Dear Ministry of Health,
Official Information Act Request – Martin Woodbridge / Woodbridge Research
Official Information Act Request – Martin Woodbridge and Woodbridge Research

Kia ora,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request all information held by the Ministry of Health (including Medsafe and any other sub-agencies) relating to Martin Woodbridge (MPHC, DPH) and/or Woodbridge Research | Health Matters (or any related entity, such as Woodbridge Research Ltd), from 1 January 2005 to the present (11 July 2025). The scope of this request includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Documents Authored or Commissioned
Copies of all guidelines, briefing notes, internal memos, reports, advice, or other documents authored, co-authored, or commissioned by Martin Woodbridge and/or Woodbridge Research | Health Matters.

This includes, but is not limited to, the 2007 Ministry guidance on the medicinal use of cannabis, any updates or revisions to that guidance, and any internal or external use of that guidance in policy development or decision-making.

2. Advisory Roles and Consultancy
All contracts, consultancy agreements, terms of reference, scopes of work, or other engagement agreements between the Ministry of Health (or any sub-agency, including Medsafe) and:

Martin Woodbridge (as an individual), or

Woodbridge Research | Health Matters (or any related entity, such as Woodbridge Research Ltd).

Details of each engagement, including:

Dates of engagement.

Deliverables or outputs produced.

Payment amounts, schedules, or financial arrangements associated with each engagement.

3. Hui Participation and Inter-Agency Engagement
Records of Martin Woodbridge’s attendance, contributions, or involvement in:

Any inter-agency hui, working groups, consultations, or technical advisory meetings, including but not limited to the inter-agency hui held in March2025.

Any meetings related to medicinal cannabis, controlled drug regulation, clinical guidance, or stakeholder engagement.

Copies of minutes, agenda papers, presentations, or correspondence involving or referencing Martin Woodbridge or Woodbridge Research | Health Matters in relation to these events.

4. Internal and External Correspondence
All emails, letters, meeting notes, or messaging (including Microsoft Teams, Zoom notes, or other platforms) involving Ministry of Health or Medsafe staff and:

Martin Woodbridge, or

Woodbridge Research | Health Matters (or any related entity).

This includes, but is not limited to, communications about:

The design, scope, implementation, or evaluation of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.

Patient access, product affordability, dosage regulation, or clinical standards for medicinal cannabis.

Martin Woodbridge’s role or contributions to the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) or any claims to represent New Zealand’s regulatory positions in international forums.

5. Influence on Current Regulatory Positions
Any internal briefing papers, slide decks, reports, or communications that:

Cite Martin Woodbridge’s prior work (e.g., the 2007 cannabis guidance) as rationale or justification for current Medsafe policies, the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, or other regulatory interpretations.

Reference or rely on his 2007 guidelines (or subsequent work) in the development of current domestic regulatory positions, clinical standards, or policy decisions.

Additional Notes
If any information is withheld under sections of the OIA, please specify the section(s) and provide reasons for each withholding.

If parts of this request can be provided sooner or handled in stages to facilitate timely release, I am open to discussing a practical approach with the OIA team.

I am particularly interested in understanding the extent of Martin Woodbridge’s and/or Woodbridge Research | Health Matters’ influence on the Ministry’s medicinal cannabis policies and regulatory decision-making, including any ongoing reliance on their prior work.

Please provide the information in electronic format (e.g., PDF or Word) where possible.

Yours faithfully,
Ngā mihi,
Greg Marshall