A follow-up consultation is an important step in your medicinal cannabis journey.
How often will I need a follow-up?
This depends on if you are new to us or have been using our products over the long term. Generally speaking, we require follow-up appointments in the following frequency:
THC
Within the first 4 weeks of your first THC product and then 3 monthly after that.
CBD
Within the first 12 weeks of your first product then 3-6 monthly after that.
Specific Situations
Your doctor may require shorter or longer follow-up periods for you depending on your individual history and health concerns. Please discuss this with your doctor if you have any questions.
Please Note:
- If your product is not providing you the outcomes you were hoping for then a follow-up appointment is recommended to enable us to adjust your treatment plan.
- To make sure your treatment remains safe and effective, follow-ups are required approximately every 3 months. Once your treatment is stable and your doctor has no other concerns they may extend these to up to 6 months for THC products and 12 months for CBD. Regular follow-ups help us adjust your treatment, so you get the best results while staying safe.
- If you’re new to medicinal cannabis, you’ll need at least two appointments before we can extend your prescription interval.
- If you take higher doses or have medical complexities, your follow-ups may be more frequent
Why is a Follow-Up Consultation Required?
- Patient care: Ensuring that your treatment plan is as affordable as possible and you are getting the most benefit from your product is important to us.
- Moving to THC: If you are considering using a THC containing product, we will ask you for a follow-up consultation. This is because THC is a different medicine to CBD and requires our doctor to prescribe it and ensure you understand how to use it correctly.
- Requesting more products: When you are requesting further products and we have not consulted with you recently, we may ask you to book in a follow-up. The New Zealand Medical Council requires our doctors to be up-to-date with your treatment progress before approving more products.
- Treatment Plan: If you feel that your symptom(s) are being managed very well, your doctor may approve you for a longer period of time without consulting. This can be up to six months for CBD products and three months for THC products. If you feel our request for a follow up is not required, please let us know.
Medicinal Cannabis Treatment Plan.
Our Doctors and Nurses.
Dr Waseem Alzaher
BSc, MBChB | CEO
As the founder of the Cannabis Clinic, Dr Alzaher is up to date on all the latest medicinal cannabis research for a wide range of medical conditions. With a gentle and caring approach, Dr Alzaher is able to support you on your journey to a better life. Every patient through our clinic receives his personal emails and support. Dr Waseem is a shareholder & director of the clinic.
Dr Anne Craig
BhB, MbChB, Dip Paeds, FANZCA | Specialist & Anaesthetist
As a qualified anaesthetist and specialist, Dr Craig brings a world of medical experience to the Cannabis Clinic. Dr Craig is experienced in general medicinal cannabis care, but also has a special interest in working with patients who suffer from chronic pain, fibromyalgia, cancer-related pain, and sleeping difficulties. With a warm and kind approach, Dr Craig will ensure your journey on medicinal cannabis is supported and positive. Dr Craig is a shareholder in the clinic.
Dr Daniela Reyes
MBChB | General Practicioner
As a general medicinal cannabis doctor, Dr Reyes brings a wealth of holistic health expertise to the Cannabis Clinic. She is a firm believer in living your life to achieve overall health and wellbeing. Dr Reyes enjoys consulting on a wide range of health conditions, including pain, anxiety, sleep, and she is also excellent with children. Dr Reyes will be gentle and supportive on your journey to a better life.
Dr Mike Foster
MBBS (London) | Doctor
With a wealth of medical experience both here in New Zealand and overseas, you’ll be in safe and caring hands with Dr Mike. Dr Mike is passionate about integrating orthodox medicine with nutrition, stress reduction, exercise, and appropriate supplementation. After seeing many patients using cannabis with remarkable benefits, Dr Mike is excited to be working with us at the Cannabis Clinic.
Dr Monica MacRae
MBChB | Psychiatry Registrar
Monica’s own healing journey has lead her away from conventional medicine towards more holistic, natural, psychological and spiritual methods of healing. Monica has a strong belief that there is an abundance of healing plants available that should be utilised through diet and supplementation. This combined with a meditation practise, exercise, and lifestyle changes to reduce stressors has the potential to bring so much healing!
Dr Clare Halford
MBchB, Dip Paeds | Medical Director
Clare been working in Emergency Medicine for 17 years and has developed a strong interest in nutritional and plant medicine. She is a firm believer that Medicinal Cannabis is a sacred and wonderful plant that can help people to achieve balance and relief on many levels. As a highly experienced doctor, Clare will provide you with amazing care and advice.
Dr Grace Lavelli
MBBS, BA | Psychiatry Registrar
After graduating from medical school in London, Grace worked as a doctor in the UK for a few years before making the move to New Zealand in 2019. After spending some time travelling around she eventually decided to settle in Hawke’s Bay. Her main interest as a doctor lies in mental health, and after working for a few years as a psychiatry registrar, she found herself becoming increasingly drawn to a more holistic treatment approach and considering more how lifestyle factors play an important role on both our physical and mental wellbeing.
