Huakina nga maiatanga o tenei tipu.

Unlocking the potential of nature’s most ingenious plant.

Thank you for your interest in
Rua Bioscience medicines.

The following information is current and relevant for
New Zealand patients and prescribers only.

Medical research is increasingly revealing the health benefits of cannabinoid-based medicines. Working in partnership with nature, Rua is unlocking the power of the cannabis plant to enhance and restore health.

Most medicinal cannabis products in New Zealand are unregistered medicines, meaning their effectiveness in treating any particular disease has not been proven.

While robust clinical trials are needed, research on the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is one of the most promising avenues for new therapeutics in medicine. One recent study[1] reported tens of millions of people already using cannabinoids medicinally each year for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety and depression, chemotherapy-related nausea, sleeping disorders, epilepsy and seizure management, spasticity, and palliative care.

Please note, that the following information is not intended as a clinical guideline for the use or prescribing of, medicinal cannabis in New Zealand.

[1] Prohibition Partners, 2021. The Pharmaceutical Cannabis Report Edition Two.

Information for Patients

In New Zealand, medicinal cannabis is available as a prescription-only medicine. That means it needs to be prescribed by a GP or specialist who is a registered medical practitioner.
Some patients find it difficult talking to their Doctor about medicinal cannabis. But this is the very best place to start.
If conventional treatment options have been exhausted and you are interested in trialing a medicinal cannabis product, then it can be jointly discussed during an informed decision-making session with your Doctor.
You can expect to discuss your expectations by reviewing any evidence of efficacy (or lack thereof), your medical history and personal circumstances.
If your Doctor believes there is a therapeutic benefit, they will select a product and establish a treatment plan to assess its effectiveness and safety.
Most drug tests are designed to identify THC. So, generally speaking, you should not fail a drug test if you are taking a pure CBD product. However, some plant-based and full-spectrum products can contain small amounts of THC and these could cause a failed test.
For this reason, it is important to discuss the composition of your CBD medicine with your prescriber.