New Medicinal Cannabis Advertising Rules Raise Concerns Across Industry.
The New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) has released advertising guidelines for medicinal cannabis—and they’re being met with strong resistance from across the sector.
As reported by The Post, the new guidelines prohibit nearly all forms of public communication, including websites, brochures, social media, and even educational content that mentions THC or CBD. Clinics and suppliers say the restrictions are so severe that it’s becoming harder to educate patients and health professionals alike.
For the hemp industry, these developments are a critical reminder of the importance of clear regulatory pathways and definitions. Even though industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis are different, the lines often get blurred in the eyes of the public and policymakers—creating risks for hemp products, especially in the wellness space.
As the hemp sector navigates its own regulatory challenges, including feed and food approvals, this moment underscores the need for science-based policy and open dialogue across all parts of the cannabis and hemp value chain.
Let’s keep the conversation going—respectfully, constructively, and with a shared goal: building a thriving, trusted, and well-understood hemp industry in Aotearoa.
Resources:
Labelling hemp seed foods:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/labelling-composition-food-drinks/specific-product-labelling/labelling-hemp-seed-and-food-containing-hemp-seed/
https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/industrial-hemp/hemp-seed-as-food
Medicinal Cannabis Advertising:
https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/medicinal-cannabis/information-for-industry/working-with-medicinal-cannabis/advertising-products
Advertising Guidance: Medicinal Cannabis July 2025:
https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2025-07/advertising-guidance-medicinal-cannabis-july25.pdf
NZHIA Blog: Social media marketing and advertising for iHemp:
https://nzhia.com/article-update/nzhia-blog-social-media-marketing-and-advertising-for-ihemp/