Cohen said it was critical New Zealand doctors and the public sought expert advice after Government passed the medicinal cannabis bill in December 2018, giving terminally ill people a legal defence for using cannabis products.
"I would love to teach what I know and to encourage people in New Zealand to do things correctly, avoiding some of the obstacles that we've hit here," Cohen said.
"I'd like to make sure New Zealand tries to minimise some of the abuse potential. It's an amazing medicine, but people have a tendency to abuse some things."
Cohen has 10 years of experience working in the medical cannabis industry and has constantly had to counsel patients about overusing cannabis.
Humans have their own endocannabinoid system to make cannabinoids and the cannabis plant has the same chemical structure as the body produces.
Doctor Joseph Cohen would like to share his experience of 10 years working with medicinal cannabis at New Zealand's first ever medicinal cannabis summit, MedCan 2020. Photo / Supplied
If problems begin to occur within the body, the system produces a cannabinoid in an effort to bring everything back into balance.
If someone consumes a high concentrate of cannabis, such as by dabbing (inhaling small quantities of a concentrated drug) the system could receive up to 90 per cent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as opposed to maybe 15 per cent from smoking a joint.
This can make the body unbalanced, forcing it to compensate by decreasing the response of your receptors to the medicine and causing your own cannabinoids to go into hiding.
THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids identified in cannabis and the principal psychoactive constituent of the drug.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is another cannabinoid in cannabis, one that is non-psychoactive and the most medicinal component of the plant.
Cohen looks at these parts, discusses with patients their lifestyles, nutrition and symptoms before determining their treatment and the method for taking it.
Medicinal cannabis can be consumed as an edible, inhaled or swallowed in the form of a tincture (a liquid extract.)
Cohen said that making these decisions comes with experience.
"That's what doctors need to know in New Zealand. You don't go to a class or a course and think that you can adequately treat people. That's not the way it works.
"You have to see patients and you have to really get a grip on what this medicine can do and how to use it before you can get the best effect."
Cohen allows doctors to visit his practice and shadow him for a week and also does some work with Green Flower Media who produce informative videos about cannabis.
While fully supportive of where New Zealand is going with medicinal cannabis treatment, Cohen does have concerns about the transition.
Green Party of Aotearoa MP Chloe Swarbrick is a supporter of legalising cannabis at next year's referendum. Photo/ Supplied.
One of those concerns is the affordability of the products which he said may become more expensive than they need to be.
"There are going to be these issues. Who's going to be recommending treatment? Do they need to be specialists? Can they be a primary care doctor or a GP?
"It's hard for me to say what will work best in New Zealand, but patients need to know that they can go to a clinic where doctors are specifically trained in cannabis medicine."
Colorado Amendment 64 was passed in November 2012 and since 2014, adults aged 21 or over in the American state have been allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants.
Cohen is all for it, saying smoking weed is much safer than drinking alcohol and with a far reduced risk of being abused.
"We've had many patients who have reduced their alcohol intake because they are able to use cannabis and actually had health benefits because of it," Cohen said.
"In New Zealand, you have time now to get the public educated. If you get the public educated and they're more comfortable with it, it's more likely to pass.
"I think that people should have the right to smoke a joint if they want to, to relax with their friends instead of getting drunk."