Dr James Cameron
MBChB, RNZCGP, BSc | General Practice Registrar
Dr James grew up in England and Brazil before moving to New Zealand where he completed studies in psychology and graduated medical school from the University of Auckland. In the following years, he worked across Auckland’s three main hospitals in a range of specialities as a junior doctor and is currently working as a GP in central Auckland. The healing properties of medicinal marijuana fascinate him and he believes many patients across New Zealand stand to benefit from it.
Dr Annie Borland
MPH, MBChB, DipPaeds | Public Health Registrar
Dr Annie graduated from the University of Auckland in 2015 and is specialising in public health medicine. She has worked across a wide range of medical specialties both in New Zealand and in the UK and is interested in how social and environmental factors influence health. She believes medicinal cannabis has great potential for improving people’s quality of life, and it is an exciting field to watch the science develop.
Dr Andy Owen
DO, DC (United States) | Doctor
Dr. Andy graduated from medical school in Colorado (United States) in 2013 and went on to do his residency training in Rural Family Medicine through Oregon Health & Science University. Dr Andy has been been fortunate enough to be able to travel to Haiti, Guatemala, and Kenya providing free medical care to many underserved communities. Dr Andy loves the human connection in healthcare and being allowed to help ease someone’s suffering is a special position to be in.
Dr. Ximena Hunefeldt
General Practitioner
Ximena grew up in Peru and Germany which has led to her varied interests and ability to think ‘outside of the box’. Ximena has a keen focus on drug & alcohol misuse, autoimmune diseases & ME, women’s health & hormones, as well as lifestyle & nutrition, and she has been prescribing medicinal cannabis for around 4 years.
Dr William Parkyn
MBChB (Otago) FRNZCGP, PG Dip ObsMedGyn (Auckland), PG Cert Emergency Med (ACEM) | General Practitioner
After graduating from Otago University in 2014, Dr William worked for three years in the hospital and then became a rural GP where he oversaw a wide range of patients. Most recently, Dr William has been the Clinical Director of a large Urgent Care Centre and General Practice specialising in caring for the most vulnerable. As a GP specialist, Dr William is interested in patient-centred, patient-led, medicine. Having witnessed amazing transformations in his patients using medicinal cannabis, he has decided to follow this passion to enable more to utilise the unique healing properties this ancient plant can offer. Outside of medicine I love the outdoors, gardening, listening to music, and experiencing life with my wife and 5 kids!
Dr Grace Tong
MBChB (Auckland)FRNZCGP | General Practitioner
Dr Grace graduated from Auckland Medical School in 1997 and is still currently working as a General Practitioner of 20 years. Dr Grace’s interest in medicinal cannabis was ignited by her patients who had dramatic relief from their symptoms. Dr Grace is a NZ born and bred Chinese aka a ‘Chiwi’. She honours her parents who gave her the Chinese name “Heavenly Blessing”, which she says has written her life’s path and privilege to bless and serve others (especially the broken and suffering) through physical, emotional or spiritual healing. Dr Grace enjoys sharing life with others, a good laugh, creative design and her happy place is tramping in native bush near the open sea with the tuis & fantails.
Maxine Anderson
BNurs Senior | Clinical Nurse
As New Zealand’s first Cannabis Nurse, Maxine has an interest in natural therapies and holistic healing for people with chronic conditions, Maxine is caring, compassionate, and can provide you with a quality of care that is second to none.
Ben Whitson
B.Sc (Nursing) | Nurse Clinical Lead
As a medicinal cannabis nurse with a first-hand experience of chronic poor health, Ben has an empathetic perspective with patients. Passionate about the role medicinal cannabis can play in reclaiming health, Ben will treat you with care and understanding.
Robyn Hewitt
DipN, PGCertHSc, PGDipHSc, MNurs | Senior Cannabis Nurse
Robyn has been nursing for over 30 years with the majority of her career spent in Emergency Nursing. She has recently completed her Masters of Nursing. Robyn lives in Nelson, which is perfect for tramping, trail running and mountain biking and she can often be found training for her next adventure race.
Shannon Norton
BNurs | Clinical Nurse
Shannon grew up in beautiful, sunny Nelson and completed her Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2020. She jumped straight into the DHB surgical, cardiovascular and specialist infusions unit where she was able to make special human connections as well as see a range of ailments and how best to treat them not only biomedically, but holistically too. Shannon is extremely passionate about ensuring focus on all aspects of a person’s well being, which has led her to the unique position of helping others with the sacred use of medical cannabis. Shannon believes that plant medicine when used correctly, in combination with healthy lifestyle factors, holistic healing techniques and a balanced mind can change peoples lives and the trajectory of their individual health journey. Outside of work, Shannon meditates daily, and practises the art of yoga. She is currently completing her Reiki course and spends a lot of time connecting and staying grounded with nature and her whanau.