What’s worse is not being able to offer pain relief or comfort that would allow them to go a day or more without discomfort, sickness or pain.

Cancer is a dubious disease. You never know when it will strike, when it will spread or when it will take the life of a loved one.

Sufferers of the harsh disease may wake up one day feeling fine, and wake up the next unable to get out of bed.

It’s awful to see this happen to a loved one.

Like many others, I would support anything that would alleviate the pain and discomfort of severe illness without adding further damage to those who are ill.

This is why I commend the open-minded nature of some people and organisations which have supported the use of natural therapies and pain relief such as medical marijuana.

The fact that we are having this conversation is commendable. It demonstrates how far society has come.

It is a glimmer of hope for doctors and cancer sufferers, as it shows there are alternate therapies and options for those who are faced with a painful disease.

Medical marijuana can be beneficial as an adjunctive analgesic in patients with moderate to severe pain, as an appetite stimulant for cancer patients experiencing weight loss and as a relief for nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

While it may not completely stop the deteriorating effects of chemotherapy and cancer, or other illnesses, it can dull them and for those suffering extreme pain, this relief would be priceless.

Many aren’t sold on the use of medical marijuana, however, until the 1940s cannabis was seen as having medicinal properties and was legal until the early part of the 20th century in Australia.

It was made illegal based on concerns about its potential for addiction.

However, with monitoring, medical marijuana could mean the difference between a loved one living with pain and illness and a loved one suffering from the same.