Everything we've written.

420 in NZ: Origins, Myths and How It's Marked Here

Where did 420 come from, which origin stories are myths, and how is the ritual actually marked in Aotearoa — where cannabis is illegal but the culture is alive? A look at 420, J Day, and a harm-reduction reality check.

Remembering The Daktory: NZ's Outlaw Cannabis Club

For a few defiant years in West Auckland, a warehouse called The Daktory ran as an open cannabis club in flagrant breach of the law. The story of Dakta Green and his outlaw experiment is one of the most distinctly-Kiwi chapters in NZ cannabis history.

A Timeline of Cannabis in Aotearoa: 1975 to 2026

From the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to the 2020 referendum, the medical scheme, roadside saliva testing and the 2026 hemp reforms — a dated, plain-English timeline of cannabis in New Zealand.

Whakamana: Inside Aotearoa's Cannabis Museum

From a tiny Dunedin storefront to a heritage building off Auckland's K' Road, the Whakamana Cannabis Museum is New Zealand's only museum dedicated to the cannabis plant — its science, its history and its place in Aotearoa. Here's the story of Abe Gray's improbable institution.

Can Tourists Use Medical Cannabis in NZ? (Visitor Rules 2026)

Visiting Aotearoa with a medical cannabis prescription from home? Here is what the 2026 rules actually allow — bringing a limited supply, what you can't carry, and why the local scheme isn't a realistic option for short stays.

How to Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription in NZ

A plain-English, step-by-step guide to getting a medical cannabis prescription in New Zealand in 2026 — who can prescribe, the GP vs telehealth-clinic routes, what a consult involves, pharmacy dispensing and the real out-of-pocket costs.

What Conditions Can Get a Cannabis Prescription in NZ?

There is no official list of conditions that qualify for medical cannabis in New Zealand. Any registered doctor can prescribe, based on clinical judgement. Here is what prescribers typically consider — pain, sleep, anxiety, MS, epilepsy, palliative care — and why approval is never guaranteed.

3,438 and Counting: Why Cannabis Charges Are Rising Under Prohibition

Greens MP Chlöe Swarbrick says 3,438 cannabis-possession charges were laid in the past year — up roughly 50% on two years prior. Here is what that number reveals about enforcement, the 2019 discretion law, and the stalled 2020 referendum result.

Hemp's Quiet Revolution: The 28 May 2026 Rule Change Explained

On 28 May 2026, New Zealand revoked the 20-year-old Industrial Hemp Regulations 2006. Here is how the change lowers barriers for hemp growers and processors, and why it could feed the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.

Cannabis and Sleep: What the Evidence Actually Says

Sleep is one of the most common reasons people seek a cannabis prescription in NZ. Here is an honest, sourced look at what the evidence supports, what it doesn't, REM suppression, tolerance and the difference between falling asleep faster and sleeping better.

CBD vs THC vs CBG vs CBN: A Plain-English Cannabinoid Guide

THC, CBD, CBG and CBN explained without the hype — what each cannabinoid does, the entourage effect, terpenes, how the endocannabinoid system works, and how NZ law defines a 'CBD product' versus a controlled drug.

Cannabis & Driving: Impaired vs Detectable

The science of why THC impairment and THC detection are two different things — how long cannabis affects driving versus how long it stays detectable, and the safest gap before you drive.

Roadside Drug Testing in NZ: Your Rights

How NZ's new random roadside oral-fluid drug testing works, what a positive test means, what your medical prescription does and doesn't protect you from, and your rights at the stop.

Cannabis at the 2026 Election: Where Every Party Actually Stands

An election-year, party-by-party look at where New Zealand's political parties stand on cannabis and drug-law reform in 2026 — from prohibition to decriminalisation. Re-verify each stance before you rely on it.

Is Weed Legal in NZ? The 2026 Status of Weed, CBD, Seeds, Edibles & Bongs

The plain-English, fully-dated 2026 guide to what is and isn't legal in Aotearoa — recreational cannabis, CBD, seeds, edibles, bongs and dry-herb vaporizers.

Synthetic Cannabis vs the Real Plant: Why the Difference Matters

Synthetic cannabinoids are not 'fake weed' — they are a different and far more dangerous class of substance that has killed New Zealanders. Here's why the difference matters and how prohibition fuels the risk.

