Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says the next Government will overhaul the Misuse of Drugs Act - now almost 40 years old.
Mr Dunne on Thursday delivered the Government's official response to the Law Commission's report on the act.
The Law Commission report reviewing the 1975 Misuse of Drug Act was delivered in May this year and made 144 recommendations.
Mr Dunne says as well as wider legislation to replace the act, further policy work is still required on a number of the recommendations before detailed legislative proposals can be presented to Parliament.
Among the more controversial Law Commission recommendations was that clinical trials be conducted into the medical use of leaf cannabis.
Mr Dunne says that recommendation will not be accepted, as it is not the Government's role to initiate clinical trials on cannabis leaf or any other product or substance.
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