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If you want to buy CBD oil in NZ then this is the article if for you. Yes, you can buy CBD oil in NZ legally as a prescription medicine. It is considered an unapproved product. However, you won’t find CBD oil on shop shelves – you must have a prescription from a GP.
Thousands of my patients across New Zealand now have safe and legal access to many different CBD oil medicines. In this article, I will share this experience, how you can buy CBD oil in NZ, and why CBD oil may help change your life.
How Can I Buy CBD Oil in NZ?
The easiest way is to book in to see your GP for a prescription or consult in person or online with one of our experienced doctors. A consultation with your GP is usually not an expensive process but you may find that they do not know much about the various products available and how to use them correctly.
A simple in-person or Telehealth appointment is all it takes to buy CBD oil safely and legally.
The short answer
CBD oil is a prescription medicine in New Zealand, so buying it legally means getting a prescription first and then having it dispensed by a pharmacy. Any doctor registered here can prescribe it, and nurse practitioners and pharmacist prescribers can too. You cannot buy CBD oil from a retailer or a health shop, and personal imports from overseas websites are stopped at the border.
Which CBD products are available in New Zealand?
A range of CBD and THC products meeting the minimum quality standard are now available, and the list changes as products are verified and withdrawn.
CBD oils are the most commonly prescribed and the usual starting point. They are taken as drops under the tongue, which makes the dose straightforward to adjust. Strengths vary considerably, and the right one depends on your dose rather than on a preference for stronger or weaker.
CBD oils
Liquid formulations that allow a prescriber to adjust the dose according to an individual treatment plan.
Topical products
CBD is also available as topical creams and balms for localised use.
Edibles
Some products include gummies, which provide a fixed dose in each unit.
THC-containing products
THC products are available as oils and sprays, and as medicinal cannabis flower for use in a vaporiser. These are controlled drugs and are prescribed under tighter rules than CBD.
Sativex, an oral spray containing both CBD and THC, is the only cannabis medicine with full approval in New Zealand. Everything else is prescribed as an unapproved medicine, meaning it has been quality-verified but not assessed for efficacy.
You can see what we currently dispense in our dispensary, and the Ministry of Health publishes the full list of products verified against the minimum quality standard.
What is CBD oil used for?
CBD is prescribed for symptoms rather than for diagnoses, and generally where other treatments have not done enough.
We are not able to tell you what it will do for your condition, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Apart from Sativex, cannabis medicines are unapproved medicines in New Zealand, which means the evidence for their effect is not conclusive. What the evidence supports varies considerably from one symptom to another and it is stronger in some areas than others.
In practice that makes a prescription a trial with a plan rather than a treatment with a guaranteed outcome. Your prescriber will set out what they are hoping to achieve, how you will both judge whether it is working, and when to stop if it is not.
Our medical conditions pages set out what is currently understood for specific symptoms.
What does CBD oil cost?
Cost depends on the product, its strength and the dose you are prescribed, so a single figure is not much use.
The comparison worth making is cost per day at your actual dose rather than the price on the bottle. A concentrated product often costs more per bottle and less per day.
Current consultation fees and product pricing are set out in full on our pricing page, along with interest-free payment options and our Supported Access Programme for Community Services Card holders.
What happens next?
If you already have a prescription, you can order through our dispensary.
If you do not have a prescription and you want to know whether medicinal cannabis is worth pursuing, book a free nurse call. It takes about 15 minutes, it costs nothing, and nothing is prescribed on it. The nurse will talk through your situation, tell you honestly whether a doctor’s appointment is likely to be worthwhile, and explain what it costs if you decide to go ahead.
If you would rather go straight to a consultation, you can book one directly.
And if your own GP has already prescribed for you, you need neither. Send us the prescription and we can dispense.
How do I get a prescription for CBD oil?
Start with either your own GP or a clinic that prescribes these medicines regularly.
Any doctor registered in New Zealand can prescribe CBD, and so can nurse practitioners and pharmacist prescribers. A consultation with your GP is usually the cheaper route. The difficulty patients report to us is rarely that GPs refuse on principle. It is that many have had little occasion to prescribe cannabis medicines and are not confident choosing between products, setting a starting dose, or managing the adjustments that follow. Some will happily prescribe. Others will say it is outside what they are comfortable with, which is a reasonable position for a clinician to take.
If that happens, a clinic that works with these medicines daily is the alternative. Our doctors prescribe them routinely, so the conversation starts from what might suit you rather than from whether the option exists at all.
Either way, expect to be asked about your symptoms, how long you have had them, what you have already tried, and every other medicine and supplement you take. CBD interacts with a number of common medicines, including blood thinners, so that last part matters.
Medicinal cannabis is not a first-line treatment. It is generally considered when something has not responded well enough to other treatments you have been willing to try, so a prescription is not a given.
If you would rather find out where you stand before paying for an appointment, that is what our free nurse call is for.
Important: Tell your prescriber about all medicines and supplements you take. CBD can interact with other medicines, so a clinician needs to review your circumstances before recommending treatment.
