New Zealand Grows Its Medical Cannabis Industry
Country Still Relies on International Cannabis Including from Canada – LPC
Recently, New Zealand set out the framework for its own medical cannabis industry. Like many countries including Canada, the effort started as a way to provide another pain relief option for many chronic patients.
“Many New Zealanders will have watched a loved one struggle with chronic pain, particular near the end of their lives. Medicinal cannabis products can make a real difference to people’s quality of life,” said New Zealand Health Minister David Clark. “Over time this Government’s medicinal cannabis scheme will help people ease their suffering by making a wider range of quality medicinal cannabis products available.”
Medical cannabis is already available to patients in some circumstances. However, this cannabis is imported from various sources including Canada. That makes it costly for patients. The move towards a domestic medical cannabis industry will help make it more affordable.
“These regulations put in place the infrastructure that allows us to locally grow, manufacture, and provide quality medicinal cannabis products,” Clark said. “(These products) are intended to make a real difference to people living in pain and also those nearing the end of their lives.”
NZ Domestic Medical Cannabis Industry May Go International – LPC
Clark also said that building a domestic medical cannabis industry could provide a new export market for New Zealand.
“There is huge international interest in the potential of medicinal cannabis,” he said. “These regulations mean New Zealand companies will be well placed to manufacture for both the local and international market.”
The article below states it takes “over two years” for local product to reach market. However, Clark expects launching New Zealand’s medical cannabis industry will be faster.
“There is already considerable expertise in this area with 20 companies currently licensed to grow cannabis for research purposes and another 238 growing industrial hemp. It’s expected that at least some of these companies will apply for licences for medicinal cannabis.”
New Zealand legalized medical cannabis almost exactly a year ago. It is currently considering full legalization, a question which could be decided next year. It is looking to Canada and some US states where it is legalized. Creating its own medical cannabis industry is another step in that direction.
The regulations take effect April 1, 2020. The government expects to hand out the first licences by mid-2020.
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