Drug Checking in NZ: How It Works and Where to Find It

Drug checking has been legal in New Zealand since 2021. Here's how the free, confidential service works, who runs it, what it can and can't detect, and how to find a clinic near you.

Oil vs Flower vs Vape: Choosing a Medical Cannabis Format

Oils, dried flower and vaporised flower behave very differently — in onset, duration and practicality. A plain-English comparison of the main prescribed medical cannabis formats in New Zealand.

Hemp Foods and Topicals: The Legal, Mainstream Side of Cannabis

Hemp seed foods have been legal to sell in New Zealand since 2018, and a major rule change took effect on 28 May 2026. Here's what hemp foods and topicals are, what they aren't, and how hemp differs from CBD and THC.

Smoke Mix

Official 2022 Smoke Mix

J-Day 2019 Auckland 360

We were down at J-Day May 4th 2019 in Auckland, hosted by The Hempstore.

Medical cannabis bill gets drawn in Parliament

There’s been a flurry of activity in the New Zealand medical cannabis movement in recent months, with the latest event taking place in the most influential arena in the country:…

NZWEED: Part 2 (feat Sesh & Mikey Mayz), by DontfollowSIMBA

Part two of the NZWEED documentary sees local hip-hop artists Sesh & Mikey Mayz tackle an age old question: which is better, blunt or vape? Blunt pros Social aspect: There’s no…

NZWEED: Part 1 - Land of the Long White Cloud

Where does your weed come from? New Zealand boasts one of the highest rates of marijuana consumption in the world, yet most users have little insight into the local black market…

Weed and Anxiety

What causes weed anxiety and how do I get rid of it? Part of the beauty of marijuana is that no two people experience its effects in exactly the same way. For some, the high is a…

Canada announces plans to legalise weed in 2018

Marijuana continues to inch closer to global acceptance , with Canada the latest nation to announce plans to legalise recreational cannabis. Canada’s Liberal government intends to…

Weed at the Olympics: 3 pot-smoking gold medal athletes

The 2016 Olympic Games have come to an end, and despite some early concerns - unsanitary swimming pools, incomplete living quarters and Zika virus fear mongering, amongst others -…

NSW doctors now able to prescribe medical weed

It’s not often that we willingly admit defeat to Australia, but when it comes to medical marijuana there’s no denying that our friends across the ditch are outpacing New Zealand…

What does the typical NZ weed smoker look like?

Despite Hollywood’s best attempts, it’s all but impossible to stereotype cannabis users. Transcending age, race income and just about every other traditional metric imaginable,…

Which country is installing weed vending machines in its airports?

For a country whose cultural identity largely revolves around weed, it’s a little surprising that cannabis use was decriminalised in Jamaica only last year. In 2015, the…

Will the US government really legalise medical cannabis on August 1?

The internet has been buzzing recently with the news that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) plans to legalise medicinal marijuana by the end of the second quarter of 2016…

Meet the nuns who are on a mission to save the world - by growing weed

A crackdown on the cultivation of cannabis in Merced, a small town in central California, hasn’t stopped two unlikely heroes from pursuing a holy quest to provide patients with…

Pop quiz: What's the difference between THC and CBD?

You heat up the vaporiser, pack the bowl and inhale, and you start to feel the effects of your medical marijuana . Simple, right? Well, yes and no. Behind the scenes there’s a…

Would you join a cannabis club?

When it comes to cannabis legislation, there’s no single model that is universally agreed upon as the best. For example, while Colorado’s recreational dispensaries have made…

What are Dabs, concentrates and extracts?

Have you sampled these 3 types of cannabis extracts? Ever wondered what dabs are? Get the low down on these three types of cannabis extracts and concentrates. What are Dabs,…

NZ weed prices: Are you getting ripped off?

New Zealand’s anti-marijuana stance negatively impacts consumers - both recreational and medicinal - in a number of different ways. In addition to an absence of quality control…

The average age of cannabis users, might surprise you

Seniors outsmoking the youth when it comes to medical marijuana use If medicinal cannabis were to be legalised in New Zealand, which demographic do you think would be the quickest…

Weed: The great economic equaliser

The economic disparity between the haves and the have nots continues to grow in many parts of the world, but there is one thing that promises to bring these two groups closer…

What are the benefits of vaporising cannabis?

