Cook Islanders may gain access to imported medicinal cannabis products as soon as next month, and almost certainly before the year is out, according to the country's health secretary Bob Williams.
Although current legislation requires amendment before access can be permitted, Williams said the Ministry of Health plans to reactivate its pharmacy board to move the matter forward.
The board has the authority to license pharmacists and approve them to import medicinal cannabis. It is scheduled to convene next month to work through the paperwork required to make that possible.
"It shouldn't be any time longer than after June for that process to kick in," said Williams.
In a non-binding referendum held alongside the country's general election in August 2022, 62% of voters said yes to reviewing laws to allow for research and medicinal use of cannabis.
Following that result, prime minister Mark Brown indicated the Government would move swiftly toward legalisation, and a committee has since been set up to examine how the medicine should be regulated.
Brown said the committee was working on a policy paper at the moment. With a population of just 17,500, however, the Cook Islands market for medicinal cannabis is unlikely to be substantial.
