Chloe Swarbrick's medicinal cannabis bill fails at first reading
The Government bill only provides support for the terminally ill
Stuff (New Zealand)
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Green MP Chloe Swarbrick's medicinal cannabis bill has failed at its first reading. The bill lost 47 votes to 73, with both every National and NZ First MP voting against it. Swarbrick told media that National would lose votes over the decision, because 78 per cent of Kiwis agreed with the premise of her bill. In contrast to a significantly more conservative Government bill which was progressed to select committee, this bill would have allowed the terminally ill and debilitated to legally grow cannabis if prescribed it by their doctor. The Government's bill went so far as to set up a scheme to allow cannabis-based medicinal products and provide a criminal defence for anyone terminally ill charged with possession of marijuana.
tags:
