Parents push for medical marijuana reform|poll

Seven-year-old Casey Mackay, who has epilepsy and autism, has been taking a cannabinoid tincture to treat her ailments since the start of the year.

The drug, administered in tablets, contains only low levels of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis that gives users a high. The tablets primarily contain cannabidiol, or CBD, which has been linked to the treatment of rare forms of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome.

Casey's mother, Christine, said the treatment had appeared to stall a downward spiral her daughter had experienced in recent years.

"This time last year Casey was completely non-verbal; she could not thumbs up, smile or point," she said.

"Seeing her [now] it's like finally little Casey's been able to emerge in this fog of five years."

The Mackays are not completely sold on the idea that medicinal cannabis is the answer to Casey's problems.

"In another three or four weeks we want to have another EEG [brain scan] to see there's clinically no sign of encephalopathy [a degenerative brain injury] because we want to do it safely," Mrs Mackay said.

However, the family would like to see the rollout of clinical trials to determine whether the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes in Australia is worthwhile.

The medical marijuana debate has flared again in recent weeks, after NSW Premier Mike Baird hinted at a possible relaxation of the state's stance on the issue.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was "sympathetic" to the families pushing for the reforms, but would base his opinion on National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations.

The Australian Medical Association has maintained a cautious position about legalisation, claiming more research was needed before the law was changed.

Mrs Mackay said the debate would not go away.

"There's the thousands and thousands of people whose lives it's changing," she said.

"They're not just going to sit back and say 'we tried, but oh well, we'll just go back to how we were'."