Politics

Parliament votes down Greens' cannabis bill

20:46 pm on 31 January 2018

Parliament has voted down the Green Party's cannabis bill which would have allowed people to grow their own medicinal cannabis.

Chloe Swarbrick Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox

The government's medicinal cannabis bill, which passed its first reading yesterday, lays the groundwork for a regulated medicinal cannabis industry and would only provide it for terminally ill patients.

However, Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick's bill goes further and would allow people with debilitating conditions to use the drug.

Ms Swarbrick said before the vote that she had been crunching the numbers, and it was touch and go whether she would have the backing.

This evening Parliament voted against it 47 to 73.