By Richard BruinsmaA Sunshine Valley resident battling terminal cancer believes taking cannabis oil has extended her life.Allison was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer in in 2013 and was given 12 months to live and, after enduring two more cancer diagnoses and bouts of radiation and chemo therapy, also decided to experiment with a round of treatments of cannabis oil.More than two years after her first diagnosis, she believes the cannabis oil helped as “otherwise I’d be dead by now”.The former fitness fanatic and runner is hopeful of beating what she was first told was a life sentence.The story of Allison’s experiences has put a very personal and local angle on what is now a state-wide and national debate over the use of cannabis oil to treat a range of illnesses, including cancer, conditions that cause seizures, autism, emphysema and more.Allison, for whom the Gazette agreed not to publish her surname, has joined the chorus of Australians who support calls for the government to relax penalties while the health implications are investigated.She respects the medical profession’s collective view against alternates to accepted radiation and chemotherapy, but, due to her own experiences, cannot help but support the use of cannabis oil therapies.She described the after-effects of chemotherapy like the worst possible hangover, that can’t be softened by a good night sleep, as opposed to comfort provided by cannabis oil.“I was sleeping on the couch, curled up, my face swollen and my feet swollen, a pretty horrid hangover type of feeling,” she said of the chemo.“Whereas the oil just made me feel relaxed, there wasn’t any pain from it.“When I was on the couch, I was wondering if I was going to die, I felt so sick, and that was for four months and, at the end of it all, it didn’t work.“Whereas the cannabis, I felt it worked, because rightfully I should be dead by now.”Allison also suffered tumours in her hip and thigh. Through the treatments, she is “now clear but not in remission”. She is hopeful of a positive year ahead and the celebration of several family milestones.She has also used her situation to promote “The Forgotten Cancers Project” which highlights the need for research into the 50% of cancer cases that are not commonly publicised (More information is at: www.forgottencancers.com.au).  She also notes the Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia for its involvement in the matter.“I’m not concerned what people think of me; any reasonable person would see I’m a normal person, I’m a mum, I’ve just been hit with this sh*t.”She wrote to every Queensland Member of Parliament to draw attention to the issue. Several replied with positive messages of comfort and support but did not commit to legal changes.A formal petition into the matter, sponsored by Buderim MP Steve Dickson, attracted more than 12,000 signatures in around three weeks in favour of formal consideration of the cannabis treatment.“…it is simply not good enough that in 2015 people have to turn to black market options to find relief from a range of debilitating and life-threatening conditions while the Queensland government cannot give a clear answer as to whether or not these people are likely to face prosecution,” Mr Dickson told Parliament in a speech on December 2.He noted the federal government and some states are initiating trials into the treatments.“I urge the Queensland government to work together with colleagues interstate and at a national level to get the best outcome for those Queenslanders who so desperately need our help—help for those Queenslanders who currently live in fear of a knock on the door because they are trying to do the right thing for their patients and for their loved ones.”Caption: Cancer sufferer and cannabis oil treatment supporter Allison and Member for Buderim Steve Dickson, who wants a formal investigation into the issue.