Dissecting the medicinal cannabis bill with Ross Bell

This afternoon MPs will vote on the government’s plan seeking to make medicinal cannabis more available.

The bill purportedly lays the foundation for a regulated medical cannabis industry and also gives a defence for the terminally ill to use and possess cannabis.

The Greens have submitted a similar bill that is more far reaching. Their bill would allow patients, with a terminal illness or debilitating condition, to grow their own cannabis, subject to a doctor's permission.

Medicinal cannabis campaigner Rebecca Reider has criticized the government’s bill, claiming that it doesn’t go far enough and will still criminalize suffering people.

Reuben McLaren spoke to Ross Bell, the Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug foundation, to discuss the benefits and drawbacks.