Country profile · Asia-Pacific
New Zealand
The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (2020) licenses domestic cultivation and sets product standards, with prescribing by any doctor.
Adult-useNot legalPossession for non-medical use is an offence.
MedicalEstablishedA functioning prescription market with domestic or imported supply.
RegionAsia-Pacific
Last reviewedStatuses reviewed quarterly by our newsroom
The law in brief
The Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (2020) licenses domestic cultivation and sets product standards, with prescribing by any doctor. A 2020 referendum on adult-use legalisation was narrowly defeated.
Our classification for New Zealand: adult use not legal, medical cannabis established.
Adult-use: Not legalPossession for non-medical use is an offence.
Medical: EstablishedA functioning prescription market with domestic or imported supply.
Key dates and latest developments
Helius Therapeutics to Supply New Phase 2 Cannabis Sleep Trial
Clinical Research
‘Legislation Opens a Market, It Does Not Build One’: APAC’s Future Leaders Will Be the Ones Who Do
Opinion
Rua Bioscience Signs its Largest-Ever Export Deal With Unnamed UK Cannabis Clinic
Cultivation
Voices of Cannabis Europa: Carmen Doran, Chair of the NZMCC, & Rawiri Manawatu, representative of Ngai Tahu
Interviews
