Tagged · 45 articles
#New Zealand
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 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.
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.
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 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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…