The New Zealand medicinal cannabis industry, together with representatives from Australia, will gather in Auckland next week as it seeks to map the future of the sector amid ongoing regulatory challenges.
Business leaders, clinicians, cultivators, manufacturers and policymakers will discuss a range of issues and explore what needs to happen for the industry to flourish.
The 2026 Industry Day, which carries the theme Shaping What’s Next, has been organised by the New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council (NZMCC).
NZMCC chair Carmen Doran said the gathering comes at an important time for the sector, as businesses navigate regulatory requirements, changing market conditions and opportunities for growth.
“New Zealand has the foundations to build a strong medicinal cannabis industry, but we need to be clear about where we want to go and what it will take to get there,” she said. “Industry Day is an opportunity to bring the right people together; have open conversations about the challenges we face and identify the practical steps needed to move the sector forward.”
NZMCC executive director Melissa Zissou, who took over from Sally King in July, said the event will build collaboration which was “essential to unlocking the industry’s potential”.
She singled out cultivation as particularly pivotal, describing it as the “backbone of this industry”.
“Without a strong and sustainable growing sector, we don’t have the foundation for manufacturing, product development or exports,” Zissou said. “We need to connect the people growing the plant with the businesses turning it into medicines, the clinicians prescribing those medicines and the markets creating demand.
“There are real opportunities to grow both domestic access and export revenue, but we’ll only realise them by working together, sharing expertise and building stronger connections across the sector.”
The program opens with a leadership panel featuring representatives from Rua Bioscience, Ora Pharm, Ampyl Sciences, CannaPlus+ and Medreleaf Australia.
The discussion will explore industry leadership, investment, growth and New Zealand’s position in the global medicinal cannabis market.
Other key topics include New Zealand’s roadside drug testing regime and what it means for medicinal cannabis patients, prescribers and the wider sector.
Speakers and moderators include CannaPlus+ medical advisor and NZMCC Prescribers Working Group lead Dr Michael Murphy, Cannabis Care founder Dr Graham Gulbransen, Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia chief executive Fiona Patten, New Zealand Drug Foundation policy director Dr Jacek Kolodziej and University of Auckland PhD candidate Marc Lewis.
The day will include a regulatory update from Medsafe and Medicinal Cannabis Agency group manager Chris James, and presentations on Australian market data from Penington Institute’s Rhys Cohen and Cannabis Council Australia’s Lisa Westhaven.
Sessions will also cover clinical developments and opportunities for cultivators and manufacturers.
Tickets are available here.