The island could be ahead of the UK when it comes to the use of medicinal cannabis.

Like the UK, cannabis-based medicinal products are currently restricted to patients in closely defined categories and can only be prescribed by a medical consultant, not a GP.

However, public consultations concerning this and the growing of industrial hemp have been launched by the Department of Health and Social Care, asking the public if they think it should change.

’I think it should be,’ said Port Erin resident Jade Williams, 27. She has filled out the medicinal cannabis consultation online.

’It seems to help people with illnesses such as people with tremors. As long as it’s coming from a medical specialist and not Joe Bloggs on the street then it should be as they see fit.

’If a younger person is affected by those tremors they should be just as eligible for these things, as long as it’s not going to cause any damage to them. But it’s all individual cases. It’s not one size fits all.’

Adam Devenney, 25, from Mount Murray, thinks its use should be more open as it is said ’to help Parkinson’s and cure cancer’.

’I’m definitely all for legalising it,’ he said. ’It’s less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. You can use it as oil and as creams, not just smoke it.’

He went further to say that ’every household should be able to grow it’ for personal medicinal use.

Paul Gelling, 28, from Onchan, said: ’I’m of a view that it should be legalised but under control.’

His friend Ryan Cornelius, 23, from Ramsey agreed: ’You cannot open it to everyone or it will blow up.’

Paul continued: ’Medicinal trials show the benefits to people with illnesses. It would be foolish not to explore it and help people in need. I don’t think there should be an age restriction.’

Abbii Forster, 16, from Douglas, said: ’If you think of alcohol it’s a depressant and it’s legal, whereas cannabis is illegal and helps depression.

’It’s never killed anyone and you cannot overdose on it. It also calms you down. It deserves to be legalised it’s a plant.’

She said that medicinal cannabis seems to help those with cancer, severe anxiety and epilepsy.

’A relative of mine had a brain tumour and was going downhill. He was given cannabis oil and had drops every day. It really helped.

’I don’t think you should be able to get it over the counter, but it should be through prescription and from a pharmacy, otherwise anyone could get it.’

Linda and Alan Kelly, 68 and 70, from Ramsey, are also in favour of having the remit of medicinal cannabis widened.

’If it’s a medical thing and it helps you, it should be readily available,’ said Linda.

She also thinks this should be the case for children with medical needs also.

Her husband Alan added: ’Other people have said "if only we had it before because we’ve lost family and friends and if that’s been available it might have helped".’

Both believe that control should be applied if cannabis for medicinal use is legalised.

’Whenever people think there’s a good use for something, there’s someone somewhere who want to abuse it,’ said Alan.