National Party leader Bill English has hinted at support for the medicinal cannabis bill set to be introduced to parliament tomorrow, but says "no one knows what's in it" and the double-up on bills by the government shows "they can't agree".
Government tomorrow are releasing the details of a new medicinal cannabis bill to make access easier for patients with terminal illnesses, which Health Minister Dr David Clark said has support of the Green Party and NZ First.
However Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick's private member's bill is also being introduced, which would likely take the legislation a step further and allow users to cultivate their own product.
For the new medicinal cannabis bill, there will be no referendum and MPs will vote as a party. (Source: Other)
Dr Clark's legislation will be a party vote and will not require a referendum, said PM Jacinda Ardern, however Ms Swarbrick's bill would be a conscience vote, where every MP can vote how they choose.
The disparity between Dr Clark's bill and Ms Swarbirck's showed the government "can't agree", Mr English said.
He said he thought rifts between the government would show once the 100-day period was over.
When asked how the National Party would vote on Dr Clark's medicinal cannabis bill he said, "No one knows whats in it, which makes it a bit hard".
Both bills relate to the use of medicinal cannabis. (Source: Other)
"Where the Green's bill allows for essentially decriminalising supply, this bill will have a narrower scope, and that's about all we know".
But Mr English stressed there was "no obvious reason" why medicinal cannabis should not be treated any different to any other medicine and should follow the right processes.
"There's no reason why you'd want to stop people from benefiting from medicinal product that would be good for them."
"It's quite a different debate to see it as a stalking horse for decriminalising marijuana."
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