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JACQUELINE VERNE, a medicinal cannabis patient, advocate and activist, has been a consumer, on-and-off, since her late teens. With permanent, full-time employment, and as a mother to five adult children (aged 28 to 36 years), she nominated to be a candidate to change outdated perceptions of cannabis users and to promote the benefits of cannabis.
She aims to educate the public by highlighting the medicinal and economic advantages of cannabis legalisation and advocating for responsible use. Jacqueline wants to help shape a future where cannabis is valued and appreciated, in direct contrast to the current Queensland State government’s approach to cannabis, which appears antiquated.
With a Master's degree in business and extensive experience as a human resources professional in private and public organisations, Jacqueline brings strong leadership and advocacy skills. Committed to positive change, Jacqueline would bring passion, empathy and integrity.
She believes in personal freedom, including the choice to use cannabis. Legalising for adult social use respects this right, reduces the burden on the criminal justice system, ensures product safety and generates tax revenue for community programs whilst creating a safe and controlled environment for responsible use.
The extensive red tape and bureaucracy involved in starting a new business hinders development of quality, community-focused initiatives. Jacqueline is a part owner of a start-up medicinal cannabis farm in Stanthorpe, with licence approval received just a couple of months ago.
With lower to lower-middle class feeling the brunt of the poor Queensland economy, and seemingly no end in sight, Jacqueline believes that legalisation of cannabis and a freeing up of the hemp industry will create economic growth in all sectors. Hemp alone is a major renewable, sustainable agricultural resource with value added industries that will create jobs and more manufacturing.
Cannabis legalisation in overseas jurisdictions has evidenced a huge increase in investment in education whilst the Queensland education system has limited resources. This level of investment, millions of dollars, would allow the focus to shift to addressing the needs of a significant number of students who do not fit into the neurotypical stereotype.
Queensland’s healthcare system, especially in regard to mental health, is still terrible and needs far more investment in patient-focused areas. Providing easier access to affordable cannabis medicines for many more mental and other health issues will ensure things can only get better!
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