MEDICINAL cannabis could soon be growing alongside poppies in Tasmania under an agreement to be signed by the premiers of Tasmania and New South Wales today.

A Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by Premier Will Hodgman and his NSW counterpart Mike Baird will cover clinical trials, ­research and ­cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes.

The agreement is the next step towards giving Tasman­ians legal access to medicinal cannabis, after the State Government agreed to participate in NSW trials.

Mr Hodgman said the MOU was a significant step ­towards bringing long-awaited relief for Tasmanian families who relied on cannabis-based medicines.

“Importantly, this MOU recognises Tasmania’s expertise in research and our world-leading regulation and cultivation of alkaloid poppies,” he said.

“It provides for collab­orative state-based cultivation trials to enhance understanding of cannabis cultivation in Australia for medical and scientific purposes, including an examination of the impact of different growing...