Parties accuse National of playing politics on medicinal cannabis bill but reserve judgment

Government MPs accused National of "playing politics" for producing his own cannabis bill the same day that the special health committee made its findings on a draft bill. government law. The National Bill, which would allow medicinal cannabis products to be treated as any other drug and be available in pharmacies.

He would be available on the recommendation of a doctor or nurse practitioner who would authorize a photo ID card. 19659007] According to National's bill, the products would be available in the form of oil, tablets or under the tongue, but not in the form of loose-leaf cannabis.

The manufacture would be subject to strict conditions of registration. Simon Bridges said:

"New Zealanders deserve better access to high quality medicinal cannabis products to relieve their suffering, but we must have the right regulatory and legislative rights." The government's bill fails completely to these two tests, we will therefore vote against, "he said.

The national bill is much broader than the government's bill before Parliament, which limits the use of drugs. National deputies said in the committee's report that "we are uncomfortable that the exercise of the terminal exception and legal defense requires the illegal act." [19659007] The government's bill could still be passed because it has the support of the Labor Party, the Greens and New Zealand first, a majority.

But bridges said that he would address to the other "The detailed 27-page bill was drafted by MP Whangārei and Dr. Shane Reti, who served on the Select Committee on Health

He passed the test to participate in the next round of private members' bills – which means that he was deemed sufficiently different from the other two bills on cannabis which were presented to the House this year.

Health Minister David Clark said he wanted to review the bill, but that he was "disappointed to play politics".

MP Louisa Wall, who chairs the special committee on health, was less charitable ambush, saying that she had been working in good faith with the national deputies on the committee.

"I think it's a subversion of the process."

"I think it's a kick in the belly for everyone." Winston Peters, acting prime minister, said he would only comment on the bill when "it's all about it." he would have seen it.

Greens spokesperson, Chloe Swarbrick, said she was "delighted" that National had approved a vast, com It was perplexed to know why the party he was opposed to his bill in January that allowed the use of medicinal cannabis for people with debilitating diseases, not just for terminally ill patients.

Bridges said the project Government's law was silent on how a medicinal cannabis regime would work in practice.

"The government said that it will increase access now and let officials think carefully about the question. checks and consequences later. This is typical of this government, but it is not acceptable, so we offer a complete alternative.

The scheme proposed by National included the following rules:
• Medsafe-Approved Cannabis Medications
• No cannabis-based product to be approved
• Physicians must decide who should have access to a medicinal cannabis card, which will certify them to buy cannabis-based medicinal products

• Growers and manufacturers must be licensed for commercial production, permit holders and personnel to be licensed in Canada. as healthy people
• licensing regime to create a safe market for medicinal cannabis products.
• Growers and manufacturers should not be located within 5 km of residential land, or 1 km of sensitive sites such as schools and tapu wahi.
• No adv
• A review of the law by the Department of Health after five years

announcing policy in Parliament, Bridges said that National was determined to be a constructive opposition working on new [19659007] National's bill has been the result of considerable work in recent months, including the study of MPs abroad, and reflects a mix of international best practices adapted to New Zealand. a lot of work done by National in opposition and implementing our comprehensive reforms to ensure that New Zealanders in need can access high quality cannabis medicinal products to relieve their suffering.

The government promised to hold a referendum on the personal use of cannabis before or during the 2020 elections, as part of the agreement of trust and supply reached between the Party Green and the Labor Party.