Doctors now able to prescribe cannabidiol (RNZ)
The government is lifting restrictions on cannabidiol, or CBD, a substance found in cannabis with potential therapeutic value and little or no psychoactive properties.
It means doctors will be able to prescribe products containing CBD without Ministry of Health approval.
Cannabidiol is currently a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
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Strict import and export restrictions on products sourced from other countries would hold back their supply to New Zealand, Mr Dunne said.
And he said there were currently very few products which meet the quality standards necessary to be prescribed.
“However, we do know of at least one CBD product in development made to high manufacturing standards that will contain two percent or less of the other cannabinoids found in cannabis,” said Mr Dunne.
“Really what today’s announcement is about is future-proofing the system … Once the quality products become available, it means they will be able to be prescribed without any form of ministerial or other interventions.”
About time, and it’s a significant improvement on the stressful, lengthy and often unreliable process people have had to go through up until now to access this medicine.
But let’s also note that Dunne is setting up things to prevent people from growing their own cannabis, or processing their own medicine, and instead wants the control put firmly with the pharmaceutical industry and the state. Which means that people in need without funds or good access to the System will suffer. Better would be to decriminalise in ways that empower people and their communities. We need good quality, commercial CBD available for sale, but we also need to let the people already making their now continue to develop that source.
Update, The Green Party press release, which addresses some of the class/access issues,
Green Party welcomes move on cannabis, will do more
The Green Party welcomes the move by Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne to declassify a non-psychoactive substance in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), for therapeutic purposes today.
“It’s fantastic to see the Government finally accepting expert advice that CBD should be exempted from the Misuse of Drugs Act. This is one component of the Member’s Bill I put forward last month,” said Green Party health spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.
“The Greens are committed to comprehensive drug law reform, including medicinal cannabis being legal, affordable, and accessible.
“It’s good seeing policy change that will help some of the people who are currently suffering, but the high cost of importing these medicinal products continues to be a barrier.
“My Bill would ensure that sick people have affordable access. Why should people have to pay thousands of dollars a month for imported medicinal cannabis products, when the plant is very cheap to grow here?
“We are decades behind other countries on this. It’s time to ensure we can produce our own cannabis-based medicines here in Aotearoa.
“Evidence and experience overseas shows cannabis has very few side effects compared to other pharmaceutical pain relief and sleep aids, including lower risk of dependency and absolutely no risk of death from overdose.
“The best way to minimise the harms associated with drug use is to build a culture that treats drug abuse as a health issue, not a criminal one,” said Ms Genter.
That’s not decriminalisation but legalisation. Decriminalisation just means that people caught with a small amount on them won’t be prosecuted while legalisation allows people to do stuff such as grow it and process it.
We should have been doing that for decades. The reality is that we shouldn’t have followed the US in making marijuana illegal.
At anywhere from $150 to $1200 for a prescription, this is more Tory smoke screens and BS.
The majority of people who need this are disabled and poor. So once again corporations before people.
Dunne is such toady for the corporate crowed, just another Mr Quaggy.
You got a link for that adam? I’ll edit it into the post.
Weka, Not really my gig. But … The Rust comes to us sometime, either personally or those we love! And/or know!
My understanding too! It’s a smoke screen…. appearing to do something but SFU… given that there are so few _appoved CBD preparations currently available… legally. Or likely to be approved in the next several years!
A medical student Toni Catherwood who’s been active in getting the government to move on medicinal cannabis talks about the government’s decision.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/201846181/breakthrough-on-medical-cannabis-approval
(surprisingly it’s from there..)
Toni would appear to be onto it though through personal experience, and her science background as abio chemist! Has done a thorough lit review but couldn’t find link..
Here’s some of her’s I found briefly..
http://www.medigrow.org/medical-cannabis/revolutionary-documentary-will-educate-doctors-about-medical-cannabis/
https://www.facebook.com/medcannreserachaustralia/
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2017/03/debate-over-dope.html
https://mc.nz/what-is-sativex-why-so-expensive/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11729713
“adam” and others.
Or a claim on ACC.
If a doctor prescribes pharmaceuticals for pain from accidents ACC is liable to pick up the cost of treatment.
Relevant Law.
Section 20 provides cover for personal injury caused by accident.
Sections 25 and 26 define “accident” and “personal injury” respectively.
Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 1 part 1 set out when ACC is liable to pay or contribute to the cost of a claimants treatment for personal injury for which the claimant has cover.
Clause 3 provides ACC is liable to pay or contribute to costs of any service if the service facilities treatment and the service is reasonably required as an ancillary service related to treatment such as sub clause (c), pharmaceuticals prescribed by a treatment provider who has statutory authority to prescribe pharmaceuticals.
Section 6 defines “pharmaceuticals” as, among other things, a prescription medicine as listed in the Medicines Regulations 1984, or a controlled drug as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Sorry this is long winded, but good luck if you try, expect a long wait from ACC but you can win your case.
That’s nice. Too bad if you can’t afford to appeal the decision to decline cover and you don’t qualify for legal aid.
For goodness sake just decriminalise/or legalise it and be done with it.
As OP says only reason for the suggested changes is for drug companies to collect revenue through a government middleman.
Its great for some diseases but not others. Its THC that kills cancer, they know that but it seems its ‘Better that they die than let them get high”.
Both CBD and THC have cancer killing methods… some cancers respond better to THC whilst others to CBD… others need a ratio of both… youtube some videos and you will find one video of an infant’s brain cancer being healed with CBD alone… either way this plant medicine is amazing 🙂