12 August 2025
A Jordan
[FYI request #31622 email]
Kia ora
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-041605
Thank you for your email of 17 Jully 2025, asking for the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
The number of review applications received by ACC in 2024 and 2025 (to date) related to the
prescription, funding, or treatment involving medicinal cannabis.
Copies of al review decisions/outcomes issued during 2024 and 2025 (to date) where medicinal
cannabis was a substantive issue considered by the reviewer or review hearing.
The number of review applications
To extract the number of reviews lodged regarding prescriptions, funding, or treatment involving
medicinal cannabis, we would have to manually review all reviews lodged for claims where medicinal
cannabis had been funded. Therefore, we are refusing to provide the data requested as it would require
substantial collation and research to extract. This decision has been made under section 18(f) of the
Act.
In doing so, we considered extending our timeframe to respond and charging (as allowed under the
Act). However, it was determined that the resources required to extract the data would have a
significant impact on the everyday functions of the team/s involved.
However, we can advise that between 1 January 2024 and 28 July 2025, there have been 72 reviews
lodged about claims where medicinal cannabis has been funded.
Review decisions
The table below provides the outcomes of the 72 reviews. The data was extracted on 28 July 2025 and
may differ if extracted again at a later date.
Review outcome
Number of reviews
Settled
9
Overturned – Incorrect*
6
Overturned- New information**
9
Dismissed
13
Withdrawn
13
Quashed
4
Pending decision
18
GOV-041605 Page 1 of 2
Review outcomes
ACC uses review closure codes, which are applied to reviews to track the review outcomes. Further
details about the overturned codes are as follows:
· Overturned - New information - The decision was changed in favour of the client because of
any new information (medical notes, additional evidence from the client, internal clinical advice
etc.).
· Overturned - Incorrect - The decision was changed in favour of the client because the original
decision was incorrect (misinterpreted existing records or misapplied law etc.).
We are withholding copies of the review outcomes, in full, to protect our clients’ privacy. This decision
has been made under section 9(2)(a) of the Act. In doing so, we considered making the information
available and determined that it did not outweigh the need to protect our clients’ privacy.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public
ACC may publish a copy of this response on ACC’s website. All requester data, including your name
and contact details, will be removed prior to release. The released response will be made available
www.acc.co.nz/resources/#/category/12. Please also view this page about making requests and our
published response
s https://www.acc.co.nz/contact/official-information-act-requests. If you have any questions about this response, please get in touch
You can email me at
[email address]. If you are not happy with this response, you can
also contact the Ombudsman vi
a [email address] or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Ngā mihi
Christopher Johnston
Manager Official Information Act Services Government Engagement
GOV-041605 Page 2 of 2