While the use of cannabis may not be directly related to lung cancer, the fact remains that smoking any substance is ultimately harmful to your body. As the American Lung…

Support is growing in New Zealand for medical marijuana, recreational still a pipe dream

It’s no great secret that New Zealand has a special affinity for weed. More than 4 in 10 (42 per cent) Kiwis over the age of 15 have smoked cannabis at least once in their lives,…

Can you eat weed?

Looking for a healthier alternative to smoking? Interested in exploring an intense and more psychedelic high? Want to combine your passion for baking with your love for weed? If…

What are the societal benefits of regulating NZ's weed industry?

In any market, a lack of regulation can result in vendors behaving unethically in order to maximise their profits - often at the expense of consumers. This is doubly true in black…

In search of greener pastures: Why do NZ's dairy farmers want to grow weed?

Medical marijuana has been proven to be effective at helping with a range of chronic diseases - but could it also be used to heal New Zealand’s ailing dairy industry? The…

4 of the best 420 events around the world

420: What began as a code-word for smoking pot among a small group of friends in California in the 1970s became so ubiquitous that it is now considered a staple term in every…

How much cannabis can I legally grow for personal use?

As anyone with a vege garden can attest, there’s something supremely satisfying about preparing and eating a meal using ingredients that you’ve raised from a seed with your own…

Is medical marijuana safe?

From the Czech Republic to Uruguay, Washington to Colorado, many regions around the world have successfully legalised medical marijuana in recent years. This movement has provided…

How to Clean a Bong with Salt and Vodka

If you're new to smoking weed or you simply never knew this amazing quick and easy bong cleaning trick, then this video tutorial will show you exactly how to clean a bong in…

Cannabis Oil - The beginners guide

Whether you’ve rolled it into a joint or ground it up and put it in a bong, chances are you’re familiar with weed in its usual, green, leafy state. However, casual users may be…

Rolling With Rogen - How to roll a joint

Seth Rogen, one of the most well known weed smoking Hollywood actors and star of the movie Pineapple Express, shows us how to roll a joint in this new episode Rolling With Rogen.…

NZ is likely to follow Australia on medical cannabis

Big news! New Zealand is likely to follow Australia once it provides medical cannabis for use, says Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne. Mr Dunne said that trials to assess the…

Medical Cannabis bill passes in Australian parliament

Today the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill 2016 was passed in both houses of the Australian parliament, opening the doors for medical marijuana in Australia. Australia already has…

Weed in Canada - The Dark Grey market: Canadian Cannabis VICE

Cannabis in Canada is still widely illegal. With a new government entering parliament in 2016, the odds of legalization, further criminalization or decriminalization of marijuana…

How does weed work?

How does weed actually work? What are the effects of marijuana on the brain? Check out this short video for a nicely illustrated explination of what you look like, on the inside,…

What are my rights?

Cannabis use is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 . Possession of any amount of cannabis is illegal. The maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is imprisonment for a…

How do you apply for a cannabis prescription in NZ?

New Zealand blog legalise.org.nz recently posted a link to an application form which they suggest can be used by a doctor to apply for approval to prescribe cannabis in NZ. The…

Drunk vs Stoned [VIDEO]

Buzz Feed created this video to test if people function "better" drunk or stoned, The guy in this video got really drunk one night and then really high on another night and made…

Canada's War on Weed by VICE

Check out this great short documentary about Canadas war on weed with Vice. With a reported value of over six billion dollars, it's no secret that marijuana in British Columbia is…

Cannabinoid Profiles - THC, THC-A, THC-V, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC & Terpenes

Grandmas Smoking Weed for the First Time

This fantastic video shows three grandmas who had never smoked #cannabis before, trying it for the first time. Check it out!

Growing weed in NZ

It is illegal to grow cannabis in New Zealand. Marijuana is scheduled under Class C of Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The maximum penalty for importing, growing, cultivating and/or…

Hardcore pot smoking could damage the brain's pleasure center

It probably won’t come as a surprise that smoking a joint now and then will leave you feeling … pretty good, man. But smoking a lot of marijuana over a long time might do just the…

Weed in SPACE! Frist cannabis plant goes to space!

