New Zealand

New Zealand’s Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 established a medical cannabis scheme. The Medicinal Cannabis Agency within the Ministry of Health oversees licensing and product quality standards. A 2020 recreational referendum narrowly failed (48.4% in favor).

Ask the Expert about New Zealand

Regulator

Medicinal Cannabis Agency

Key Legislation

Misuse of Drugs

Year Legalized

2018

Program Size

Growing domestic industry with export...

Key Facts

The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme became operational on 1 April 2020
Any doctor can prescribe cannabis-based products — no specialist referral required
The 2020 recreational cannabis referendum failed with 48.4% support
License types include cultivation, nursery, manufacturing, and research
Minimum quality standards align with pharmaceutical GMP requirements

Key Legislation

Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018

Regulatory Body

Medicinal Cannabis Agency (Ministry of Health)

Related jurisdictions

🇵🇼

Palau

Cannabis — Prohibited

🇵🇬

Papua New Guinea

Cannabis — Prohibited

🇼🇸

Samoa

Cannabis — Prohibited

🇸🇧

Solomon Islands

Cannabis — Prohibited

🇹🇴

Tonga

Cannabis — Prohibited

🇹🇻

Tuvalu

Cannabis — Prohibited

Country Info

ISO Code

Region

Oceania

Tier

Tier 1 — Active Program

Status

Medical — Legal

Sources

Medicinal Cannabis Agency Legislation — Amendment Act 2018

Disclaimer: This information is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Cannabis regulations change frequently. Always verify with official sources and local legal counsel before making compliance decisions.