The Government is considering a Citizens' Jury to encourage informed debate on legalising the sale of marijuana, ahead of a referendum on the issue.

Ireland used the method ahead of its recent abortion referendum.

Justice Minister Andrew Little told Kate Hawkesby up to 100 people with a mix of views and backgrounds are appointed to the jury.

He says they have a number of presentations made to them.

"Discuss issues and kind of draw their own conclusions from all of that and then that kind of gets publicised and is the basis of that."

He says it's a bit experimental but worked well in Ireland.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW LITTLE SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY