1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: David Seymour thinks the medicinal cannabis industry could be an 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: untapped gold mine export levels similar to our wine industry. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty four we sent over a ton of 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: locally grown cannabis for our overseas, which is more than 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: double the year before that. Dr Jassim elves A here 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: is with US Cannabis Clinics CEO. 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: Good morning Modern Ryon, thanks for having me. 8 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: Good to have you on the show. So what's holding 9 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: us back from growing this even further? 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: What's holding us back here is not being able to 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: use the products that are grown in New Zealand locally, Ryan, 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 2: We've got a lot of cannabis companies growing cannabis here 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 2: locally extracting it. That product is being sent offshore to Australia, 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 2: UK and other places in forms that we can't even 15 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: get here in New Zealand. And as prescribers here in 16 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: the country, we're faced with this dilemma where we have 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: the product in our own backyard, but we can't prescribe 18 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: it because of regulatory hurdles that Kiwis can't meet, these 19 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: Conese can't meet, which is incredibly disappointing because. 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: It's a high threshold for a pharmaceutical grade, isn't it. 21 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 2: That's the problem, Yeah, exactly, And I think the regulations 22 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: here in New Zealand are out of line with where 23 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 2: we are internationally. So I've had people with Kiwi products 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 2: from Australia fly over to New Zealand and show me 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: their medicines. And we've got thirty plus doctors here who 26 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: wants to prescribe cannabis but are restricted. They can't prescribe 27 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: that product. And it's locally grown here in our own backyard. 28 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: And so it's really a calling for us from the 29 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: regulatory point of view to keep up with what people 30 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: actually need here in New Zealand. 31 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: Who are you prescribing it too? And how many people 32 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: are using it in New Zealand. 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: At the moment, there's about one hundred and twenty two 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty thousand people in New Zealand have been 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: prescribed cannabis. And honestly, right, it's all walks of life. 36 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: It's you know, you name it, anxiety, sleeping issues, younger people, 37 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: middle age, older, anybody who was looking to improve the 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: quality of life. Where As a condition that hasn't been 39 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: improved with conventional treatment comes to us seeking alternatives, and 40 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: we live in a day and age where there's so 41 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: many chronic conditions and so many people suffering that people 42 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 2: are looking for natural options, something plant based, something that 43 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: has worked for thousands of years in human history and 44 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: now is accessible via doctors. So it makes sense. And 45 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: we do have products. I mean, we are prescribing here 46 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: in New Zealand. We've got about sixty products that are available, 47 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: but it's growing very slowly. And I think although it 48 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 2: is growing that it has been a success bringing medicinal 49 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: cannabis to New Zealand, there's so much more. We could 50 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: be doing, so much more in terms of bringing these 51 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: Kiwi products in the hands of patients. Something ours down 52 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 2: at Puro and Blenheim just a month back and we 53 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: were standing in the middle of these fields of cannabis 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 2: that's been grown outdoors, just beautiful plants, all being sported 55 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: overseas because they are not able to create the product 56 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: there requirements. 57 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: Can't pass the red box. Appreciate your time this morning. 58 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: Dr Vassim Alzahir Cannabis connects CEO. 59 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live 60 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: to news talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, or 61 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.