Is CBD legal in NZ?

CBD laws can differ from country to country. Some still class CBD under the same category as drugs such as heroin or cannabis. However, CBD is not a drug and has no psychoactive effects. It certainly doesn’t deserve to be categorised alongside heroin!

Countries such as South Africa have recently removed CBD from the class list. Other countries, particularly those in the EU, do not class CBD as a drug in the slightest. So what is the law over the other side of the globe, is CBD legal in NZ?

Is CBD legal in NZ

In the past, there have been some contradictions between the Ministry of Health and the government’s scientists. The Ministry of Health has previously said that the cannabis compound in CBD means that it falls under the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, government scientists say CBD should be used as prescription medicine. 

In terms of is CBD legal in NZ, the answer is yes. CBD is not listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means that customs shouldn’t be preventing CBD from being imported. However, you may be required to have a prescription to avoid any hassle.

Why is CBD different from regular cannabis

CBD contains the cannabinoid with therapeutic benefits. Benefits which can help with various conditions and ailments, from anxiety and depression to epilepsy and chronic pain. The great thing about CBD is it doesn’t have side effects other pain medications might have. 

The reason why it is different from regular cannabis is that it doesn’t contain an illegal amount of THC. THC is the psychoactive part of the plant that can have lots of adverse effects, including nausea, hunger, hallucinations and more.  In your CBD you might find no more than 0.2% THC content, which is within the legal limit. 

Why does CBD contain THC?

CBD containing THC might make you worry that the CBD won’t be legal in NZ. However, the amount of THC is so minimal that it will not get you high. The only reason why it is there is because of the way in which it is extracted. The less aggressive extraction process ensures that the CBD maintains terpenes, which can have their own therapeutic benefits. 

Can I legally buy CBD in NZ?

On the Ministry of Health NZ website it writes: 

“CBD is a substance found in cannabis that has potential therapeutic value, with little or no psychoactive properties.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is no longer a class B1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. It is a prescription medicine under the Medicines Act 1981.

As with all prescription medicines, patients must have a prescription from an authorised prescriber to import or use CBD products. If you are interested in using CBD for a medical purpose, please talk to your doctor.”

So, yes. CBD is legal. However, you will need a prescription to import it. Which shouldn’t be a problem if you are suffering from a condition that CBD might help to relieve.

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