A judge has expressed concern about licensed cannabis cultivators being legally allowed to source seeds and plants from "illicit sources", saying the process gives "the appearance of government-sanctioned cultivation of cannabis".
The issue was raised this month at the sentencing of drug dealers Garry Douglas McFarlane and Melanie June Afato, who claimed their cultivation activities were in part for lawful purposes. The Ministry of Health has since confirmed licensed growers can source seeds and plants from "illicit sources", who do not need to be named, for the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Although it was "deemed necessary" at the beginning of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, which came into effect in April 2020 with the commencement of the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019, it was still allowed.
The health minister and Labour's health spokesperson have not answered questions put to them by NZME about whether the government was condoning the illegal cultivation of cannabis by allowing "illicit sources" to supply cannabis seeds and plants to the scheme.
Read more at rnz.co.nz