Medicinal cannabis will be a hot topic in parliament this week, with the government introducing a new bill to make access easier for patients with terminal illnesses.
In addition a private member's bill will be introduced which if passed would also allow users to grow their own cannabis for medicinal use.
Minister of Health Dr David Clark said today he would announce details of the new legislation, which has the support of both NZ First and the Green Party.
Both bills relate to the use of medicinal cannabis. (Source: Other)
"There are some who will wish we went further, but we believe we struck a balance which represents good progress."
"We wanted to make sure medicinal cannabis is more accessible with terminal illnesses or chronic conditions and the piece of legislation we will introduce will make progress," he said.
MPs will vote as a party on the legislation, and there will not be a referendum on the new bill, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
However parliament will also get the chance to "test the appetite" of how far it is willing to go, with Chloe Swarbrick's member's bill , which would allow users to grow their own product for medicinal use.
"The parliament will get its chance with Chloe Swarbrick's bill if it wants to go further," Dr Clark said.
"I personally will be supporting it to select committee, it's a conscience vote," he said.
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