About

MedCan Summit 2020 was scheduled to bring together the medical, science and industry fields of medicinal cannabis in a two-day conference in March 2020, ahead of New Zealand’s new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme taking effect on 1 April 2020. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MedCan Summit 2020 is now running on the 9- 10 November 2020.

BioTech New Zealand (BioTechNZ) is a purpose driven, membership-funded organisation. Our diverse range of members share a passion for the solutions that biotechnology offers for many of the world’s agricultural, environmental and health problems.

On 1 April 2020 the New Zealand Government announced the establishment of the Medicinal Cannabis Agency who administers the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme to ensure medicinal cannabis products meet the minimum quality standard.

It is an exciting time for New Zealand as the Government has committed to improve access to quality medicinal cannabis products through:

• Enabling the commercial cultivation of medicinal cannabis and the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products in New Zealand.
• Setting standards for medicinal cannabis products so that medical practitioners can prescribe them with more confidence. A regulatory system, with controls on the cultivation of cannabis and the manufacture and supply of medicinal cannabis products, to support the Scheme.

 BioTechNZ has undertaken to hold an event that will bring together diverse groups interested in being part of the medicinal cannabis sector.

The objectives of the summit are to:

• Bring together leading experts, scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and thought leaders to gain first-hand, expert and up to date information about the world of medicinal cannabis.
• Create discussions to ensure robust understanding of the complex science and medical benefits for patients.
• Gain insights into the future of the industry for local and global markets.
• Foster networking and collaboration, nationally and internationally.
• Learn from the many years of experience from other countries.

This event will play a significant role in the aggregation of knowledge, to ensure a solid foundation of scientific understanding of cannabis for the advancement of public policy, and the nation’s overall public health. New Zealand is keen for industry to understand the challenges and opportunities within this complex and dynamic ecosystem.

Disclaimer: BioTechNZ, supporters and its volunteers take no formal position on the current parliamentary debate around the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis.