Cannabis Change

The Ministry of Health has issued a document detailing regulations around the use of products containing cannabidiol (CBD), which are no longer controlled drugs following the passing of the country’s Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act.

Items that meet the definition of a CBD product are now prescription medicines, and Ministry of Health approval is not required to prescribe, supply or administer such products for medical purposes.

Pharmacies and medical practitioners in New Zealand are now allowed to import CBD products, as are persons or companies holding a licence to sell medicines by wholesale.

And individual patients may also import CBD products provided they meet the requirements for importing prescription medicines, but not any other cannabis-based products.

A maximum of three months’ supply is allowed on a prescription for CBD products.

The full regulatory update can be viewed at health.govt.nz.

Source: Pharmacydaily.com.au, Wednesday 23 January 2019