Arthur Leslie Richardson brought a bank cheque made out to the church when he arrived for sentencing at Hawera District Court, after earlier pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis, possession of the class C drug for supply and possession of equipment to grow it. Continue reading

He was speaking to 80 people in Nelson's Fairfield House at a meeting organised by Nelson Options, the local chapter of voluntary euthanasia group Exit International.

Curran is European coordinator of Exit International, and has represented the right to die movement in many countries.

Curran's wife Marie Fleming died in 2013 after a failed court bid to permit an assisted death.

He said she was "a very strong Catholic."

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At its annual meeting, the church's synod in Western Australia voted in favour of changes to state law so doctors could prescribe medicinal cannabis, which would be administered under supervision.

Medicinal cannabis has a high proportion of cannabidiol, which has a range of medical benefits, and a low proportion of the intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol.

Uniting Church WA acting general secretary Rosemary Hudson Miller said some of those at the synod shared personal experiences.

They described how loved ones with chronic or terminal illnesses had found morphine inadequate for managing pain and had also suffered side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

"The current laws mean that family and friends choose, at some personal risk, to provide cannabis to relieve symptoms and pain, rather than watch the agony of suffering," she said.

WA Health Minister Kim Hames said there was evidence that cannabis and its extracts were beneficial in treating a range of conditions, but more research was needed.

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