Health Minister Andrew Little responds on medicinal cannabis

Last week Nine to Noon looked at the situation with the availability of medicinal cannabis in New Zealand. October 1 marked an end to the bulk importation of unapproved products, leaving just four products from Canadian company Tilray as the only ones that have managed to meet the minimum standards that came into effect in April 2020. Medsafe has left the door open for doctors and pharmacies to import directly for patients on an individual basis, but there are concerns about how practical this is. Since the scheme was set up, no New Zealand companies have got medicinal cannabis products to market, although two have recently been granted certification to begin manufacturing. However, they'll then still have to meet those stringent minimum standards. So, where does this leave patients? In a stinging interview on Friday with the New Zealand Herald, Health Minister Andrew Little said if any patients suffer, it's because the industry "didn't get off their asses". Kathryn speaks with him about how well the scheme is working for medicinal cannabis patients.