As the state’s most powerful man sipped on tea at the Haslam family home in 2014, he listened to the heart-wrenching story of young bowel cancer patient Dan Haslam.

“I’ll never forget the look in his eyes ... when those eyes looked at me, it was very much saying, can you help?” Mr Baird later said.

He also looked into the eyes of Dan’s parents: Lucy Haslam, a woman of uncommon strength, and her husband Lou, a former drug squad detective who is authenticity personified.

The Premier’s cannabis conversion was complete.

This was democracy at work, a politician confronted by the human face of an issue and changing his position accordingly.

That a conservative leader could lead the charge on such a progressive policy was staggering to some.

But it need not be.

Because the medical marijuana issue, the basic principle of allowing the sick and dying to have access to the most effective medical treatment for them, transcends political ideology.

It’s simply about human compassion.

Mr Baird’s experience in that Tamworth lounge room convinced him NSW had to lead the nation in medical marijuana reform.

And seismic political steps have since been taken.

NSW was this week announced as the first state to be given approval to grow cannabis under licence from the federal government as part of research into the best way to cultivate the plant for patients.

Other states are also rushing headlong to introducing medical marijuana laws.

But despite bi-partisan political support and massive community support, the wheels of government turn slowly.

It could be many months, or even years, before the critically ill can legally access cannabis medicine.

In this climate, it seems absurd that genuine patients, many terminal, are being forced to buy drugs from black market dealers. It is unconscionable for a government to deny people relief from chronic pain or sickness.

As such, it is incumbent on the government to exempt genuine medical cannabis users from prosecution, and fast.