133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
6 July 2020
Steve Wells
By email:
[FYI request #13129 email]
Ref:
H202004602
Dear Steve Wells
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request of 23 June 2020 under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
for:
“How many licenses have been granted to grow/produce medicinal cannabis in New
Zealand in the last 12 months”
On the 1 April 2020 the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 came into
effect, thereafter, applications can be made for licenses to cultivate cannabis for medicinal
purposes and to manufacture and supply medicinal cannabis products in New Zealand.
In the period April - June 2020, the Medicinal Cannabis Agency received a total of 22
applications for a medicinal cannabis licence under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme,
covering cultivation, manufacture and supply of medicinal cannabis products. These
applications are currently being processed and to date, no licences have been issued.
In the period 24 June 2019 to 24 June 2020, the Ministry of Health issued 22 licences to
cultivate prohibited plants for scientific or medicinal research. These types of licences were
no longer being issued after 1 April 2020.
I trust that this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the
right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Medsafe website.
Yours sincerely
Derek Fitzgerald
Acting Group Manager
Medsafe