What to expect at your first medicinal cannabis consultation

Knowing what happens in a first consultation takes a lot of the anxiety out of it. While every provider differs, most New Zealand cannabis clinics follow a broadly similar shape. Here is what you can generally expect.

Step one: eligibility pre-screen

Most telehealth clinics begin with a short eligibility check — sometimes a 30-second online questionnaire, sometimes a free "ask a nurse" phone call. This stage exists to flag people for whom cannabis is generally inappropriate before anyone pays for a consultation. Common exclusions include being under 20, being pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, and a personal history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Certain medications (for example some antipsychotics) may also be flagged.

Passing the pre-screen does not guarantee a prescription. It simply means there is no obvious red flag, and the doctor will make the actual clinical decision.

Step two: the doctor consultation

This is the substantive appointment, usually by phone or video (around three-quarters of NZ prescriptions now come from online consultations). A registered doctor will typically:

• Take a full history — your condition, how long you've had symptoms, how severe they are, and the impact on your daily life.
• Review what you've already tried. Cannabis is positioned as an add-on or last-line option, so the doctor wants to know which standard treatments you've worked through.
• Check your other medicines for interactions. CBD inhibits several liver enzymes (notably CYP3A4 and CYP2C19) and can affect drugs such as clobazam and warfarin; THC adds to sedation from benzodiazepines, opioids and alcohol.
• Screen for cautions — significant psychiatric history, unstable heart or lung disease, pregnancy, and your driving and occupational situation.
• Discuss goals and expectations. A careful prescriber will set realistic aims and explain that around four in five users get some side effect.

Have your medication list, your diagnosis details and your questions ready. A good consultation is a two-way conversation.

Step three: the prescribing decision

If the doctor decides a product is clinically appropriate, they will choose a starting point based on your situation — typically following the "start low, go slow" principle. They will explain the product type (CBD-dominant, balanced, or THC-predominant), the route (oil, capsule, spray or vaporised flower), the dose, and how to titrate upward in small steps.

Be aware that not every consultation ends in a prescription, and that is appropriate — the decision rests on clinical judgement, not on the fact that you booked.

Step four: prescription and dispensing

A prescription is sent to a registered pharmacy, which dispenses the product and often couriers it to you nationwide. Remember the supply limits: CBD products can be supplied for up to three months, while THC (controlled-drug) products are limited to one month per prescription, so you will re-script more frequently on THC.

Step five: follow-up

Follow-ups are where titration is actually managed. A typical pattern is a check-in within the first few weeks, then periodic reviews (some clinics do brief check-ins around every three months). This is when dose adjustments, side-effect management and "is this actually helping?" decisions happen.

Telehealth versus in-person

Most New Zealand access today is through direct-to-patient telehealth — phone or video consultations, with no GP referral required and nationwide courier delivery of the product. This is convenient and often cheaper, and around three-quarters of prescriptions now flow this way. A handful of clinics also offer in-person appointments, and some patients prefer the face-to-face contact, especially for complex conditions. Neither route is inherently "better"; the clinical standard is the same, and the right choice depends on your circumstances, your comfort with technology, and whether you want continuity with a local clinician.

Whichever route you choose, make sure the prescriber is registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Reputable clinics use NZ-registered doctors and will say so.

How to prepare

A little preparation makes the appointment far more productive:

• Write down your diagnosis, when symptoms started, and how they affect daily life.
• List the treatments you've already tried and what happened with each.
• List every medicine and supplement you take.
• Note your questions — about product type, cost, driving, work and side effects.
• Be honest about your mental-health history, alcohol use and any past cannabis use.

The more complete the picture you give, the better the prescriber can judge whether a trial is appropriate and, if so, where to start.

A note on costs

Medicinal cannabis is generally not funded by Pharmac, so you usually pay for both the consultations and the product. Consultation fees vary widely between providers; the product cost depends entirely on what you're prescribed and your dose. Our costs guide breaks this down in detail.

Going in well

Bring your history, your medication list and honest expectations. Treat the consultation as a careful trial with clear goals rather than a guaranteed outcome, and you'll get more out of it — whatever the prescriber decides.

Last reviewed 29 June 2026 — education, not medical advice. Only a registered New Zealand doctor can decide whether medicinal cannabis is right for you. Sources: bpacnz; Massey NZ Drug Trends Survey 2025.