Where is CBD oil dispensed?
Once you hold a prescription, CBD oil is dispensed like any other prescription medicine. You have two options.
Your local pharmacy
Your local pharmacy can dispense it. Not every pharmacy stocks cannabis medicines and some will need to order your product in, so it is worth phoning ahead rather than turning up.
The Cannabis Clinic dispensary
Alternatively, if you are our patient, you can order through our own dispensary. Every order is reviewed by our clinical team before it is dispensed, and your medication is couriered to you, which avoids both the stock problem and the trip. Repeat orders go through our medicine request form.
If your prescription came from your own GP rather than from us, you can still order through our dispensary. Send us the prescription and our clinical team will review it before dispensing.
What you cannot do is buy CBD oil without a prescription. There is no over-the-counter route in New Zealand at present. Products sold online as supplements either contain no meaningful amount of CBD or are being sold unlawfully.
Can I import CBD oil?
No, not for your own use. Personal importation of CBD products into New Zealand is prohibited, and shipments are routinely intercepted and destroyed, so ordering from an overseas website usually means losing both the product and the money.
There are two narrow exceptions. A traveller may carry a prescribed product into the country under specific conditions. And an unverified product can be imported by your prescriber or pharmacy on your behalf, rather than by you.
Our page on the legal position covers the detail, including the conditions that apply to travellers and the supply limits.
Importation rules can depend on the product and the circumstances. Check the current official guidance before travelling with medicinal cannabis or making decisions about importing a medicine.
Is hemp oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp seed oil, the kind sold in supermarkets, is a food pressed from hemp seeds and contains only trace cannabinoids. CBD oil is extracted from the flowers and leaves, contains meaningful amounts of cannabidiol, and is a prescription medicine.
They are not interchangeable, and buying hemp seed oil is not a way around needing a prescription. Our guide to hemp oil explains what it is actually useful for.
Remember: Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are different products. Check the product description and ingredients carefully, and speak with your healthcare professional if you are unsure what a product contains.
Buying outside the legal supply chain
There is a long-standing informal supply of cannabis oils and creams in New Zealand and it has not gone away. Buying that way is unlawful, and the 2020 referendum on legalising recreational cannabis did not change that.
Setting the law aside, the practical problem is that you do not know what you are taking. With an unregulated product there is nothing confirming that the label matches the contents, nothing confirming that this bottle holds the same amount as the last one, and no testing for heavy metals, pesticides, solvent residue, bacteria or mould. For a healthy adult that is a gamble. For someone unwell, taking other medicines, or treating a serious condition, it is a worse one.
Consistency matters more than people expect. Adjusting a dose only works if the dose is the same each time. If the concentration varies between batches, neither you nor your prescriber can tell whether a change in your symptoms came from the medicine or from the bottle.
There is also no recourse. If an unregulated product harms you, interacts with something else you take, or simply does nothing, there is nobody accountable and no adverse reaction to report.
Prescribed products are verified against a minimum quality standard before they can be supplied. That verification is a large part of what you are paying for.
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CBD oil has been legal in NZ since late 2017 when it was de-classified as a controlled drug. Some other controlled drugs include morphine and oxynorm. There was a huge sigh of relief when CBD was removed from this list as it really has no similarities to those other medications which have potential for harm if used incorrectly.
If CBD oil is legal, why do you need a doctor’s script to buy it? That’s a very good question. In many other countries, you can access CBD oil off the counter in pharmacies and health food shops as it is safe and very well tolerated. In NZ, however, it is still considered a prescription medication.
Here at the Cannabis Clinic our team of registered doctors are medicinal cannabis experts and our process is legal and fast. Your doctor will consult with you and discuss your medical history and current medications then consider prescribing the best CBD oil product for you.
Where Can I Buy CBD Oil?
Once you have a prescription for CBD oil, you can purchase it at your local pharmacy or via our Clinic.
How Much Does CBD Oil Cost?
CBD oil usually costs $2-5 per day and a medium sized bottle is usually around $200. Smaller CBD bottles are around $100 while really concentrated bottles are $400.
A rough cost indication is:
- 750mg – $80 – $130
- 1000mg – $100 – $150
- 1500mg – $200
- 2000mg – $250
- 2500mg – $300
- 4500mg – $450
THC oil bottles are $190 – $250.
Sativex CBD / THC spray is $1000 – $1100 per pack.
Cannabis flower is not yet available in NZ.
While this may sound like more than what you see online for $50 or so, what they do not tell you is that product contains very small amounts of CBD, usually in the 300 – 500mg range. For most people, that dose would only last 3-5 days of use!
Read my article to learn everything you need to know about the cost of CBD oil in NZ, and how you can save on price.
What CBD Oil Products Are Available in NZ?
There are a wide range of CBD products that your doctor can prescribe for you. We cannot list them out here due to legal restrictions but this can be discussed with you during your consultation.
Prescriptions available range from weaker strength CBD oils, to those that have are several thousands of milligrams and are very concentrated.
