Medical cannabis is a controversial drug that has caused debate globally. New Zealand positioned itself to legalise medical cannabis in 2018, and the Medical Cannabis Scheme came into effect in April 2020 to provide access to quality medical cannabis products for treatment. However, while medical cannabis is legal, many challenges are associated with medical cannabis treatment in New Zealand for chronic pain. This study, therefore, aimed to understand the opinions and perspectives of health professionals and legal cannabis users in New Zealand about treating chronic pain with cannabidiol.

This study interviewed ten participants that were directly related to medical cannabis. The participants involved in this study were either associated with medical cannabis via their work, e.g., health professionals or were patients living with chronic pain, using medical cannabis, i.e., medical cannabis users and were distributed around New Zealand. To guide this study, the methodology of grounded theory developed by Glaser et al. (1968) was used. The core concepts of Gives hope, Ongoing struggles, Something must change and Choosing a healthier way forward emerged from the findings of this study. The reasons for medical cannabis use and significant challenges were highlighted in the concepts of Gives hope and Ongoing struggles. Whereas the central concepts discussed in Something must change, and Choosing a healthier way forward highlight the suggestions and recommendations that could be implemented in NZ to drive change and address the present barriers and challenges to medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain.

This study concludes that there are significant barriers to accessing medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain. Implementing education strategies centred around medical cannabis and having a holistic approach to healthcare practices may reduce the obstacles and challenges currently associated with medical cannabis treatment in NZ.