Medicinal cannabis is available legally in New Zealand through an appropriate prescriber. Patients can start with their doctor, or another authorised prescriber, including practitioners working through medicinal cannabis clinics.
Starting With a Consultation
The first step is a consultation. Your practitioner may discuss your health history, symptoms, current medicines and whether medicinal cannabis could be appropriate.
If treatment is prescribed, the prescription will specify the medicinal cannabis product and how it should be used.
Getting Your Medicinal Cannabis
After the consultation and prescription, patients may be able to obtain their medicine through the clinic’s dispensing arrangements or a pharmacy, depending on how that provider operates.
You normally don’t need a completely new initial consultation every time you collect medicine while you have a valid prescription or authorised repeats.
Follow-Up Consultation
Your clinic or prescriber may require a follow-up consultation periodically to review:
- How well the treatment is working
- Side effects
- Dosage
- Changes in your health or medicines
- Whether treatment should continue
The timing can vary, so patients should check directly with their clinic or prescriber rather than assuming every prescription lasts 3,6 or 12 months.
Clinics and Pharmacies
MedicinalCannabis.co.nz helps patients find medicinal cannabis clinics and pharmacies throughout New Zealand, making it easier to compare providers and contact them directly.
Important: This is general information, not medical advice. Prescription and follow-up requirements depend on the patient, product and prescriber.
