NEW ZEALAND POT FAIL

NEW Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme was supposed to improve affordable access to the products but doesn’t appear to be working as intended, health researchers say.

According to an editorial by Massey University academics, only a third of requests for medicinal cannabis prescriptions are successful, prompting many to source it from the black market.

Some New Zealanders are turning to specialist cannabis clinics to find a GP willing to prescribe, they say.

The researchers suggest doctors need more training and education around the appropriate use of cannabisbased products in order to quell this trend.

“Prescribers may feel cautious about exploring medicinal cannabis as a treatment option, as it deviates from the standard regulations for medicines,” researchers say.