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Andy Burnham could legalise cannabis for desperately ill people, he revealed tonight.

The shadow health secretary said the 'benefits are enormous' for conditions like multiple sclerosis, which causes years of suffering by attacking the brain.

His remarks came as all four Labour leadership contenders said they'd look into the illegal drug's benefit to patients.

And Jeremy Corbyn, who has long backed relaxing the law, confirmed he'd allow medicinal use straight away.

Mr Burnham told the final leadership hustings of the campaign on Sky News: " There is a case for it in that people who suffer from conditions like Multiple Sclerosis... they swear by... the medicinal benefits are enormous.

(Image: REUTERS)

“But it would have to be highly regulated in my view to allow it for medicinal use only, and obviously that presents all kinds of problems.

"So I understand why people feel so strongly about it.

"I would proceed with caution but I wouldn't be averse to looking at whether, for medicinal purposes only, greater flexibility could be allowed."

Despite 200,000 people signing a petition to legalise the drug, tonight was the first time all four Labour leadership candidates were quizzed directly on it.

(Image: PA)

Jeremy Corbyn told the debate in Gateshead: "It’s obviously very beneficial to people... and I think we should be adult and grown up as a society and decriminalise.

“We should look at drugs policy as a whole.”

But he later clarified that he wouldn't legalise cannabis except in medical cases - at least for now.

Yvette Cooper said all drugs should ‘go through the normal processes just like any kind of drug’.

If one helps patients it should be allowed, she said.

Liz Kendall was the least in favour, saying 'many doctors are concerned about the problems particularly for young people and the risk of psychosis'.

But she added: "There should be proper trials because many people do feel strongly that it makes a difference".