UPDATED 1.44PM: The Green Party has declared that they will decriminalise cannabis if they gain power at the next election. 

The Party has released its updated drug law reform policy, which would decriminalise and regulate access to cannabis and allow for medicinal cannabis.

It would mean adults will no longer be criminalised for growing or using small amounts of marijuana.

Health spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said the policy is evidence based, and shows the criminalisation of marijuana does more harm than good.

She said the laws are out of date and decriminalisation would mean people’s mental and physical wellbeing is prioritised ahead of making them a criminal.

Genter said it would allow the drug to be regulated and create safer communities.

It would also open the door to medical marijuana - doctors would be able to prescribe the drug for chronically ill patients.