Lindsay Carter forced to go to US for cannabis treatment for brain tumour Supporters of legalizing marijuana in DC make last minute preparations for election that could make possessing and growing marijuana plants legal in U.S. capital. Katharine Jackson reports. LINDSAY Carter and his family will continue to be "refugees" in the United States until medical-grade marijuana is legalised in Australia. The 16-year-old from Loganholme suffers from a life-threatening brain tumour which causes him chronic pain and has so far left his parents about $65,000 out of pocket. Unable to access cannabis at home, Lindsay and his mother, Lanai Carter, have returned to the United States to access legal cannabis treatment. It's the fourth time in 12 months the Carter family will suffer the emotional toll of being away from home and endure the costs of travel, accommodation, medical consultations and treatment. "We don't want to have to move (permanently) to another country for our son to get the treatment he needs but that's really where we're at now," Lanai Carter said. (US doctors) have basically said our son won't survive in a country where he can't have access to this treatment every day. Lindsay Carter, with mum Lanai, is in the US for treatment of a brain tumour. Picture: Stuart Quinn Source: News Corp Australia On each previous visit to the US, Lindsay's tumour has shrunk following prescribed courses of marijuana. A combination of concentrated cannabis oil and vaporised herb has drastically reduced the severity and frequency of his seizures and provided him unprecedented pain relief. Government leaders including Prime Minister Tony Abbott have acknowledged the drug's medical benefits and the issue was discussed at the COAG Health Council meeting on October 10. But until medical marijuana is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and amendments are made to Queensland's Health (Drugs & Poisons) Regulation, Lindsay will be unable to access the drug at home. "I'd hate to see the politicians get so caught up - the commercialisation of this - that they fail to recognise the need for is to happen immediately," Mrs Carter said. Lindsay is this week meeting with San Francisco physician Dr Jeffery Hergenrather and commencing a new round of cannabis treatment. Troy Langman believes it's a 'basic human right' to use marijuana if you've exhausted other medical options. Dr Hergenrather said a lack of understanding of cannabinoids among the Australia medical profession, as well as the stigma associated with marijuana, was preventing patients like Lindsay from receiving the treatment they need. "We've known for over 40 years now that THC, and the active ingredients in cannabis, are able to kill cancer cells in many cases ... particularly in the glioma cell line in the brain," Dr Hergenrather said. It's really unethical to keep that cannabis medicine away from people that really are in need of it today. We're creating this situation with the Carter family where they're refugees here in America because they can't use medical grade cannabis in Australia. Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg told The Courier Mail he did not support recreational use of cannabis but would work with fellow ministers to share information about the drug's medical benefits. "There is no reliable evidence that suggests there is any additional need for medical cannabis preparations although patients with certain conditions might benefit from a wider range of safe treatment options," Mr Springborg said. Queensland Health supports access to clinical trials to further evaluate the potential need for, and use of, medicines derived from cannabis. Originally published as Teen on the run from treatment "stigma"