Because most New Zealanders access medicinal cannabis through dedicated clinics rather than their GP, choosing a clinic is one of the first practical decisions a patient faces. The market has consolidated to a handful of providers, most offering nationwide telehealth, some with in-person options. Here's how to compare them sensibly — and what should give you pause.

This is general guidance to help you ask good questions; it is not an endorsement of any particular provider, and you should verify current details directly with each clinic.

What actually matters

A few factors deserve more weight than slick marketing:

Registered NZ doctors

The non-negotiable basics: a clinic should use doctors registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand, prescribing within NZ law. Reputable clinics state this clearly. If it's not obvious who is prescribing and what their registration is, ask.

The whole cost, not just the headline

Clinics advertise consultation fees, but the total cost includes more than the first appointment:

Initial consultation fee (commonly somewhere in the $40–$80 range at telehealth clinics, though some specialist services charge much more).
Follow-up and re-script fees, which you'll pay repeatedly — especially on monthly THC products.
Additional charges for things like letters (travel, employer, ACC).
Remember the product cost is separate and depends on what you're prescribed.

Some clinics offer free nurse eligibility calls, concessions (SuperGold, Community Services, Veteran), or "pay only if approved" models. Add it all up over a year, not just the first visit.

Follow-up and continuity of care

Good medicinal cannabis care isn't a single transaction — it's titration over time. Ask how follow-ups work: how often, at what cost, and whether you can reach a clinician between appointments if you have side effects. Continuity matters, because the doctor who knows your history can titrate and manage interactions better than a series of one-off consults.

Telehealth versus in-person

Most clinics are telehealth (phone or video), which is convenient and often cheaper. Some offer in-person appointments, which suit patients who prefer face-to-face contact or have complex needs. Neither is inherently better — choose what fits your situation.

Coordination with your GP

A clinic that will communicate with your regular GP (with your consent) helps keep your full medication picture coordinated and interactions watched. This is worth asking about, especially if you take other medicines.

Questions to ask before you book

Are your prescribers registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand?
What are the full fees — initial, follow-up, re-script, letters?
How does follow-up care and titration support work?
Can I reach a clinician if I have side effects between appointments?
Will you communicate with my GP if I ask?
What happens if my prescribed product is out of stock?

Red flags to avoid

Be cautious of any clinic that:

Guarantees a prescription or uses "get approved today" style language. A genuine clinical service can't promise an outcome — the decision rests on the doctor's judgement.
Promotes specific products, brands or prices as a selling point, or markets therapeutic "cures." Under NZ law, advertising unapproved medicines is prohibited, and outcome-guaranteed or product-promotional messaging is a warning sign about how a service operates.
Skips proper assessment. A first consultation should involve a real history, a check of your other medicines, and screening for cautions — not a rubber stamp.
Is vague about who is prescribing or about total costs.

The "glorified dispensary" debate

You may encounter a criticism, raised in NZ media, that some cannabis clinics function as "glorified dispensaries" — that around 90% of consultations end in a prescription, suggesting the clinical gatekeeping is light. It's a fair thing to keep in mind when choosing. A clinic that always prescribes, regardless of the patient, isn't really exercising the clinical judgement the law intends; a good service will sometimes say no, will properly assess cautions and interactions, and will treat your first appointment as a genuine medical consultation. This doesn't mean every high-approval clinic is poor — many patients who reach a clinic are genuinely suitable — but it's a reason to value real assessment and follow-up over speed and convenience alone.

Don't forget your GP

Finally, remember that a dedicated clinic isn't the only door. Your own GP can legally prescribe most products, already knows your history, and is usually cheaper for ongoing reviews. If your GP is willing, that route offers continuity that's hard for a telehealth clinic to match. Even if you do use a clinic, keeping your GP informed (with your consent) gives you the best of both — specialist prescribing plus a doctor who sees your whole picture. Choosing where to go isn't strictly clinic-versus-clinic; it's about finding the safest, best-supervised path for your situation.

The bottom line

Choosing a clinic comes down to a few sensible checks: registered NZ doctors, transparent and complete fees, real follow-up and continuity of care, and a willingness to coordinate with your GP. Steer clear of anyone guaranteeing approval, promoting products, or cutting corners on assessment. Ask the questions above, compare the full annual cost rather than the headline price, and you'll be in a far stronger position to get safe, well-supervised care.

Last reviewed 9 November 2026 — education, not medical advice. Not an endorsement of any provider; verify details directly. Sources: bpacnz; Medsafe.

How to choose a medicinal cannabis clinic