Product Costs
The cost of CBD oil and medicinal cannabis will depend upon your prescribed product and dose. Because there isn’t a ‘one-size fits all’ treatment plan for plant-based medicine, we’ll work closely with you to ensure your personalised plan gets you the best results possible. It is extremely important that you are prescribed the correct (and most cost-effective) medicine for your symptoms. If you prefer, we can also send your script to your local pharmacy.
CBD OILS
Start at $103 ea
The most affordable product will cost around $3-$4/day on a low-moderate dose. Keep in mind that the strength of CBD will vary between products. Also check to see if a product contains CBD isolate only, or has a small percentage of additional cannabinoids.
THC OILS
Start at $135 ea
Because patients usually require less THC, the most cost-effective product will cost around $1 / day on a low-moderate dose.
THC FLOWER PRODUCTS
Start at $185 ea
The most affordable flower product works out at around $14/gram but keep in mind that the strength and the THC:CBD ratio of each flower product varies.
Medicinal Cannabis Treatment Plan
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.
*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.
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.
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
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 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 Eileen McManus
MBChB, BAO, BA, MSc | Neurology Registrar
Dr. Eileen graduated from Trinity College Medical school in Ireland in 2013 and works as a Registrar in Neurology. As a doctor her main interests are neuroimmunology, metabolic therapy and holistic/natural medicine.
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.
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.
FAQs.
I am interested but I cannot afford it, can you help?
Helping you on your journey with an affordable service is important to us. We strive to keep our consultation and product costs as low as we can.
Are you able to fill out ACC certificates?
Yes we are, please read more about this here.
How do I attend an online consultation?
Once you book your appointment time, we will send you all the details you require to attend the consultation. We are using an application called Zoom which you can install for free.
What conditions can you treat?
We have consulted with thousands of patients from all over NZ from all age ranges, children through to adults. We have dealt with a wide spectrum of conditions.
The majority of our patients come to us seeking help with:
- Chronic pain – either widespread such as fibromyalgia / chronic regional pain syndrome, or specific body part pain such as neck or back pain, injury related or not.
- Mental health – anxiety (generalised and panic attacks), depression, stress, general mood and wellbeing
- Sleep disorders – insomnia, difficulty with getting restful sleep, restless legs
- ADHD and concentration problems – children and adults
- Inflammatory conditions – such as ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis etc
- Palliative care – patients wanting treatment with medicinal cannabis or to improve their quality of life due to particular symptoms
- Symptoms where there is no medical explanation and conventional medical treatment has failed
If your condition is not mentioned above, we are still happy to consult with you and offer the best advice.
I am feeling unsure, I want to give it a go but have some questions first…
That’s OK! We understand this may be the first time you are considering using medicinal cannabis and for many of our patients, they are initially anxious about the process and have many unanswered questions.
That’s why we are here to help, assist and guide you throughout your journey with us. If we do not hear back from you in a few days time, we will give you a call to see how you are getting on and answer any questions you may have.
Please contact us if you require to speak to someone immediately.
We look forward to meeting you!
Is CBD oil and medicinal cannabis legal in NZ?
Yes, CBD oil and medicinal cannabis are legal in NZ but only as prescription medication. This means a doctor must prescribe it to you. We specialize in using medicinal cannabis to help your health condition(s) and can talk to you about the most suitable treatment plan and products.
To read more about the legality of CBD oil and medicinal cannabis, click here.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil is short for cannabidiol. This is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant, along with many other compounds such as THC. CBD oil doesn’t cause you to feel impaired or high but rather works alongside a natural hormonal system inside your body called the endocannabinoid system. It is thought that some people have a deficiency in this system and by correcting this, CBD oil has a positive effect.
We are strong believers that CBD oil and medicinal cannabis can help improve your health and wellbeing by reducing the symptoms of your condition(s).
Does CBD oil and medicinal cannabis work?
Medicinal cannabis can help you if your symptoms are not improving using conventional medications or you are experiencing side effects of the treatment. It can also help you if you prefer to use plant based medicines over pharmaceutical medications.
Medicinal cannabis does not suit everyone and people react differently. We encourage you to try it and allow us to optimise a treatment plan for you to get you the most relief of symptoms as possible.
Can medicinal cannabis help me?
CBD oil and medicinal cannabis can help a range of conditions, from pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, sleep, gastrointestinal problems and insomnia. CBD oil works on the body’s own cannabis hormonal system, called the endocannabinoid system, and supplements it. Humans have used medicinal cannabis for thousands of years to help in treating various medical conditions.
CBD oil can help promote a sense of calmness, relieves anxiety and reduces pain through its anti-inflammatory effects. THC oil is very helpful for sleeping / insomnia and for more severe pain symptoms.
To read more about how CBD oil has helped some of our patients, please click here for their stories.
How much does CBD oil cost?
CBD oil costs $3-4 per day for most people. By offering you the most affordable CBD oil and medicinal cannabis products in NZ and tailoring your treatment plan to suit your body and symptoms, we are able to help you reduce that cost to an affordable level. A medium strength CBD oil bottle costs approximately $100. For THC products, a cost of $2 per day is expected. The dose your body will require will also impact on these costs.
Read more about the costs of CBD oil here.
See what CBD oil and medicinal cannabis products are available in our dispensary here.
What medicinal cannabis products are available in NZ?
There are a range of products available in NZ including CBD oils, capsules, vapes and gummies. Choosing the right product to suit your requirements is important. We can help you determine which product type is most suitable for your personal needs.
To read more about CBD products available, click here.
See what CBD oil and medicinal cannabis products are available in our dispensary here.
Can my script be sent to my local pharmacy?
Yes, after your consultation you can choose to purchase your medication from our online dispensary, or have your script sent to the local pharmacy of your choice.
I live outside of Auckland, can you help?
Most of the people we help live outside of Auckland and throughout the country. As long as you have a phone OR can attend a Zoom appointment, we can consult with you online.
To book your consultation, click here.
I already have a prescription from my doctor, can you help?
Yes we can. If your doctor has prescribed you a medicinal cannabis product, we can help you select the right product from our online cannabis dispensary. Furthermore, you will be eligible for a free nurse phone consultation to help answer any questions you may have and help you as you start your journey. After this appointment, you can email us at any time with any questions or updates about how you are getting on.
To access The Dispensary, please click here.
Can I drive & work while using medicinal cannabis?
Yes you can, as long as you do not feel impaired. CBD oil is not psychoactive, meaning it does not affect how you think. When we use THC products, we ensure it is done in as low dose as possible to provide you the benefits without any side effects.
We have helped many Kiwis that are using medicinal cannabis daily and living busy lives with work and family comittments.
Will medicinal cannabis show up on a drug test?
Your use of CBD oil will not show up on a drug test as it contains very small trace amounts of THC. If you use a THC product, this will show up positive.
You are entitled to use prescription medication and we can support you with your employer by providing letters of support and advocacy if required. We are here to help you in your journey.