There is a lot of confusion, uncertainty and lack of reputable information about Medicinal Cannabis.

Hence it is very important that individuals (with health issues such as chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, cancer related side effects amongst other medical conditions), access reputable health platforms to access Medicinal Marijuana.

In order for health professionals, to practice management of patients with Medicinal Cannabis “It is imperative that they achieve competence by study, courses and other education resources about Medicinal Cannabis”

Many Medicinal Cannabis portals are run by Health professionals with little or no training about Medicinal Cannabis.

An ideal Medicinal Cannabis portal, needs to have a Multidisciplinary team with appropriate knowledge and qualifications to be able to manage a patient in a holistic manner in their Medicinal Cannabis journey.

Thankfully with the advent of telemedicine, there are a number of reputable educational portals on Medicinal Cannabis, to assist the Health professional to acquire the required knowledge and it is up to the health professional to avail of these.

The interactive synergy between various cannabis compounds is called Entourage effect.

When various compounds within cannabis are combined, they collectively interact in the human body leading to astronomical results in comparision to individual compounds.
There are over a hundred different “Trepenes” in the cannabis plant and their interaction produces the Entourage effect.

CBD is more effective when it is ingested with other cannabinoids at the same time, as opposed to standard CBD oil, used in an isolated form with no other cannabinoids attached. Using the whole hemp plant, full spectrum CBD contains all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, along with trace amounts of THC.

While CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, it does not bind to them. This is rather unusual among cannabinoids. By using full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD oil, you will be consuming a range of cannabinoids that bind to receptors located in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. You can think of the entourage effect as the enhancement of your endocannabinoid system through the use of multiple cannabinoids.

Health benefits abound when high-quality medicinal cannabis is consumed by humans. The entourage effect may be one of the reasons why marijuana is such an effective medicine.

There are concerns about the availability of Medicinal Cannabis in NZ.

Beyond 31 March 2021, when a deadline to meet stiff new government rules is expected to keep the products of some the country’s main importers out of the market.

In April 2020, the government unveiled a new regulatory system to create more safe, widespread and affordable access to medicinal cannabis. It is yet to approve any product.

On March 31, special provisions, which have allowed companies to import under an old, stop-gap system will expire.

Even after receiving ministry verification, products will face a lag in reaching New Zealand. Companies require licences to both import to New Zealand and export from abroad, these cannot be obtained until after verification, and shipping times are uncertain.

Domestic production, still in its very early stages, is not likely to reach the market until late this year.

Ministry of Health spokesperson have indicated that as of now even though
no products have been approved under New Zealand’s new system, it does expect “a number of products to be verified as meeting quality standards by 1 April 2021.”

So looks like Medicinal Cannabis consumers, will have access to products after 1st April 2021, though it is not yet clear which products will be approved

We are fortunate that Medicinal Cannabis is legal in New Zealand.

The Medicinal Cannabis Agency administers the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme and ensures medicinal cannabis products meet the minimum quality standard.

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicinal-cannabis-agency

In a society that has witnessed extensive positive experiences with medicinal marijuana, individuals with a variety of medical conditions, should have the right to access it.
A New Zealand registered Doctor can prescribe Medicinal Cannabis for the suitable patient.

Interestingly many Doctors do not prescribe Medicinal Cannabis for deserving patients

There is a lot of confusion, uncertainity and lack of reputable information about Medicinal Cannabis.

Hence it is very important that individuals (with health issues such as chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, cancer related side effects amongst other medical conditions), access reputable health platforms to access Medicinal Marijuana.