There are also many different carrier oils used with CBD oil. These include hemp seed oil, coconut oil and even olive oil. Then there are full spectrum, broad spectrum and CBD oil isolates
When you put the above together, you do get many potentially confusing options for you to choose from which leaves many people confused. Not to worry, I can help you here!
Choosing the right product is important from both a financial and health point of view. Read my article to learn more about CBD products.
Can my doctor prescribe CBD oil?
Yes your own doctor or GP can prescribe you CBD oil. Finding someone experienced enough to give you the right advice is the tricky part. Most doctors are unfamiliar with it.
To find out more, read my article about CBD oil prescriptions where I discuss everything you need to know, including how to talk with your GP about using CBD Oil and what you can do if they decline.
Green Fairies and CBD Oil
Green Fairies also sell CBD oil tinctures and creams but with the recent cannabis referendum of 2020, it continues to be an illegal way to access CBD oil and you are left without legal defence should any problems arise.
In my opinion, it is important to buy CBD oil through legal channels so that:
- You know what you’re getting.
- Consistency – is what’s on the label and what’s in the bottle the same thing? And are you getting the same dose every time?
- There are no harmful substances present in the product such as heavy metals, bacteria, fungus, viruses, herbicides, or pesticides. All medication needs to have consistent quality and safety standards.
Hemp Oil – Is Buying Hemp Oil the Same as Buying CBD Oil?
No, hemp oil, also known as hemp seed oil, has no CBD in it. You can buy a variety of hemp seed oils online and from the supermarket and these provide many healthy fats and act well as a dietary supplement, but it does not replace using CBD oil for a particular health condition.
Sometimes people confuse the terms phytocannabinoid or full spectrum hemp oil as being the same as CBD oil. They are not.
If you are looking for a healthy supplement to your diet or an oil you can use over a salad or a snack, then hemp seed oil is a great addition.
If you are looking to use CBD to try and see if it will help you with pain, anxiety or sleep then ensure you buy genuine CBD oil.
Can I Buy CBD Oil Online?
There are options out there that claim to sell you CBD oil online in NZ without the need for a prescription. The issues you will face include that fact that you do not know the quality and safety of the product you are getting and, secondly, your product might be stopped and destroyed at the border. Read below to find out more…
Can I Import CBD Oil?
No, you cannot import your own supply of CBD oil. This previously used to be an option that many people were relying upon. Unfortunately, since the launch of the medicinal cannabis scheme in NZ on the 1 April 2020, it has became illegal to import your own CBD oil.
This means that for many people, their product is stopped at customs and destroyed. I don’t encourage you to do that as it will waste your time and money.
It is also interesting to note that actually the local medicine prices are quite comparable in price to overseas products, making the entire exercise not worthwhile.
CBD Oil Possible Benefits
CBD oil has many possible benefits to your health. Most people I have consulted with have tried using it for pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia or sleeping difficulty, ADHD, inflammatory bowel disease, various neurological conditions or tremors or cancer treatment side effects.
I have also used CBD oil for many additional conditions other than the above.
CBD oil works on a hormonal system in your body, called the endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for many of the functions of the human body and we are still learning how exactly it works. It certainly is not something taught at medical school or that your local GP knows about…
CBD Oil – Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBD oil?
Learn in more detail about what CBD oil actually is and how it works in the body. As I’ve already noted your body contains a natural cannabis-like system with receptors and this is why CBD Oil can help.
Is CBD oil legal in NZ?
Read about the legalities surrounding CBD oil and THC in NZ. Find out why importing CBD oil is no longer possible for patients.
Is CBD oil safe?
We commonly get asked if CBD oil is safe to use and if it interacts with other medications. This article explains how CBD oil is safer than paracetamol and why you should consider giving it a go.
What Are My Next Steps?
Now that you know about buying CBD oil in NZ, you can decide what to do from here. If you want to speak to one of our professional and experienced doctors about using CBD oil, please click here.
Conclusion
You can buy CBD oil in NZ through a prescription from your doctor. Consultations through the clinic are quick, easy and private. Once you have a prescription, you can buy CBD oil through your pharmacy or via our Clinic if you are our patient.
If would like to speak to an expert about getting a prescription for CBD oil, talk to one of our friendly and experienced doctors today!
CBD has helped thousands of Kiwis and if it has helped you, or if you have any questions, please share with me below.
Disclaimer – medicinal cannabis and CBD oil are unapproved medicines in NZ which means that there is no conclusive evidence for their effect, apart from Sativex. Many doctors do not routinely prescribe cannabis medicines. The above article was written for general educational purposes and does not intend to suggest that medicinal cannabis can be used to treat any health condition. Please consult with your healthcare provider.
Disclaimer: Medicinal cannabis and CBD oil are unapproved medicines in NZ which means that there is no conclusive evidence for their effect, apart from Sativex. Many doctors do not routinely prescribe cannabis medicines. The above article was written for general educational purposes and does not intend to suggest that medicinal cannabis can be used to treat any health condition. Please consult with your healthcare provider.