NZ Government Legalises Medical Marijuana

Mana By-election Candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Julian Crawford, is welcoming news that the New Zealand Government has approved the medical use of cannabis in New Zealand. The move comes despite the fact that Justice Minister Simon Power has previously stated that "there is not a single solitary chance" that cannabis laws would be relaxed while he is in government.

The Minister of Health signed the approval for cannabis preparation Sativex, allowing patients to obtain the drug on prescription from a doctor. Sativex is made from cannabis grown in the UK, which is then soaked in alcohol. The preparation is ingested in the form of a sub-lingual spray.

While the cost of Sativex remains prohibitively high for many patients, it has yet to be considered for subsidy by Pharmac. Mr Crawford also has an idea for further reducing costs. "I believe the introduction of Medical Marijuana in New Zealand paves the way for domestic cultivation and production of cannabis medicines. Producing cannabis in New Zealand will reduces costs while providing a comparable product to Sativex for patients in need," he said.