New Zealand unveils regulations for medical cannabis

New Zealand has finalized its regulations for the deployment of the medical cannabis in the country. These rules will take effect on April 1, 2020.

The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme will enable the cultivation and manufacture of cannabis-based products for medical use. The program will include a licensing scheme for medical cannabis activities (cultivation and processing).

A Medicinal Cannabis Agency, attached to the Ministry of Health, is being set up to oversee the program. The Agency will provide advice on medical cannabis to healthcare professionals, industry and consumers.

The program includes restrictions on the safety of growing areas, and on the tests to be carried out before products reach pharmacy shelves, in particular to accurately identify the levels of active ingredients.

Advertising for medical marijuana will not be authorized, and a cost-recovery program will be in place to cover the costs of administering the license and the regulatory aspect of the program.

In terms of prescribing, all doctors will be able to prescribe cannabis, without the need for specialist supervision. Products will be available in pharmacies or directly from doctors. They may not be sold in a form intended for smoking, and edibles, concentrates and topicals cannot be prescribed.

Research into medical cannabis is already underway courses in New Zealand. Twenty companies are currently authorized to grow cannabis for research purposes, and a further 238 companies are authorized to grow industrial hemp. These companies will be able to apply for licenses to grow or process medical cannabis. The country's first cannabis production could therefore take place by the end of 2020. Until then, the country will import cannabis.

Future cannabis producers will be able to register seeds and plants from the black market. Fifty seeds and 20 plants will be authorized per declaration, and a person will be able to make more than one declaration for each variety.

The legalization of medical cannabis was decided at the end of 2018, after one year heated debates. In parallel with the deployment of medical cannabis, the New Zealand is also trying to legalize cannabis for adults. The proposal will be put to the New Zealand public in November 2020.