Last year, then-Health Minister Andrew Green announced that he would be bringing forward proposals to legalise certain cannabis-based products.
However, Deputy Montfort Tadier, who has been campaigning for several years on legalising medicinal cannabis, criticised health officials for a lack of progress on the matter.
His proposition, which was approved by the States on Tuesday, means that Health Minister Richard Renouf will be required to bring forward legislation allowing all medical professionals to be able to prescribe cannabis, as well as other cannabis-based medicines.
Those proposals will come into force before Thursday 28 February next year.
He said: ‘Ill health is something that shows no respect for social class or wealth.
‘It is fundamental that people, patients and our constituents have access to the right medicine at the right time.’
Deputy Rowland Huelin told the story of two of his St Peter constituents who struggled with chronic pain as a result of not having access to cannabis-based products.
Meanwhile, Deputy Russell Labey added: ‘Suffering and pain is misery. It is life destroying.
‘If I can do one thing in this Assembly to hasten people’s pain relief then I will do that.’
The UK recently legalised medicinal cannabis following recommendations made in a high-level medical report – known as the Barnes report.
Health Minister Richard Renouf raised concerns about the prescribing of cannabis by GPs. He said he was already working on proposals that would allow hospital consultants to prescribe medicinal cannabis products.
The proposals were approved after a series of votes.
