The Medicinal Cannabis Agency has been seeking a number of changes to the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme following feedback from the industry. These changes involve amending regulations to better support economic and research opportunities for the medicinal cannabis industry.
The Medicinal Cannabis Agency is pleased to advise that approval has been given to make a number of changes to the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.
The three main changes involve:
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broadening the medicinal cannabis category definitions to encompass a wider range of plant forms.
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changing the quality requirements for exports of medicinal cannabis so New Zealand companies can access markets more readily.
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enabling a licence to possess controlled drugs to be issued for non-therapeutic research with cannabis plant material or products sourced from the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme or the Industrial Hemp Framework.
Along with these key policy changes, a number of technical changes designed to streamline and update the Scheme’s compliance requirements wherever possible without compromising the overall quality of cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products have also been agreed to. These changes do not affect the prescribing of medicinal cannabis.
The changes are aimed at ensuring the medicinal cannabis industry is on a sustainable footing going forward.
We will publicly consult on any material relating to these proposed changes that will be incorporated by reference (such as pharmacopoeial material) into the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019, and stakeholders will be informed when this occurs.
Following consultation, we will draft amendment regulations with the aim of having these in place by the end of 2023, subject to approval.
For more information about the proposed changes please visit the Ministry of Health website.
