Hon Dr David Clark
Minister of Health
20 December 2017
MEDIA STATEMENT
Medicinal cannabis to ease suffering
Health Minister Dr David Clark says making medicinal cannabis more readily available will help relieve the suffering of
people who are dying in pain.
Legislation is being introduced today to deliver on the Government’s 100 Day Plan commitment to make medicinal cannabis
more available to people with terminal illnesses or chronic pain.
“Many New Zealanders will have watched a loved one struggling with a terminal illness. Medicinal cannabis gives them
another option to find relief and make the most of the time left to them.
“There is increasing evidence to support the use of medicinal cannabis. Just last week, the World Health Organization
noted that cannabidiol could have therapeutic value and did not carry any addiction risks.”
The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill being introduced today will:
Introduce a medicinal cannabis scheme to enable access to quality products
Introduce a statutory defence for terminally ill people to possess and use illicit cannabis
Remove cannabidiol from the schedule of controlled drugs
“In time, this legislation will result in a greater supply of quality medicinal cannabis, including products made here
in New Zealand.
“However, there will be people who can’t wait. So as an interim measure the legislation will create a legal defence for
possession and use of illicit cannabis for people who are expected by their doctors to be in their last year of life.
This does not make it legal for the terminally ill to use cannabis, but it means that they will not be criminalised for
doing so.
“New Zealanders are a compassionate people. Medicinal cannabis products can help ease suffering and we should make it
easier for people to get them.”
ends