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Common Questions

Patient FAQs

New Zealand legalized the use of medical cannabis in 2018 under strict regulations. Patients with specific qualifying conditions can access medical cannabis through a doctor’s prescription and a licensed supplier.

Qualifying Conditions:

The Ministry of Health currently lists 27 qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use in New Zealand, including:

  • Chronic pain
  • Nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy
  • Muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Palliative care

How do I access Medicinal Cannabis?

  1. Consult with one of our Doctors – Discuss your condition and explore if medical cannabis could be a suitable treatment option.
  2. Get a prescription – All prescriptions must be prescribed by a New Zealand doctor.
  3. Bring your prescription to your Local Pharmacy for dispensing or have your medication shipped discreetly to your home.
Yes, transferring your care to Cannalogy Clinic is completely possible, and we make the process straightforward and supportive.
If you’re currently receiving medicinal cannabis through another clinic but feel you would benefit from a more responsive team, a clearer treatment pathway, or a clinic that better suits your preferences, you’re welcome to continue your care with us at Cannalogy Clinic.
At this stage, due to our booking system requirements, you will still need to book our standard Telehealth Initial Consultation ($59). This ensures we collect all mandatory clinical information needed for safe prescribing.
Once our GP reviews your existing prescription and medical history, your consultation fee will be manually adjusted to $39 so that you’re not charged the full initial-consult rate for a care transfer.
During your appointment, our doctor will review your current treatment, discuss whether any updates are needed, and ensure a smooth continuation of your prescription with Cannalogy Clinic. From there, you’ll have full access to our ongoing support, follow-up consultations, and medication guidance.
If you’re unsure about anything before booking, our team is always happy to help, simply reach out and we can guide you through the process.

In New Zealand, medicinal cannabis patients can typically expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 per month on their products. The average patient spends $278 per month, which is around $1 to $15 per day.

Each health fund varies in cover and you’ll need to check with your insurer to confirm if they provide any subsidy for alternative therapy.

Cannalyzes clinical monitoring program requires patients to be consulted by our practitioners every three months or as directed by your practitioner. This helps to ensure patients are managing their symptoms as per their personalised treatment plan, ensuring patient safety and maintaining a high quality of patient care. Please continue to see your doctor for your three month follow up to review and continue your treatment plan.

What are the potential side effects?

Like any medication, side effects can occur, such as dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, and drowsiness. Discuss potential risks with your doctor.

Can I drive after using medicinal cannabis?

it is not recommended to drive while taking Medicinal Cannabis, unless complying with health professionals’ instructions. It is illegal and unsafe to drive if impaired or under the influence without a current legal prescription for the medication. 

We recommend waiting to try medicinal cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding, as scientific studies have yet to conclude its safety. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

What is CBD?
CBD, otherwise known as Cannabidiol, is one of the most well-known phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant. CBD’s claim to fame is its ability to support happy mood, balance and wellness.*

What are the effects of CBD?
CBD is a phytocannabinoid, and has been shown to help the ECS preserve the body’s natural supply of endocannabinoids. Science has demonstrated that supplementing our supply of endocannabinoids with phytocannabinoids may help the body’s ability to thrive in a wide variety of ways.*

How Is It Different Than Marijuana?
Long story short, Hemp and Marijuana are two different species of the same plant family — similar to a Roma Tomato and a Cherry Tomato. The main difference between these two species is the level of THC, so consider Hemp to be Marijuana’s sober botanical female cousin, containing less than 0.3% of THC.

What’s the difference between THC and CBD?

THC (or delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active ingredient in cannabis. It’s responsible for many of the pharmacological effects of cannabis – including its psychoactive effect.

CBD (or cannabidiol) is cannabis’s second most prominent compound. Unlike THC, it’s not known to cause intoxicating or euphoric symptoms. In fact, it helps counteract these effects.

Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the two main types of cannabis. Sativa has a higher THC content, making it more energizing and delivering the characteristic “high” one expects with cannabis. Indica has a higher CBD content and induces calm, making it ideal for relieving stress, anxiety, and pain.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is considered the master regulatory system of the body. It helps us maintain homeostasis (aka balance) in our bodies by communicating with other biological systems and helping other systems in the body stay healthy.*

What does the Endocannabinoid System Support?
We can’t say it enough: Balance. When life throws us curve balls and external or internal stressors disrupt the body’s function, the ECS is activated to return it to stability. ECS health is so important in our ability to function because of all the broad processes the ECS regulates such as balance, appetite, sleep, mood, memory, immunity and more.

Elaborate on Endocannabinoids…
The human body produces compounds called endocannabinoids that bind to endocannabinoid receptors to support homeostasis. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands and immune cells. Considered “a bridge between body and mind,” endocannabinoids help support and protect our immune system, nervous system and virtually all organs in the body.

Most medicinal cannabis prescribed in New Zealand contains THC, which can return a positive result on a roadside oral-fluid (saliva) drug test.


CBD-isolate medicines that contain no THC will not be detected by roadside saliva screening.


If you hold a valid prescription and have used your medicine exactly as directed by your clinician, the law provides a medical defence against an infringement notice.
However, this defence does not apply at the roadside. If two roadside screening tests are positive, drivers are prohibited from driving for 12 hours, regardless of prescription status.


If an infringement notice is later issued following laboratory confirmation, patients may apply for a medical defence through the New Zealand Police process:
https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/infringement-services/medical-defence


Our clinic will support patients wherever possible by providing prescription confirmation and relevant documentation required to assist in the medical defence process.