The Government's Medicinal Cannabis Scheme was due to start yesterday but Covid-19 has resulted in delays to some aspects of the scheme being ready.

The Ministry of Health sent an update to stakeholders yesterday explaining the expected delays.

The head of the NZ Medical Cannabis Council, an industry body representing nearly 30 companies around the country, says while a short delay was expected the more critical issue was Government recognition of pharmaceutical cannabis production as an essential sector.

NZMCC's Ruatoria-based president Manu Caddie said the industry needed confirmation from the Government that pharmaceutical manufacturers in medicinal cannabis are essential, as most have had to abandon plants and manufacturing facilities while they wait to hear from MBIE.

“It is surprising that sectors like tobacco distributors and nurseries producing grape vines are considered essential industries, so we assume pharmaceutical cannabis producers are too, but we need confirmation before we risk heavy fines.

“Given medicinal cannabis has to be produced in high security, sterile pharmaceutical environments, it should be one of the safest workplaces in the country but we are waiting on MBIE for confirmation.”

Mr Caddie is a co-founder of Rua Bioscience based on the East Coast and has medicine manufacturing facilities ready to start producing medicines as soon as a licence is granted — but staff and contractors were unable to go to the facility to get it operational.

“We were on target to have our facilities completed this month and the grand openings had to be postponed last week for obvious reasons. But we just want to get going so that essential medicines can get out to sick people as soon as possible,” Mr Caddie said.

“Imported products have been intermittent even before the Covid-19 crisis, so Government support for domestic production is all the more essential. The Scheme is world-leading, we are all very proud of what has been achieved in the regulations, we just need to be able to start production.”

Rua's Gisborne facility was “a matter of days away” from being ready (once people could get back there), and the Ruatorea operation was about three to four weeks away.

As the new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme comes into operation, Mr Caddie says the sector needs the ability to keep moving and needs Government support by recognising the necessity of our products and services.