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The purpose of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
The Scheme was created to improve access to quality medicinal cannabis products for patients.
Medicinal cannabis products are only available to patients on prescription from a doctor. Manufacturers and importers are required to provide evidence to the Medicinal Cannabis Agency that they consistently meet minimum standards of quality before they can be supplied.
Those who want to work in the industry need to hold a medicinal cannabis licence or work for a person or company that holds a licence. The licence will specify the types of activities that a licence holder may carry out, such as commercial cultivation of cannabis or manufacture and supply of medicinal cannabis products.
Timeline of the Medicinal Cannabis Agency
- October 2017: Government announces commitment to making medicinal cannabis available for people with terminal illness or chronic pain.
- 13 December 2017: Cabinet approves the introduction of a Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill.
- 20 December 2017: Bill tabled in Parliament. Read the Health Minister's media release (Beehive website).
- 30 January 2018: Bill read for the first time and referred to the Health Committee.
- 25 July 2018: Health Committee reports back to the House, having received 1,786 written submissions and heard 158 oral submissions. The Committee was unable to reach agreement and therefore could not recommend that the Bill proceed.
- 29 November 2018: Bill read in the House (unchanged) for the second time.
- 4 December 2018. Government tables Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to amend Bill.
- 11 December 2018: Bill, as amended by SOP, passes its third and final reading.
- 18 December 2018: Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 comes into force.
- 10 July 2019: Public consultation document released on Medicinal Cannabis Scheme
- 16 December 2019: Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 made under Order in Council.
- 1 April 2020: Regulations come into force and Medicinal Cannabis Scheme commences.
Stakeholder workshops
During February and March 2020, the Ministry of Health held workshops with industry and Māori stakeholders in Whangarei, Auckland, Gisborne, Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch.
The purpose of the workshops was to explain the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, provide relevant information to help stakeholders prepare quality applications, and answer any queries.
There was a high level of interest in the workshops, with 768 people across the country registering to attend. Around one-third were Māori stakeholders and around two-thirds were general industry stakeholders.
Copies of the workshop presentations are available below.
- Medicinal Cannabis Industry Workshops presentation March 2020 (ppsx, 470 KB)
- Medicinal Cannabis Maori Stakeholder Workshops presentation March 2020 (ppsx, 441 KB)
- Vision Matauranga presentation March 2020 (ppsx, 637 KB)
If you are unable to access any of the presentations, please contact us at [email protected].
Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Group
In December 2018, Cabinet agreed that the Minister of Health appoint a Medicinal Cannabis Oversight Panel to oversee the establishment and implementation of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme. The Oversight Panel was established as the Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Group.
The following table provides information about the membership and expertise of the Advisory Group.
| Member | Expertise |
|---|---|
| Dr Russell Wills (Chairperson) | Medical expertise – Medical Director, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB); General and Community Paediatrician, HBDHB |
| Suzanna Barber | Pharmacist – Registered pharmacist; Systems Manager of the Pharmacy Service at Middlemore Hospital |
| Dr David Burrell | Primary care physician – General Practitioner with special interest in pain management |
| Manu Caddie | Medicinal cannabis cultivation and manufacturing industry – Managing Director of Hikurangi Cannabis Company; President of New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council |
| Tara Creaven-Capasso | Regulatory expertise – specialist in medicinal cannabis compliance |
| Dr Brian Ensor | Palliative care specialist – Medical Director for Hospice Waikato |
| Professor Michelle Glass | Medicinal cannabis researcher – Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Otago; Chair of the Medicinal Cannabis Research Collaborative |
| Judy Leader | Nurse Practitioner - involved in establishing and leading the acute pain service at MidCentral Health |
| Kali Mercier | Policy – Policy and Advocacy Manager at New Zealand Drug Foundation |
| Rebecca Reider | Consumer representative |
| Dr Cynthia Sharpe | Medical expertise - Paediatric Neurologist at Starship Hospital |
| Simon Royal | Māori health expert - Chief Executive of the National Hauora Coalition |
Meeting minutes
The Advisory Group met on 29 April 2019, 14 May 2019, 13 June 2019 and 4 September 2019. Copies of the meeting minutes are available below.
