First Medical Cannabis Summit for New Zealand Announced

New Zealand will hold its first Medical Cannabis summit in 2020 with the aim that it will be a catalyst for Kiwis to maximise opportunities for the hot new sector.

BioTechNZ has announced New Zealand’s first international medicinal cannabis summit. MedCan 2020 will take place on Thursday, March 19th 2020 at Sky City Convention Centre, in concert with the launch of New Zealand’s regulated medical cannabis market next year.

Summit organiser, BioTechNZ is working closely with government agencies, universities, research institutes, and industry. A summit advisory and event governance group has also been established which includes representatives from MBIE and Callaghan Innovation.

Industry stakeholders will learn about the business of cannabis, world markets, new technologies, and international research. Patients will discover how cannabis is being used to treat many different conditions, and how products are accessed in New Zealand. Healthcare professionals will receive accredited education covering everything from prescribing and dispensing medicinal cannabis, to the current body of evidence and safety considerations.   

Representing the biotechnology community, BioTechNZ is an NGO and part of the New Zealand Tech Alliance.

“BioTechNZ aims to maximise New Zealand’s bioscience and technology capability. We see significant opportunities to leverage New Zealand’s natural plant genetic varieties, highly regarded research expertise, as well as the country’s positive brand,” she says.

The summit’s keynote speakers and programme will be announced in the coming weeks. Prospective participants and attendees to MedCan 2020 are encouraged to register their interest.