Swarbrick Chlöe; Mallard TrevorCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green): Thank you Mr Speaker. I have only five minutes to address all of the concerns that have been raised throughout this debate so I will keep this brief but I would again implore any of the MPs who have risen to voice their conflict and/or potential lack of understanding of the purpose or how this bill would actually work in operation to vote for it to hear the voices of those New Zealanders who will benefit from it. I have heard tonight a point raised by many speakers—Chris Bishop the most recent but they included the likes of Dr Jonathan Coleman—stating that there is no mention of regulation. Greg O'Connor mentioned that this is a wasted opportunity the State will lose any control to regulate it—Nicky Wagner as well. I would state that any member who has said that should refer to clause 6 of this bill which outlines prohibiting limiting restricting and imposing conditions on either generally or in relation to particular cases or classes of case or particular classes of person the cultivation administration supply use or possession of medicinal cannabis pursuant to any provision of section 9A:". That is a provision for a set of regulations to be determined at select committee and during that process by which we will open the door to that conversation with patients many of whom are currently having access to their medicine making them criminals.A few people have mentioned that this is outside what other countries and other jurisdictions are doing. I'd note that Canada does have a nominated supplier mentioned in their legislation and 29 US states—Hawaii included—allow people to nominate someone to grow on their behalf for medicinal purposes. I'd very much like to touch on the point that was raised by my colleague Kiritapu Allan about faith in this system. This here—this vote tonight—is about opening the door to a conversation with patients who would benefit from the use of medicinal cannabis who under the Government's bill will still be criminalised. It will take at least two years to open up that regulatory scheme that the Government's bill proposes. For those concerned about doctors prescribing something that may potentially get people high I am sorry to tell you that that presently happens with the likes of tramadol and morphine and for those who are concerned about people smoking for recreational use or otherwise I'd refer them to the Ministry of Health study on the issue of cannabis the most recent of which was unfortunately undertaken in 2012-13. It found that of nearly 400000 users of cannabis in New Zealand—400000—42 percent of people used it for medicinal purposes including alleviation of pain and nausea. The cat is out of the bags folks! We are not putting it back in there. As was mentioned by my colleague David Seymour prohibition here simply is not working. As was mentioned by both Chris Bishop and Greg O'Connor we do have an opportunity to get it right and I think the best way to get that right is to ensure that we have the broadest scope we have the broadest potential for change going before select committee which will happen only if we can vote this through its first reading tonight and send it through to the select committee stage. Prohibition as I mentioned is not working and in many cases we find that good drug law is somewhat counterintuitive. So again my final plea tonight is to not stop this conversation before it is started. I know that many of you have received emails messages and calls and had people dropping into your office who have shared their stories with you. Bear that in mind as you vote with your conscience tonight. You have an opportunity to make history. As all of you will know voting this through its first reading does not guarantee a vote at second reading. It simply opens that door. So don't shut down this conversation. I implore you to vote for this bill. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Members will be aware that this is a conscience vote and I should just remind people of the processes. I will put it to a voice vote I will declare a result and if any person wants to have a personal vote a personal vote will be held."