NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Dr Stephen Child: Lets not rush to legalise 'medical' cannabis

NZ Herald
7 Aug, 2017 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Cannabis contains over 104 different chemical products within its leaves. Photo / 123RF

Cannabis contains over 104 different chemical products within its leaves. Photo / 123RF

Opinion

By Dr Stephen Child

There are problems with the current discussion of law reform and the legalisation of cannabis in New Zealand. Medical information is being touted as fact and certainty rather than providing an understanding of the benefits and risks associated with taking cannabis.

As part of the medical community I am concerned when I hear any treatment touted as a wonder cure without a strong evidence base and an understanding that all treatments also have risks. Kiwis could be forgiven for thinking cannabis is one such wonder cure as we see and hear very little about its risks and negative effects.

This is a gross misrepresentation of the medicinal value of the substance.

Cannabis contains over 104 different chemical products within its leaves. Some of these chemicals have shown small benefits in some conditions just as they have also shown risks.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Legalising the taking of some leaves which contain unknown products and their quantities means that it is impossible to assess the benefits and risks of the product itself; as such it is not a "medicinal product". I do not believe there is adequate research into using cannabis as a medical drug to responsibly calculate whether those risks outweigh the benefits.

There are over 10,000 studies conducted on the use of cannabis for medical purposes. For a few conditions such as MS, some types of muscle spasms, some types of pain and nausea, cannabis has proven to be effective albeit often with small effect and less than current available products also.

The same studies also highlight side effects such as increased mental health issues including suicide rates, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

We have not looked closely enough at the financial impact that legalising medicinal cannabis would have on the New Zealand medical system and in particular, the mental health system.

Mental health illnesses are under-funded and under-resourced. Our system won't cope with a spike in numbers caused by legalisation and the stresses from those withdrawing from addiction. Currently there are only 20 detox beds available in Auckland's public health sector and most of those are still funded by donations.

Discover more

World

310 pounds of marijuana found in truck

27 Jul 04:23 AM
World

Students lose access to legal pot, get better grades

27 Jul 07:37 PM
Opinion

Ross Bell: Toxic drug needs to be decriminalised

07 Aug 05:00 PM

What about health sector strain due to increases in car crashes and fatalities on our roads? People will drive under the influence. One year after legalisation, Colorado reported increases in marijuana-related traffic deaths (32 per cent) and emergency room visits (29 per cent).

How will loosening cannabis laws affect our youth? Will we see abuse of the system and easier accessibility through medicinal legalisation?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Have we analysed reputable data, from well-constructed studies, in similar countries? We need credible information to know whether teen cannabis use will increase smoking, crime, rates of depression and youth suicide.

The previous Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Little, called for more information on possible health issues if New Zealand was to go through drug reform, saying, "What underlies the drug use is usually problems with addiction. We have a massive shortage of supply of, for example, addiction counselling...

"Even reasonably modest cannabis use can have long-term negative effects on the human brain... The big thing for me is, if you liberalise or decriminalise what does that mean for access for younger people? We've got to make sure we're not creating other health problems by greater liberalisation."

Underpinning all of this, is the paradox that New Zealand finds itself in right now. How can we tout "Smokefree 2025" while we discuss legalising an inhaled product with more than 100 harmful substances?

Smoking is a risk. Smoking cannabis may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and respiratory illnesses.

The Law Commission issued a report in 2010, "Alcohol in Our Lives: Curbing The Harm", that listed problems associated with alcohol sales and consumption. The report shows intoxicated people make bad decisions and place an unacceptable burden on police, ambulance and acute health services. Cannabis causes intoxication.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There are credible medical and research studies that need to be read by lawmakers and anyone claiming to be an expert. We all need to arm ourselves with reputable information from respected institutions to make good decisions in this debate.

Kiwis and our lawmakers need to learn the medical benefits and risks of cannabis before anything gets signed into law.

• Dr Stephen Child is a general and respiratory physician and past chair of the New Zealand Medical Association

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand|crime

Teen claims she was kicked in the head for not handing over her $700 Geedup hoodie

17 May 01:00 AM
Premium
Politics

An average registered nurse's pay will fall under Greens' tax plan

17 May 12:48 AM
Kahu

'My bones are cracking': Boy's trauma as bike crash sparks hunt

17 May 12:00 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Teen claims she was kicked in the head for not handing over her $700 Geedup hoodie

Teen claims she was kicked in the head for not handing over her $700 Geedup hoodie

17 May 01:00 AM

But the other teen claims she ended up with the hoodie after a mutual clothing swap.

Premium
An average registered nurse's pay will fall under Greens' tax plan

An average registered nurse's pay will fall under Greens' tax plan

17 May 12:48 AM
'My bones are cracking': Boy's trauma as bike crash sparks hunt

'My bones are cracking': Boy's trauma as bike crash sparks hunt

17 May 12:00 AM
'I literally had nothing': Solo mum's struggle highlights legal aid need

'I literally had nothing': Solo mum's struggle highlights legal aid need

16 May 11:00 PM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP