Medicinal cannabis statistics: More taking it, Rotorua family speak out about benefits

Rotorua Daily Post 31 October 2020
New Government data shows the number of people getting prescribed medicinal cannabis jumped by 84 per cent in the first six months of this year. In the Bay of Plenty, there are now 147 people prescribed the drug out of a total of 1842 nationwide…

The latest Government data on cannabis subscriptions was compiled and analysed by a group of doctors at the Cannabis Clinic, whose medical practice is the country’s largest prescribe of medicinal cannabis.

Out of the Bay of Plenty’s applications, nearly half (47 per cent) were for conditions which cause chronic pain – higher than the national average of 27 per cent.

In the Bay of Plenty, 11 per cent of applications are for mental health conditions, 14 per cent for sleep, 15 per cent for digestion, 6 per cent for cancer, 4 per cent for neurological issues and 2 per cent for skin complaints.

More than a third (37 per cent) of applications for prescriptions originate from patients in the Auckland region, with Cantabrians and Wellingtonians making up a further 11 per cent each. Waikato patients make up 9 per cent and Otago 6 per cent.

Medicinal cannabis use is heavily regulated in New Zealand. Under regulations made under the Misuse of Drugs Act and Medicines Act, every prescription for medicinal cannabis written by a doctor must be notified to the Government.

Government figures show that prescriptions for medicinal cannabis have increased from 1002 in January this year to 1842 by July.
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