In The Media

It’s been five years since medicinal cannabis was legalised in New Zealand but Kiwi companies are struggling to get off the ground as GPs remain reluctant to prescribe the drug. John Weekes investigates what it will take to get the budding industry…
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An Invercargill man who uses legally prescribed medicinal cannabis to treat his mental health believes he will return positive drug driving tests despite being unimpaired. Legislation to allow roadside drug testing passed its final reading in Parliament in March and would come into force in April 2026.

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Five years ago, New Zealand introduced the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme which allows doctors to prescribe cannabis products to patients. But GPs have remained reluctant to prescribe it, with two thirds of doctors saying they would not prescribe it if a patient asked, according to research from Massey University.

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The number of older New Zealanders and chronic pain sufferers turning to medicinal cannabis has surged in recent years. Prescription data reveals a growing demand, especially among those aged 60 and over. While accessibility has improved, concerns remain about commercialisation and patient care.
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Paul “Gandalf” Smith, a prominent ‘green fairy’ in Northland, was arrested for allegedly supplying medicinal cannabis illegally. This incident underscores ongoing challenges in accessing legal medicinal cannabis in NZ.
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Police raided a Northland ‘green fairy’ operation, highlighting the struggle for medicinal cannabis access in NZ. Dr. Waseem Alzaher weighs in on the role of green fairies.
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The founder of New Zealand’s largest clinic specialising in medicinal cannabis prescriptions says there are double standards in New Zealand’s healthcare system.
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In our daily series of Q&As, we profile Cannabis Clinic founder and CEO Waseem Alzaher.
1. Where are you spending your Christmas/New Year break?
“At home with my family recovering from what was a very big year.”

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The number of New Zealanders using medicinal cannabis doubled in 2023, with men and millennials leading the charge, according to government data obtained by The New Zealand Herald. Read more here.

The growing number of medicinal cannabis clinics in New Zealand could risk putting profit before patient care, researchers say. Read more here.

You can imagine the outrage. A major pharmaceutical company opens a clinic to prescribe its opioids via online consultations and prescribes pain pills to thousands of New Zealanders around the country. Now, replace the word “opioid” with “cannabis”. Is it still OK?
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A medical cannabis dispensary embroiled in controversy across the Tasman is preparing to set up shop in New Zealand, Companies Office records show. Read more here.

Bob McCoskrie of Family First, joined us to discuss the use of medicinal cannabis, as government figures show more Kiwis than ever are using it. But what are the negatives that can come with the positives? Listen here.

Dr Waseem Alzaher of the Cannabis Clinic and Katy Thomas, mother of one of his patients, joined us to discuss the benefits of medicinal cannabis from the perspective of a service provider and a patient. Listen here.

The government recently announced its plans to implement up to 50,000 random saliva roadside drug tests a year. This will be implemented by the end of 2024.
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The head of a medicinal Cannabis prescribing and supply service says its developing a “Canna-card” ID people can present if stopped by police to show they are legally using the drug. Read more here.

New Government data obtained exclusively by the Herald shows more Kiwis than ever are using medicinal cannabis – especially in older age groups. Read more here.

It was all meant to be: exit 420, a big cannabis clinic, big cannabis pharmacy and then we turned Takapuna into the hub of medicinal cannabis in New Zealand.
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When you drive south down State Highway 1 to get to the Cannabis Clinic in Auckland, you can’t ignore the exit number: 420. The number – spoken as four-twenty – is cultural slang for weed. Read more here.

Duncan Garner talks to The Cannabis Clinic’s Dr William Parkyn about roadside THC testing in NZ. Listen here.

The government recently announced its plans to implement up to 50,000 random saliva roadside drug tests a year. This will be implemented by the end of 2024. 
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Cannabis Clinic has become a central hub for medicinal cannabis prescriptions in New Zealand, responsible for prescribing around 12,000 products monthly, and writing a third of the nation’s total medicinal cannabis prescriptions. Read more here.

4 years on from the legalisation of medicinal marijuana, Duncan talks to Dr. Waseem Alzaher about New Zealand’s policy on cannabis policy and availability. Listen here.

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to the CEO and Co-founder of the Cannabis Clinic, Dr. Waseem Alzaher, about the effectiveness of existing treatments and the use of cannabis to relieve pain. Listen here.

Auckland-based medicinal cannabis company Cannabis Clinic says there’s been massive growth in the industry since it was legalised in 2020 – and there is a billion-dollar opportunity for further growth in a market like New Zealand. Read more here.

Takapuna has been revealed as the ‘cannabis capital’ of New Zealand, due to the success of a local clinic specialising in medicinal uses of cannabis and a nearby partner pharmacy which is distributing prescriptions nationwide. Read more here.

The Cannabis Clinic in Richmond has been open just over a week but lead doctor William Parkyn said they have been fully booked so far and there is a waitlist to see one of the three doctors on site. Read more here.

People who use medicinal cannabis in New Zealand are not seeking to get high, but they’re facing repercussions from police and their employers. It’s time the law caught up, argues Clare Halford, a doctor who prescribes it.
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Increased demand for medicinal cannabis has seen the opening of a dedicated prescription clinic in Richmond. Lead doctor at the clinic, William Parkyn, says they are already seeing 250 patients in the Nelson Tasman region online, with a 57% growth in patient numbers in the last six months. Read more here.

New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Agency has received approval to make a number of changes to the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme. These changes involve amending regulations to better support economic and research opportunities for the medicinal cannabis industry.
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