Photo: Eric Limon/ 1234RF
The head doctor of a medicinal cannabis clinic responds to concerns his sector has begun to look more like a recreational market.
A senior Massey University researcher says the medicinal cannabis scheme in New Zealand has transformed dramatically since it was implemented in 2020.
Marta Rychert says the supply of cannabis products has increased fourteen times what it was four years ago.
She says most products are now dried cannabis flower rather than oils or oral liquids and prices have dropped to become comparable to the black market.
Marta and co-author Chris Wilkins say private cannabis clinics have improved access and care for patients needing medicinal marijuana.
But they are concerned about the commercial imperative for those clinics to sell just the products they are set up to offer, while patient care may be narrowed.
That comes after the Royal College of General Practitioners earlier in the year raised concerns about the conflict of a clinic set up to prescribe one type of product.
Dr Afraz Adam, chief medical officer at Cannaplus, and Marta Rychert speak to Kathryn.
