The Green co-leader said the bill would ease the suffering and increase the quality of life of thousands of New Zealanders. Marijuana was shown to be a "safe and effective medicine" for people with multiple sclerosis, spasticity, glaucoma, for pain relief, for treatment of nausea in chemotherapy and other medications, and for helping the appetite of people with HIV.

Marijuana is legal for medical purposes in Canada, the Netherlands and various US states, while Britain is trialling the medicinal use of marijuana in hospitals.

"In this country, the Pharmaceutical Society has acknowledged the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for a wide range of ailments while there were many submissions to the Select Committee Inquiry into Cannabis in support of a law change," said Jeanette Fitzsimons. "The hysteria presently coming from head-in-the-sand opponents of drug law reform in this country is deflecting attention from the issues is an attempt to personalise and trivialise debate."

3/10/02 Greens call for medicinal use of marijuana
Read the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill