There is growing evidence that cannabis could be a useful medicine, says Arohanui Hospice medical director Simon Allan.

But it's not clear that it is any more effective than drugs that are legally available for controlling pain and nausea.

Dr Allan was commenting on the Greens campaign to get the Government to approve medicinal use of cannabis. Green MP Nandor Tanczos said about one-third of doctors who responded to a survey by his party would consider prescribing medicinal cannabis if it was legal.

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