Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018

1: Title
This Act is the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018.
2: Commencement
This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.
3: Principal Act
This Act amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 principal Act 2018-12-18 Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
4: Section 2 amended (Interpretation)
1: In section 2(1) CBD product section 2A non-psychoactive THC analogue
a: occurs naturally in cannabis; and
b: is not capable of inducing more than a minor psychoactive effect, by any means, in a person; and
c: has a structure substantially similar to that of—
i: a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
ii: an isomer, ester, or ether of a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
iii: an ester or ether of an isomer of a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
iv: a salt of any substance described in subparagraphs (i) to (iii)
2: In section 2(1) controlled drug analogue
d: a non-psychoactive THC analogue
3: After section 2(1A)
1B: In this Act, a person requires palliation
5: New section 2A inserted (Meaning of CBD product)
After section 2
2A: Meaning of CBD product
1: CBD product
a: contains cannabidiol; and
b: either—
i: does not contain a specified substance; or
ii: contains specified substances in an amount that is no more than 2% of the sum of the amount of cannabidiol and the amount of specified substances in the product; and
c: does not contain any other controlled drug; and
d: does not contain any other psychoactive substance (as defined in section 9 of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013).
2: In this section, specified substance
a: naturally occurs in cannabis; and
b: is—
i: a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
ii: an isomer, ester, or ether of a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
iii: an ester or ether of an isomer of a tetrahydrocannabinol; or
iv: a salt of any substance described in subparagraphs (i) to (iii)
v: a substance that has a structure substantially similar to that of any substance described in subparagraphs (i) to (iv)
c: for substances listed in paragraph (b)﻿(ii) to (v)
6: Section 7 amended (Possession and use of controlled drugs)
1: After section 7(3)
3A: In any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1)﻿(a) in respect of possessing or using any plant or plant material of the genus Cannabis
2: In section 7(4) subsection (3) subsection (3) or (3A)
7: Section 8 amended (Exemptions from sections 6 and 7)
After section 8(6)
6A: Despite section 7(1)﻿(a), a person who has a certificate from a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner certifying that the person requires palliation may procure, possess, consume, smoke, or otherwise use any plant or plant material of the genus Cannabis
8: Section 13 amended (Miscellaneous offences)
After section 13(1)
1A: However, in any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1)﻿(a) of possessing a pipe or other utensil (not being a needle or syringe) for the purpose of possessing or using any plant or plant material of the genus Cannabis
9: New section 35E inserted (Review and report on operation of sections 7(3A), 8(6A), and 13(1A))
After section 35D Review of certain provisions
35E: Review and report on operation of sections 7(3A), 8(6A), and 13(1A)
1: The Minister must, not later than 2 years after the commencement of this section, require the Ministry of Health—
a: to commence a review of the operation of sections 7(3A), 8(6A), and 13(1A)
b: to prepare a report on the review for the Minister.
2: The review and report required under subsection (1)
3: As soon as practicable after receiving the report, the Minister must present a copy of it to the House of Representatives.
4: The report on the review must include recommendations to the Minister on—
a: the implementation of the exception and defences provided by sections 7(3A), 8(6A), and 13(1A)
b: whether any amendments to those provisions are necessary or desirable.
10: New section 37A inserted (Regulations setting minimum quality standards)
After section 37
37A: Regulations setting minimum quality standards
1: Without limiting section 37, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations to prescribe the minimum quality standard that must be met by a product or class of product—
a: that contains a controlled drug; and
b: that may be cultivated, manufactured, produced, imported, or supplied under a licence granted under this Act.
2: Regulations made under this section may prescribe minimum quality standards for the product or for the processes by which the product is cultivated, manufactured, produced, imported, or supplied.
3: Regulations made under this section may—
a: apply generally to a product or class of products; or
b: apply to a product or class of products only if specified criteria are met.
4: Regulations made under this section that relate to products that contain any part of any plant of the genus Cannabis
5: The Minister must, no later than 1 year after the date on which the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act 2018 comes into force, recommend the making of regulations under this section that relate to products that contain any part of any plant of the genus Cannabis
11: Schedule 2 amended
1: In Schedule 2
a: in the item relating to cannabis preparations, after processing (but does not include a CBD product)
b: in the item relating to tetrahydrocannabinols, after controlled drug or a CBD product
2: In Schedule 2 designation , except for isomers of tetrahydrocannabinols if the isomers naturally occur in cannabis and are not capable of inducing more than a minor psychoactive effect, by any means, in a person
3: In Schedule 2 possible , except for esters and ethers of tetrahydrocannabinols or of isomers of tetrahydrocannabinols if the esters and ethers naturally occur in cannabis and are not capable of inducing more than a minor psychoactive effect, by any means, in a person
4: In Schedule 2 clause 3 , except for the salts of tetrahydrocannabinols or the salts of the substances excluded from clauses 2 and 3 if the salts naturally occur in cannabis and are not capable of inducing more than a minor psychoactive effect, by any means, in a person Consequential amendments to Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977
12: Regulations amended
1: This section amends the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977
2: In regulation 2 CBD product
3: Revoke regulation 14A
4: Revoke regulation 22(2)﻿(c)
5: Revoke regulation 28(4)﻿(f)
6: Revoke regulation 29(1A)
7: In regulation 31A(2) or, in the case of a CBD product, 3 months
8: Revoke regulation 48(3) 2018-12-18 Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977