The Seed Hub launched on June1st 2013 (outside US). The flight time was roughly three hours and the balloon traveled about 95,000 feet (19 Miles) above earth and a distance of 67…

The amazing 35 gram biggest hotbox - Vancouver

The guys over at Yaletown Dispensary in Vancouver got together with The Weed Guy and made this amazing video where they torched 35 grams of bud to make a pretty intense hot box.…

Seth Rogen, Snoop, Cross Joints & Chronic GGN (Full Episode)

Funny man Seth Rogen joins Snoop Dogg on GGN, blazes up a blunt, talks about his latest movie Neighbours and shows snoop how to roll up the perfect Cross Joint. Snoop reveals the…

Colorado cracks down on weed-based munchies

Colorado passed a law on Wednesday that increases the state’s regulatory oversight on edible and concentrated forms of cannabis, after safety concerns following two deaths with…

Weed-infused coffee makes debut in Washington state

Marijuana customers in Washington state will soon be able the purchase marijuana-infused coffee called “Legal” that promises to give customers a caffeinated high if all goes to…

New developments in Europe's cannabis market

Europe has long been one of the world's largest consumer markets for cannabis resin. The European market for cannabis is now increasingly dominated by herbal products. This change…

Seth Rogen & Snoop Dogg Recap Game of Thrones

The Double G News Network got Seth Rogen together with its star anchor, Nemo Hoes (aka Snoop) to smoke some weed. Full episode coming soon!

According to Forbes, it's easier to die from drinking too much water, than from smoking too much weed

Last February, reports filtered through from Germany that two men died of cardiac arrhythmia, apparently triggered by marijuana intoxication. News that seemed to spoil the…

The Clinic: Smoke Weed and Don't Worry About Schizophrenia

Of all the scare tactics used over the last century to make people afraid of a largely harmless plant, the idea that smoking pot can cause psychotic episodes or even schizophrenia…

Study: CBD Helps Reverse Booze Brain Damage

A new study published by Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior reports that delivery of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound cannabidiol (CBD) through the skin can reduce…

Legalizing cannabis is surely the most socially forward and cost effective option available.

A team of researchers in Australia and the US analysed data from 20 mental and substance disorders to model the prevalence, premature death, and non-fatal illne ss caused by these…

New pipe ban will increase harm to cannabis consumers

New pipe ban will increase harm to cannabis consumers, and encourage users of legal synthetics to smoke more The Government will increase harm by further restricting the sale,…

Want to get rid of synthetic cannabis? Legalize real cannabis

How in Gods name is America, the home of the homicidal war on drugs now more liberal on Cannabis than we are? Have we managed to appreciate the madness that synthetic cannabis is…

Kings of Cannabis (Full Length Documentary)

Vice covers Colombian guerrilla-style weed growing in the jungle. This documentary is crazy. You might not know who Arjan Roskam is, but if you've been to Amsterdam then you've…

Katt Williams Weed's Not a Drug Cartoon Parody - Comedy

A funny funny version of Katt William's stand up. "Weed is not a drug, it's just a plant. It just grow like that. And if you should set it on fire...there are some effects..."…

What happens to your Brain on Drugs: Weed

This video shows us what you look like, on the inside when you smoke weed. It shows us what happens to your mind and your body when you smoke weed. Your brain helps define your…

This Cartoon Illustrates Why We Need to End Pot Prohibition

This cartoon, by TechtodaProductions illustrates perfectly why we need to end pot prohibition. According to TechtodaProductions, "The Flower contrasts a utopian society that…

How Weed Works: THC

This short youtube video explains how Weed works - THC, cannabinoids and receptors! Good watch!

The Art & Science of Cleaning Concentrates, Part Two: Organic Budder

This procedure, which we will refer to here as “Method II,” comes directly from the Budderking himself. For many years, Budderking has produced some of the world’s most amazing…

Non-psychoactive CBD oil made from marijuana plants poised to be game-changer

A Colorado marijuana innovation is changing the way lawmakers in even the most conservative parts of the country talk about cannabis and is poised to create a rapid expansion in…

Marijuana’s rising acceptance comes after many failures. Is it now legalization’s time?

"Ignorance, lies and propaganda only flourished in a society that did not have the means of accessing knowledge, research and objective opinion easily. It's hard to maintain such…

Cannabis in New Zealand

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in New Zealand . In the population of more than 4-million, 13.4% of those between the ages of 16–64 use cannabis . This ranks as the…