COOK ISLANDS (RNZ Pacific/Pacnews) — Medicinal cannabis products could be available to some people in the Cook Islands as early as June and will “definitely” be available by the end of the year says the country’s secretary of health.
Bob Williams said although amendments needed to be made to existing legislation, in the meantime, the Ministry of Health would reactivate its pharmacy board to issue medicinal cannabis products.
“The board can issue a license to pharmacists and authorize them to import medicinal cannabis or any form of medications to support people or patients who require these types of medicines,” he said.
The board is planning to meet next month and process the necessary documentation to allow this to happen, he added.
“It shouldn’t be any time longer than after June for that process to kick in.”
A legally non-binding referendum was held in August last year that asked: “Should we review our cannabis laws to allow for research and medicinal use?” Sixty-two percent of respondents voted yes.
Since then the government has created a committee to investigate the rules and regulations of medicinal cannabis.
Prime Minister Mark Brown said the committee was working on a policy paper at the moment.
