Mr. Palmer, who was in the position of AFP commissioner from the year 1994 to 2001, stated that prosecuting families who have now inclined towards a non-psychoactive kind of drug like an alcohol based tincture of cannabis oil might not always be of public interest.
“We exercise discretion all the time and I think this is a classic case where what has to be seriously considered is what public interest is being served,” he said. “They’re people trying to deal with an exceptionally difficult situation in the best way they know how.”

The comments of Mr. Palmer came when a Victorian couple was facing charges for using cannabis oil as a way to treat their 3-year old son suffering from severe epilepsy. On Thursday, Cassie Batten and Rhett were drawn into police custody post the raid at their Mernda home by Epping Sex Offences and Child Abuse Investigation. The team also seized all their oil supplies.
The raid was followed by an appearance on Sunday Night by Channel Seven where Ms Batten stated that the condition of her son Cooper had improved drastically since the time they started using tincture. She said that she edged to cannabis oil because Cooper’s seizures were serious and were occurring every other minute, which made it unable for him to talk, walk or even see. However, in the first 15 minutes of his dose, she stated that Cooper started to trace objects. He now laughs smiles and even says “dad” and “mum”.
The family is one among the 150 throughout the country, which are reported to edge towards the oil.
Lucy Haslam, the medicinal marijuana advocate, who is behind the push to legalize cannabis for terminally ill patients, said that she was “disgusted” by the way police treated the Batten family.
“I know of suppliers who have been raided and had the tinctures confiscated, but this is the first time that I’ve known of a family,” Ms. Haslam said. “You’ve just got to wonder what’s prompted it.”

“Research is a slow business,” he added. “We don’t have the luxury of just watching these kids and their parents. I would like to see the people making these decisions are not ministers but [are] handed back to experts, the doctors.”