Cannabis clinic prepares to open

Patients wishing to alleviate pain may soon be able to get a prescription from a medicinal cannabis centre in West Auckland.

General practitioner Graham Gulbransen said he hoped to open Cannabis Care in Henderson later this month. Gulbransen said he had already been prescribing Tilray CBD, an oil-based medicinal cannabis drop, since December.

He had filled out 22 prescriptions during this time, mostly for Tilray CBD.

It followed a September rule change that meant doctors could prescribe either Sativex or cannabidiol (CBD) products without special ministry approval.

Gulbransen said he had been getting ministry approval to prescribe Sativex before the law change.

The rules around prescribing medicinal cannabis may be relaxed further. The Government’s medicinal cannabis bill has progressed to the select committee stage.

It would increase the availability of cannabis-based medicinal products for the terminally ill.

The proposed bill would also provide a legal defence for anyone terminally ill who was charged with possession of marijuana.

Patients travel across Auckland to consult Gulbransen.

‘‘This is kind of a new topic that most GPs don’t know much about,’’ he said.

‘‘A lot of patients or medicinal cannabis consumers are very well informed and they just want someone who is also informed, like myself, and is willing to prescribe.’’

‘‘At the moment, we are very limited [on medicinal cannabis products] but I’m expecting through the course of this year and the future to see a [larger] range of products available.’’

Gulbransen said his prescriptions were usually for a one-month trial of the product. Those that were happy with it came back to make a long-term plan.

‘‘It’s not going to work for everyone, some people won’t return or else the expense will put them off.’’

It cost about $10 per day to take legally prescribed medicinal cannabis, he said.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said it was aware of the centre being set up. It did not require approval from the ministry.

The spokesperson said that as long as medical practitioners met ministry requirements for prescribing medicinal cannabis it wasn’t an issue.

‘‘The ministry is working with the Government to set up a Medicinal Cannabis Scheme,’’ they said.

‘‘The scheme will include an agency to oversee the import, cultivation, manufacture, sale and export of medicinal cannabis according to standards that will be enabled by the Government bill.

‘‘This will help address the availability and cost of quality products.’’

However, Gulbransen said he thought the Government needed to expand wider than just prescribing to terminally ill patients.