There will be improved access to high quality medicinal cannabis with the proposed regulations for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme.
The scheme sets out who can produce medicinal cannabis, who can prescribe it and who can use it.
The scheme proposes:
- A wider range of medicinal cannabis products be made available. This would include products that are both imported and manufactured locally.
- Medical practitioners would not be restricted by a list of conditions for which they can prescribe medicinal cannabis and specialist sign-off will not be required for most prescriptions.
The new regulations will become operational in April 2020. A new Medical Cannabis Agency is being established to administer the scheme.
The Drug Foundation's submission on the Misuse of Drugs Medicinal Cannabis Amendment Bill 2018
In this submission we propose a compassionate but practical alternative for the regulatory approach set out in the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill.
NZDF Submission on the Misuse of Drugs Medicinal Cannabis Amendment Bill 2018 ( PDF 605kb )
Here are some key sources for the most up-to-date information on medicinal cannabis
Medical Cannabis Awareness New Zealand
If you’re a patient requiring support, you'll find plenty of up-to-date information here.
Ministry of Health medicinal cannabis information page
Get information straight from the Government's website
Related See more
Drug Foundation: Medical cannabis scheme will be judged on patient access
Regulations governing New Zealand’s medical cannabis programme, released today by Health Minister David Clark, are an improvement on the ear...
Unawareness and cost block cannabis prescriptions
Although medicinal cannabis was made legal in New Zealand, the medical profession has been slow to widely adopt the new option. Russell Brow...
Why we need to vote yes
Chloe Ann-King and Hannah McGowan argue that New Zealand should vote yes to cannabis, because it can help mitigate physical, mental and emot...
Surprise finding: cannabis may beat cold turkey
A growing body of overseas research has revealed that cannabis could help break harder drug dependence. Legalisation could allow more resear...
Sign-up for email updates
The latest New Zealand drug news, analysis and updates from us.
Health Not Handcuffs
A coalition of organisations committed to changing our drug laws, particularly around cannabis