I'm pleased to be able to contribute to today's debate and to sponsor it alongside colleagues from several parties in this Chamber. It follows effective evidence-based campaigning by the MS Society UK and others, and valuable discussions at the cross-party group on neurological conditions. At a meeting of that group last October, I encouraged patients and politicians to take forward a campaign on this, and I'm happy to offer my continued support to that campaign today.

The classification of drugs is something that is mostly decided at the UK level. Now, I and us on these benches want that situation to change; we want to be able to decide these matters for ourselves here in Wales. But in the meantime, I've argued that Wales should adopt a position on this. We've had Sativex licensed for usage here, but access is difficult and limited. We have a wider situation whereby some people who are living with MS and other conditions are forced to use cannabis illegally to help with their symptoms. I've heard testimonies from people having to buy cannabis in a way that is still technically illegal, and a situation where old-aged pensioners have had to find dealers who can grow and sell cannabis, when morphine, as others have said—and morphine is, effectively, heroin—is given on prescription. Now, that can't be right, and it shows how counter-productive current drug policy is in this country.

I was disappointed to see the Welsh Government in the media today using prohibition as an excuse not to regulate cannabis. I'll just quote the Welsh Government, who said, through a spokesperson, and I quote:

'Using an illegal raw drug of unknown quality is not how we want to provide medicines.'

Llywydd, the whole point of medicinal cannabis is that it is no longer an illegal raw drug, it's no longer of unknown quality, because it can be sourced properly and regulated, and the different strains and their different benefits can be properly understood. 

Retaining prohibition will not reduce cannabis use. It just prevents safe, regulated medicinal use and pushes law-abiding people towards an illegal marketplace. That's why a clear step forward is to decriminalise cannabis for medicinal use, and the motion today sets out how Wales could advocate such a change and also prepare for it to happen.

The wider debate about whether drugs should be prohibited and accessed illegally or whether they should be controlled and regulated so that they can be used safely is still one that we must have. But we've got examples in this motion of countries and territories that have allowed this change for medicinal use of cannabis, and those countries have been listed, but Canada and the Netherlands come to mind. 

Now, I'm pleased to see reference to the review by Professor Michael P. Barnes, originating from the all-party group at Westminster, and it's important that the evidence as to how cannabis helps manage symptoms can be solidified and publicised. After a seven-month inquiry, the Barnes review found evidence, and I quote:

'Overall, there is good evidence for the use of cannabis in many important conditions that effect many thousands of disabled people.' 

I hope today's debate leads to an outcome where the Welsh Government now can adopt a formal position on this. The Welsh Government should make the case to the UK Government for cannabis to be available for medicinal use. It should then map out how prescriptions could be produced for those in need and, failing that, if the Government doesn't want to rock the boat or be bold, why not offer to meet Professor Barnes and hear a summary of that evidence? By building the case and sending a message that Welsh patients could benefit from these treatments, we can help win the argument at a UK level where decisions on decriminalisation are still made.

This Assembly is here to be radical, to take steps that help Welsh citizens to make a practical, real difference to people's lives. Sometimes, what can seem very radical is actually only common sense. Diolch yn fawr.