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View all Cannabis and cannabinoids in New Zealand
News analysis
Global business and regulatory news covering the cannabis industry
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Daily news alerts
Daily regulatory updates of legal changes in the cannabis sector, including monthly compilations
3rd November 2023
New Zealand: Final election results released today (3rd November) show the centre-right National Party with a majority of seats (48 out of 122). National Party leader Christopher Luxon said during a press conference that his party was in talks with the right-wing ACT Party and New Zealand First to form a government. During his campaign, Luxon said that he was “comfortable with the current settings” when commenting on cannabis and rejected a bipartisan approach to decriminalisation.2nd November 2023
- New Zealand: Eqalis CBD30, Eqalis CBD120, Symetis T17 B52, Symetis T17 Gorilla and Cumulus T17 have been verified by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency as meeting the minimum quality standard required to be supplied in New Zealand.
17th October 2023
- New Zealand: The Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) has reclassified CBD from a prescription-only medicine to a restricted (pharmacist-only) medicine. This will allow registered pharmacists to supply patients with approved low-dose CBD medicines without prescription. Currently, there are no low-dose CBD-containing medicines approved under the country’s laws.
2nd October 2023
- New Zealand: In a debate between the two parties with the best chances of winning the elections – taking place on 14th October 2023 – centre-left Labour's Chris Hipkins said he wouldn't "rule out further changes in the future" to cannabis decriminalisation, but said he would like issues of drugs to be approached on a “bipartisan basis”. Centre-right National's representative Christopher Luxon rejected a bipartisan approach to decriminalisation, saying he was "happy with the current settings".
22nd August 2023
- New Zealand: The Ministry of Health is seeking feedback on some proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019, which prescribes the minimum quality standard for cannabis-based ingredients and medicinal cannabis products. Comments on the proposal can be made to medicinalcannabis@health.govt.nz until 8th September.
31st July 2023
- New Zealand: The Ministry of Health has announced key changes to the medical cannabis regulations. The changes include expanding the medical cannabis category to include a wider range of plant forms and changing the quality requirements for exports. The authority will open a public consultation and later draft the amendment regulations. The regulations are expected to take effect by the end of 2023.
10th May 2023
New Zealand: Tilray FS THC 5: CBD 20, a cannabis oral solution, has been verified by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency as meeting the minimum quality standard required to be supplied in New Zealand.
20th April 2023
New Zealand: Medleaf High THC GG#4, a dried cannabis flower used to make tea, has been verified by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency as meeting the minimum quality standard required to be supplied in New Zealand.
3rd February 2023
- New Zealand: Medleaf High THC Zour Apple, a dried cannabis flower to be used in the preparation of tea for oral consumption, has been verified by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency as meeting the minimum quality standard required to be supplied in New Zealand.
19th January 2023
New Zealand: Changes to the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, related to product standards and approvals, are set to be presented by the Ministry of Health, according to NORML. Among the measures, expected to come into effect in the second half of the year, are multi-year and multi-site licensing and allowing the supply of batch-tested crops.
14th November 2022
- New Zealand: Four dried cannabis flowers for inhalation via a vaporiser were verified last week by the Medical Cannabis Agency as meeting the minimum quality standard required for them to be supplied in New Zealand.
Regulatory reports
Comprehensive legal reports outlining how the sector is regulated, interpretation of the laws and relevant bodies
Regulatory databases
Regularly updated global regulations currently in place, compiled into easy-to-read maps and tables
