National scheme for medical cannabis: Ley

A national scheme for the controlled cultivation of medicinal cannabis will be introduced to federal parliament.

Health Minister Sussan Ley says legislation will be introduced in the first sitting period of 2016 to change narcotic drugs laws so that states and territories don't need to put in place their own legislation for cultivation.

"I am confident creating one single, nationally-consistent cultivation scheme, rather than eight individual arrangements, will not only help speed up the legislative process, but ultimately access to medicinal cannabis products as well," she said in a statement on Wednesday.