Medicinal cannabis is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients that may be used to treat various medical conditions.

The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act allows for a much broader use of medicinal cannabis products. Cannabis-based pharmaceuticals can now be prescribed by a doctor.

The referendum did not impact Medical Kiwi’s business. The referendum was focused on the legislation of cannabis for non-medical use. This is different to the legislation passed in December 2019, which allowed for the development of medicinal cannabis and cannabinoid products prescribed by physicians for their patients, like those Medical Kiwi will be producing.

Medicinal cannabis and CBD can be taken in several forms, including: 

• • • • • orally as a tincture or via oil filled capsules
        • topically via skin creams and transdermal patches
        • infused into food products such as olive oil; or 
        • vaporised for respiratory delivery.

Each method works differently in your body.

Internationally there have been hundreds of clinical studies and significant first-hand anecdotal evidence demonstrating the vast medical benefits of this natural product. Among others, researchers are reporting success in testing medicinal cannabis and CBD for treating:

• • • • • endometriosis
        • dementia
        • autism
        • bi-polar affective disorder
        • depression
        • autoimmune and inflammatory disorders
        • Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
        • irritable bowel and irritable bladder
        • treatment resistant epilepsy
        • Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders
        • fibromyalgia
        • migraine
        • the effects of stroke and cardiac emergencies
        • metabolism, diabetes and weight dosorders
        • cancer
        • neuropathic pain
        • chronic pain
        • insomnia
        • spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients.

That’s a list that makes you sit up and take notice!

Medical Kiwi Director (Medical), Dr David Porter, has seen first-hand the positive impact medicinal cannabis and CBD can have. “I’ve been prescribing CBD for the past 18 months since it became legal, for my fibromyalgia patients. Conventional pharmaceuticals tend to be ineffective at treating this condition and commonly cause debilitating side effects like drowsiness or mental fogginess. In stark contrast, CBD has proven to be head and shoulders above other treatments in terms of its lack of side effects, most importantly, but also the very considerable benefits to sleep, relaxation and pain relief. It is by far the most beneficial treatment I’ve used for these patients.”

Anecdotal feedback from Dr Porter’s patients support this, with comments about the hugely important improvement to their quality and quantity of sleep. Patients have told Dr Porter that they have experienced mental and physical calmness without the sense that a drug is doing it. Patients often mention they have greater mental alertness which is a really big deal in fibromyalgia where patients regularly complain of foggy thinking. And last, but not least, an improvement in pain.

• • • • • The Health Europa Medical Cannabis Network has the latest medical cannabis news from across the field of European healthcare and social care policy: Click here.
        • An introduction to the endocannabinoid system: A description of the lipid signaling system essential to health, healing and homeostasis, long excluded from the medical school curriculum. Read it here.