New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme

Medicinal cannabis in New Zealand is a regulated pharmaceutical pathway, not a general licence to use cannabis. Since 1 April 2020, the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 has allowed medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis-based products that meet the quality standards set by the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, which is administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA) within Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines regulator (New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2020). The scheme legalises access only through a prescription from a medical practitioner, and products must be manufactured to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and approved by the Ministry of Health.

The thing newcomers most often get wrong is that “legal medicinal cannabis” does not mean a patient can legally smoke raw plant material or buy unregulated products. The legal product is a manufactured pharmaceutical. Raw flower is available, but it is prescribed and dispensed through a pharmacy, not a dispensary, not a coffee shop, and not a friend with a grow tent. The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency within Medsafe, sits under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019, which came into force on 1 April 2020. This page explains how the scheme works, what is legal, what is not, and how to move through the system safely.

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What the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme actually is

New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Scheme is the regulatory framework that allows a medical practitioner to prescribe a manufactured cannabis product to a patient. It is not a general licence to use cannabis, and it does not change the legal status of cannabis as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The scheme was introduced by the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 and became fully operational on 1 April 2020, when the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 came into force (New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2020).

The scheme is administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA), which sits within Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines regulator. The MCA licences companies to cultivate, manufacture, supply and prescribe medicinal cannabis products, and it maintains the public register of products that meet the required standard. The legal route is always the same: a medical practitioner issues a prescription, and a licensed pharmacy dispenses a product that has been assessed against the quality standards of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme. The scheme does not create a general licence to use cannabis, and it does not legalise smoking raw plant material outside a prescription.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, cannabis remains a controlled drug. The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 created the current legal framework; the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme itself was fully operational from 1 April 2020. The scheme is administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency, which sits within Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines regulator. Products must meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and be approved under the scheme before they can be prescribed. The New Zealand Ministry of Health publishes the rules and product approvals; the NZ Formulary lists the prescribing guidance that clinicians use.

The patient pathway is straightforward in theory: a doctor who believes cannabis may help issues a prescription, the prescription is taken to a licensed pharmacy, and the pharmacy sources a scheme-approved product. In practice, most GPs are not yet authorised prescribers and many refer to specialists or clinics that work within the scheme. The products are manufactured pharmaceuticals, not raw plant material sold over the counter, and the raw flower, while available, is prescribed and dispensed through a pharmacy, not a dispensary.

The scheme is administered by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA), a unit within Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines regulator. The MCA licences companies to cultivate, manufacture, import and supply medicinal cannabis products, and the products must meet GMP standards and be approved by the Ministry of Health (New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2020). The scheme began with the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act, which was passed in December 2018 and came into force on 1 April 2020. Under the scheme, a medical practitioner can prescribe a “controlled drug” for a patient, but the product must be a “prescription medicine” that meets the quality standards set out in the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019.

The Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA), a unit within Medsafe, administers the scheme. It licenses cultivators, manufacturers and suppliers, and it maintains a public list of “controlled drug” products that meet the minimum quality standard. The scheme does not legalise recreational use. Possession of cannabis for personal use remains illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, even for registered patients, unless the product was supplied through a lawful prescription and is in their possession for the prescribed purpose. The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 created the framework, and the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 set the rules that took effect on 1 April 2020.

The pathway to a prescription: a medical practitioner (a doctor, or in some cases a nurse practitioner) can prescribe a CBD or THC product if they consider it clinically appropriate. The prescriber does not need a special licence under the scheme, but must follow the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977. Since 1 April 2020, the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme allows New Zealand-registered medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis products that meet GMP standards. The prescription is written on a controlled drug prescription form, and the product is dispensed at a pharmacy. The patient does not need a special licence.

Products: The scheme covers two main product categories: CBD-dominant and THC-dominant products, plus balanced (1:1) options. All must meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, be approved by the Ministry of Health, and be dispensed by a pharmacist. The raw flower (dried bud) is a legal product when prescribed and dispensed through a pharmacy; it is not a licence to smoke raw plant material bought elsewhere.

Access: In 2020, the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came into force under the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018, replacing the previous “compassionate supply” pathway. The scheme allows any medical practitioner to prescribe, and products must meet GMP and be notified to the Ministry of Health. The Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA) within Medsafe issues licences and manages the scheme. The NZ Formulary lists cannabis products with official guidance for prescribers.

Products and availability: As of 2025, over 30 products are available by prescription. Products include dried flower for inhalation, oils, capsules, and oral sprays. Flower is not smoked; it is vaporised. The raw plant material is not a legal “herbal remedy” and cannot be sold outside the prescription pathway. Products are categorised by THC and CBD content, and the ratio matters more than the absolute numbers for clinical effect.

Prescribing: Any doctor can prescribe, but in practice most GPs refer to a cannabis clinic or specialist. The prescriber must complete a controlled drug prescription form, and the patient must be under their care. The product is dispensed by a licensed pharmacy. The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 legalised the scheme; the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 set product standards and licensing.

Quality standards: Products must meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, be tested for contaminants, and be approved by the Ministry of Health. The Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA) manages licences for cultivation, manufacture, supply, and import/export. Products are listed on the NZ Formulary with specific monographs. The scheme does not cover raw plant material for smoking; flower is available but must be prescribed and dispensed through a pharmacy.

Patient pathway: A patient must first consult a medical practitioner (GP or specialist). The practitioner assesses eligibility, discusses risks and benefits, and if appropriate, writes a prescription. The prescription is taken to a pharmacy that stocks or can order the product. The pharmacy dispenses the product with counselling. Some patients use a specialist cannabis clinic. The prescription is not funded by Pharmac; the patient pays the full cost, typically NZD 200-600 per month (2024 figures from the New Zealand Drug Foundation). The patient must also meet the legal requirements: be over 18 (or have a guardian), have a qualifying condition, and have exhausted conventional treatments.