It’s a move that could see the medicinal cannabis industry skyrocket—perhaps even rivaling the country’s famed wine industry in a few years. Who knew Sauvignon Blanc and CBD oil could become New Zealand’s power duo?
One of the biggest shifts in the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (New Zealand’s official name for the program) is that exports now only need to meet “the standards of the importing jurisdiction,” rather than New Zealand’s own quality standards. This little tweak, as reported by TVNZ, means local operators won’t be tripped up by extra hoops when sending their products overseas. Think of it as getting to wear sneakers to a formal event, just because that’s what the host is cool with.
Helius Therapeutics, an Auckland-based MMJ operator, outlined some other key changes in a news release, including:
- Streamlining the licensing process (because who doesn’t love a little less paperwork?),
- Updating testing and lab requirements,
- And, as they put it, “improving a range of other matters which reduce costs and time for the sector, whilst still maintaining trusted high standards.” Translation: faster, cheaper, and still top-notch.
These changes took effect immediately, according to TVNZ, so the wheels are already in motion. Bruce Wallace, Helius’ chief quality officer, sounded pretty upbeat about the whole thing, telling the broadcaster, “The export potential of the medicinal cannabis industry is huge—it could rival the wine industry in a few years.” Considering the world’s love of both fine wine and cannabis, that’s not a bad bet!
The rule change happened in mid-July, giving the industry fresh momentum. New Zealand has had its medical cannabis program running since April 2020, but unlike some other countries, adult-use cannabis is still off the table. Even so, medical marijuana prescriptions have doubled over the past year. The only downside? Cannabis products remain expensive—probably too expensive for a nation known for its laid-back, beachy vibes.
Industry insiders are crossing their fingers that allowing exports will help bring down the cost for patients back home. With any luck, this could mean more affordable medical cannabis and a booming export market. Now that’s something to toast to—maybe with a nice glass of Pinot and a side of CBD!
Photo by denizunlusu from Getty Images Signature
