A Volunteer Displays Jars of Dried Cannabis Buds at the La Brea Collective Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Los Angeles
A volunteer displays jars of dried cannabis buds at the La Brea Collective medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California, March 18, 2014. Reuters

Pressure on the Australian government to legalise medical cannabis in the country is mounting after a 3-year-old boy was denied treatment in a Melbourne hospital. According to an ABC report, the parents of the boy were angry after doctors stopped giving the patient cannabis oil because they were concerned about its legal implications.

Northern Hospital doctors in Melbourne told the parents, Rhett Wallace and Cassie Batten, that the treatment was cancelled because the hospital was concerned about incurring possible criminal charges. The parents resorted to cannabis oil to treat their son's seizures in 2013. The doctors had told them the seizures could not be stopped. Wallace and Batten said the cannabis oil had been highly effective on their son.

However, the parents told ABC that after doctors had first helped them administer medical cannabis, hospital staff now warned they would call the police if they continued to give their son cannabis oil. Wallace said he was devastated since his child will not be able to receive the treatment that could save his life.

According to Northern Hospital spokesperson Ryan Brown, the hospital will not tolerate the use of "an illegal substance." He went on to say that the child's health and welfare is their primary concern. The hospital encouraged the parents to follow the advice of medical professionals.

Dr Alex Wodak, president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, said the government has lost "the consent of the governed" on the subject of medical cannabis. He admits it was a difficult situation for the family including the medical professionals. He understood the need of parents who are willing to do anything to help their child.

David Davis, health minister in Victoria, has proposed to amend the law to allow the clinical trials of medical cannabis in the state, reports said. However, the opposition leader Daniel Andrews has announced he will be seeking the legalisation of the drug in the state if Labour will win in the state election in November.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, too, has expressed his support for the legalisation of medical cannabis in a radio talkshow hosted by Alan Jones. Mr Abbott wrote in a letter that the use of marijuana for medical purposes should no longer be questioned of its legality since other countries have seen the benefits of the drug as medicine.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by SBS's Insight Team sheds light into Australians' view of the current medical marijuana debate. According to the survey, more than 85 percent of 50,000 Australians believe marijuana should be legalised in the country.