As New Zealand considers cannabis reform, pharmacologists argue that "medicinal cannabis" is not a single entity but a diverse range of products that should be held to the same quality control and evidence standards as other pharmaceutical medicines.
People interested in cannabis regulation, the definition of medicinal cannabis, and pharmaceutical standards.
Cannabis products should be held to the same standards as other medicines
What the researchers found
Cannabis comes in diverse forms with various active ingredients, contrasting with legal and pharmaceutical definitions of medicines. The authors argue that the definition of what constitutes a medicine should not be changed to accommodate cannabis, and that cannabis products should meet the same standards as other medicines.
Why it matters
The term "medicinal cannabis" is used loosely to describe everything from FDA-approved pharmaceuticals to unregulated plant products. Without clear standards, patients, prescribers, and regulators cannot make informed decisions about quality, dosing, and evidence.
The numbers in context
Cannabis contains multiple active ingredients in varying concentrations across products. Quality control, prescriber practice, and clinical evidence assessment all affected by this variability.
How the study worked
Expert commentary examining what "medicinal cannabis" means from pharmaceutical and regulatory perspectives, published during New Zealand's cannabis reform debate.
What this study cannot tell us
Expert opinion piece from two authors. Does not include systematic evidence review. New Zealand-specific regulatory context may not apply elsewhere. Does not address patient access barriers that strict standards might create.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: expert commentary from qualified pharmacologists, though opinion-based rather than evidence-based.
When this study was published
Published in 2019.
The bigger picture
The tension between cannabis as a plant and cannabis as a medicine is at the heart of regulatory challenges worldwide. Lowering pharmaceutical standards for cannabis sets a precedent that could undermine evidence-based medicine, while maintaining standards may limit patient access.
Questions still open
- Can whole-plant cannabis products ever meet pharmaceutical-grade standards? Should there be a separate regulatory category between recreational and pharmaceutical? How do other countries balance access with quality control?
Common questions
What counts as medicinal cannabis?
Why does it matter how medicinal cannabis is defined?
Read the original research
What is medicinal cannabis?
The New Zealand medical journal, 132(1494), 49-56
Citation
Glass, Michelle; Ashton, John C. (2019). What is medicinal cannabis?. The New Zealand medical journal, 132(1494), 49-56.
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