Branding the government’s attempts at marijuana reform “timid and unworkable”, Greens MP John Kaye has drafted a bill aimed at solving the issue of supply and making cannabis available to medical users outside of the terminally ill, such as epileptic children and adults living with chronic pain.

It comes just days out from a landmark medical marijuana symposium in Tamworth – to be opened by Premier Mike Baird on Friday – which will hear from world-leading experts on the issue.

Dr Kaye moved to allay fears his proposal would “normalise” marijuana use and create a rash of new recreational users.

“Our bill shows that it is possible to provide relief from pain and suffering for thousands, without creating additional recreational drug users,” Dr Kaye said.

“Premier Baird’s clinical trials will take years to conduct and will be expensive. Without a drug company to sponsor it, there is little likelihood of any useful outcome. Years will pass by before there is any progress towards a solution.

“The medical use of cannabis is thousands of years old and does not need clinical testing to prove it provides safe and effective relief from pain and suffering.”

Under the Greens plan, a government agency, such as the Department of Primary Industries, would grow and supply the drug for registered patients.

A government working party is due to report back by Christmas on plans for a clinical trial of marijuana for the terminally ill.

But Dr Kaye said that approach made criminals of the army of desperate parents currently using cannabis oil to effectively treat seizures in children.

“We have responded to heart-rending representations from parents of children with epilepsy that does not respond to traditional drugs,” Dr Kaye said.

“Under the strictest of conditions, the Greens bill will allow parents to administer cannabis to their children, but only with the approval of three treating doctors, including one with expertise in childhood epilepsy.

“Politicians can no longer turn their backs on parents forced to break the law rather than watch helplessly as their children are wracked by terrible fits.”

Tamworth medical marijuana crusader Lucy Haslam said she supported a more inclusive approach to medical marijuana reform.

“I think we always needed to include a wider sweep of patients and I’m glad Dr Kaye is keeping the pressure up,” Mrs Haslam said. “You can’t ignore the anecdotal evidence; epileptic children should never have been left out of this.”

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson rejected Dr Kaye’s claim the government was proceeding too slowly on the reform.

“The working group is making great progress and they will certainly be looking at if this could work for children who have illnesses that are anecdotally being helped (by cannabis),” Mr Anderson said.

“Trials will be undertaken sooner rather than later and the Premier is keeping a very close eye on it.”

“NSW is a long way ahead of any other jurisdiction in Australia on this issue.”