New Zealand: government introduces medical cannabis bill

One way or another, New Zealand is moving quickly on medical cannabis. The country is now considering two bills on the subject.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed that the New Zealand government will be presenting a bill to the House of Commons tomorrow on the therapeutic use of cannabis, but has withheld details. The bill should, however, facilitate access to cannabis for people with incapacitating or terminal illnesses.

But last June, MP Julie Anne Genter had already tabled a bill to facilitate access to medical cannabis, which is now partially authorized. via cannabidiol extracts. The big difference with the government proposal is that it would allow some people to grow their own cannabis for personal use, something the government doesn't seem prepared to propose.

This cultivation authorization would be recommended by a doctor, and could be given to the patient, to someone close to him or her, or to a designated person if he or she is unable to do so himself or herself.

Jacinda Ardern said her proposal would not go that far because it would need the support of other parties to pass, notably the nationalist and populist New Zealand First.

«What we are proposing is a bill that we know has the support of Parliament to pass.» said Ardern. «We made a commitment to improve the status quo. And that's what we're doing. And we can guarantee that with the bill we have, we can do it. We can't guarantee it with [the other] bill. There are differences, and you'll see that when the bill comes forward.»

The New Zealand Green Party has already announced that it will support both bills. The first bill introduced «will be there as an option. But the good news is that we know there's also the government bill which has the support of Parliament. If we can also pass the other bill, then that would be great,» said James Shaw, leader of the Green Party.