New Zealand treats CBD (cannabidiol) much as Australia does: as a prescription medicine. As of November 2026, a CBD product with only a small amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that causes a high) is not a controlled drug there, but you still need a prescription, and personal imports are not allowed. Travellers can bring CBD in only under conditions, and we could not confirm whether an Australian prescription meets them.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Check the official sources in the footnotes before you travel.
Is CBD legal in New Zealand?
Yes, as a prescription medicine. Since 18 December 2018, New Zealand’s Misuse of Drugs Act has defined a “CBD product” as one that contains CBD and in which THC and certain related “specified substances” make up no more than 2% of the total of CBD plus those substances. It must contain no other controlled drug or psychoactive substance.1 A product that meets this definition is excluded from the controlled drug schedule.1
Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines regulator, states: “CBD products are prescription medicines under the Medicines Act 1981.”2 Medicinal cannabis products other than CBD products remain controlled drugs.2
The 2% limit is a ratio, not a fixed percentage of the whole product. It is not the same as Australia’s scheduling rule, so a product that counts as “CBD-only” in Australia should not be assumed to meet New Zealand’s definition. See CBD scheduling explained.
Can you buy CBD over the counter in New Zealand?
In October 2023, Medsafe reclassified low-dose CBD (up to 150 mg a day, adults only) from prescription-only to pharmacist-only. That only applies to products approved under the Medicines Act, and Medsafe said at the time that “there are currently no low-dose CBD containing medicines approved”.3 We could not confirm whether any product has been approved since.
Can you bring CBD into New Zealand?
Medsafe’s guidance on importing medicines says:4
- “Personal imports of CBD products are not allowed”
- “You can only obtain CBD products from a New Zealand-registered medical practitioner”
- “Travellers may bring CBD products into New Zealand under certain conditions”.
Medsafe’s page points to Ministry of Health guidance for those conditions. We could not open the Ministry of Health’s pages. A secondary source, the New Zealand health information service Healthify, lists them as:5
- the product was prescribed to you by a registered prescriber
- you carry a copy of the prescription or a letter from the prescriber
- you declare it on your passenger arrival card
- you carry it in its original container
- you bring no more than three months’ supply of a CBD product, or one month’s supply of any other medicinal cannabis product.
Medsafe’s general rule for prescription medicines is also a maximum of three months’ supply, and one month’s supply for medicines that are controlled drugs, which must be declared on the arrival card.4
We could not confirm whether a prescription from an Australian doctor is accepted. Medsafe’s wording elsewhere on the same page refers to a New Zealand prescriber.4 Ask Medsafe or the New Zealand Customs Service before you travel.
What about CBD bought without a prescription?
Because Medsafe treats any product containing CBD as a prescription medicine and does not allow personal imports, CBD bought over the counter (for example, as a supplement in another country) does not appear to meet the traveller conditions.4 That is our reading of the guidance, not an official statement about this exact situation.
New Zealand Customs says bringing controlled drugs such as cannabis into the country is illegal without authority, and warns that “most cannabis-based products supplied in the United States of America cannot be carried with you”.6
What are the penalties?
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, possessing a controlled drug other than a Class A drug can lead to up to three months’ prison, a fine of up to NZ$500, or both. The Act also says a prosecution for possession should not be brought unless it is required in the public interest.1 Importing a Class C controlled drug carries a maximum of eight years’ prison.1 Smartraveller notes that penalties for drug offences “may include fines and prison sentences”.7
What is the safest approach?
- Check Medsafe and New Zealand Customs before you travel, and ask whether your Australian prescription will be accepted.
- Carry the medicine in its original pharmacy-labelled pack, with your prescription and a doctor’s letter, and declare it on arrival.
- Do not take more than you need for the trip.
- Coming home, your medicine must still meet Australia’s traveller’s exemption. See travelling with CBD.
For other countries, see CBD laws overseas.
Footnotes
-
New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office. Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, sections 2A, 6 and 7 and Schedule 2, version as at 10 July 2026. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1975/0116/latest/DLM436120.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
-
Medsafe. Medicinal Cannabis Scheme update, 5 March 2020. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/March2020/Medicinal-Cannabis-Scheme-Update.html ↩ ↩2
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Medsafe. Reclassification of low-dose cannabidiol, 17 October 2023. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/ReclassificationOfLowDoseCannabidiol.asp ↩
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Medsafe. Importing medicines into New Zealand, revised 12 November 2021. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/miet/importmedicines.asp ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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Healthify He Puna Waiora (secondary source). Cannabis-based products, last updated 10 February 2026. https://healthify.nz/medicines-a-z/c/cannabis-based-products ↩
-
New Zealand Customs Service. Prohibitions and restrictions, updated 3 September 2024. https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import/import-prohibited-and-restricted-imports/prohibitions-and-restrictions ↩
-
Smartraveller (DFAT). New Zealand travel advice, updated 22 July 2026. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/new-zealand ↩
Common questions
Is CBD legal in New Zealand?
CBD products are legal in New Zealand as prescription medicines. They are not controlled drugs if THC and certain related substances make up no more than 2% of the total of those substances plus CBD. Products above that limit are treated as controlled drugs.
Can I bring my prescribed CBD from Australia to New Zealand?
Medsafe says travellers may bring CBD products into New Zealand under certain conditions. A secondary New Zealand health source lists them as a prescription from a registered prescriber, declaring it on the arrival card, keeping it in its original container and bringing no more than three months' supply. We could not confirm whether an Australian prescription is accepted, so check with Medsafe or the New Zealand Customs Service first.
Can I buy CBD over the counter in New Zealand?
The law allows low-dose CBD to be sold by pharmacists without a prescription, but only for products approved under New Zealand's Medicines Act. As of Medsafe's October 2023 notice, no such product had been approved, and we could not confirm whether any has been since.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and evidence change; we show the date we last checked the facts at the top of every page. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
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