An Independent TD has said there is a difference between legalising cannabis for medicinal and recreational use.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan said he supports government moves to allow the use of cannabis-based drugs for conditions like MS.

However he said medicinal products should not be seen as a back door to allowing recreational cannabis, and that the two are separate debates.

Deputy Flanagan has written a bill to allow cannabis for recreational use, which will be voted on later this year.

"I am very clear that it should be a separate issue," he said.

"The last thing that I want is people thinking that I would be talking about legalising medical cannabis as some sort of a back door to legalising it for recreational reasons

"They are two separate arguments and that is the reason why I don't mix the two of them up."