up," he said.
Medicinal cannabis products are tightly regulated and are usually not supplied as a first option.
A patient's doctor, once determining the product is right for their circumstances, will usually have to apply through the Therapeutic Goods Administration for access before providing the prescription, as most cannabis medicines are unapproved.
Dr Mumford said Australia was behind many other parts of the world when it came to the use of cannabis in a health setting, but access was becoming a more streamlined process.
"I think it's to do with public opinion. There has been very little research and information made available to the public in Australia, which is now changing and what we are witnessing as a consequence is a shift in people's perspectives of medicinal cannabis being dumped in the same category as other illicit drugs," he said.
"There needs to be a greater understanding that medicinal cannabis is an extract of the useful components of the plant and not the entire plant, so patients do not get the same hallucinogenic effects that they would get if they were smoking cannabis for recreational purposes."
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
