A recommendation to set up a regulator of medicinal marijuana has been endorsed by a Senate committee.

The Senate’s legal and constitutional affairs committee recommended the Greens bill to set up a regulator of medical cannabis be passed.

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The regulator would be “responsible for formulating rules for licensing the production, manufacture, supply, use, experimental use and import and export of medicinal cannabis”.

The committee unanimously recommended the bill’s passage, with amendments to ensure scientific evidence is accessed to determine suitably of treatments.

It also wants amendments to ensure medical cannabis products are made available in Australia in line with international obligations.

The debate was renewed in May when AusCann became the first Australian company granted a licence to grow and export medicinal cannabis for the international market.

The company will grow medicinal cannabis on Norfolk Island and export it for sale in Canada.

Earlier this year, the Andrews Government announced a plan, in partnership with the New South Wales Government, to trial cannabis for medicinal use in mid-2016.

Barriers to trials of medicinal cannabis were removed in Victoria in August last year by the former Government, making it easier to test the drugs beneficial properties.

The private bill is co-sponsored by government senator Ian MacDonald, Labor senator Anne Urquhart and Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm.

– with AAP