Rallies are being held around the country today in support of making medicinal cannabis legal.

Events have been organised in Auckland, Nelson and Dunedin.

Pro-cannabis campaigner Chris Fowlie said one in 20 New Zealanders is already using the drug for medicinal purposes.

"And the problem is they are accessing it in unsafe ways. And they're using cannabis that they don't know much about or what the dose or potency is. What we need is safe, legal access."