But the Exit International director said the sudden closure of the Silk Road site last week had cut access to such drugs and refocused attention on whether Tasmania's legislation could provide help for people from other states.
He said a growing number of elderly Australians had used Silk Road to acquire Nembutal since the details and associated security browser information were published in his Peaceful Pill e-handbook earlier this year.
Exit International has welcomed the softening of residential requirements for access to Tasmania's proposed euthanasia law.
"Having good legislation in place is a little like having your own supply of Nembutal in the cupboard -- you hope you will never need it but it is a great comfort knowing it's there," Dr Nitschke said.
This is all a bit much, really. Firstly, news reports suggest that The Silk Road was replaced, within hours of closure, by other similar facilities offering anonymity for transactions. This whole idea that somehow people gain comfort in either having a bottle of poison in the fridge or having legislation as the only form of comfort is a little hard to swallow. People make their choices, yes, but for most people, the fear of the future is dealt with in other, less-dramatic ways.
One wonders how Tourism Tasmania will handle the promotions...
Other articles on Tasmania:
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013: The bill that dares not speak its true name
If it's that bad - why haven't the Dutch and the Belgian's changed their laws?
Clarity at last for Tasmanian Doctors and end-of-life care
Belgian euthanasia death for mental suffering - could happen under Tasmanian law
Saying NO to a fatal attraction