Frequently asked
Questions

Patients who visit CannaPlus+ are often experiencing symptoms related to:

• Chronic Pain and Inflammation
• Cancer
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Sleep disorders
• Anxiety/Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Migraine Headaches
• Epilepsy
• Spinal Injuries
• Glaucoma
• PTSD and more

Yes, in some cases. We are proud to be NZ’s first Medicinal Cannabis Clinic to be accepted as a Southern Cross Health Insurance affiliated provider. For Southern Cross Health Insurance members, you have access to funding for consultations.

No.

Southern Cross Health Insurance only funds the Consultation aspect of our service.

Depending on your plan, Southern Cross can cover some/all of your appointment costs. The coverage depends on what is stated in your plan.

GP visits: are partially or fully covered under HealthEssentials, RegularCare, and Ultracare plans. GP cover is also an optional add-on available in the Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two plans.

If your plan covers GP visits, you can book with any of the other Doctors in the clinic but you will have to claim the cost of the consultation yourself through the Fee for Service (FFS) process. This means that depending on your plan, what the benefit maximum allows and depending on the co-pay% this will determine how much you can claim back.  You will have to pay for the consultation yourself and then claim the cost back from Southern Cross directly through the My Southern Cross app or website.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to apply for prior approval with GP consults.

Please note that Southern Cross plans don’t cover the cost of any non-Pharmac-subsidised medication. Depending on what you’re prescribed, Medicinal Cannabis products start from $120 with the largest pack sizes costing up to $455

Store your Medicinal Cannabis in a cool, dry place. Keep your medication out of reach of children.

Medicinal Cannabis products can be inhaled, ingested or applied topically through different product types. A doctor will discuss the various options and make a recommendation as part of your personalised treatment plan.

The rule of thumb is to start low and increase as needed. Please refer to the dosing schedule provided by your doctor. You can reach out to them at any time with questions about your treatment plan.

It is advised that patients do not drive four hours after inhalation, six hours after ingestion, and eight hours after experiencing psychoactive effects. It remains the individual’s responsibility to ensure that they are not impaired while driving, and to check with their employer regarding workplace policies.

Unless advised by your medical team (i.e. family physician), you need to continue taking all of your current medications. Work with your doctor to reduce the use of other medications if this is one of your goals. Many patients are able to reduce the use of traditional pharmaceutical drugs as their Medicinal Cannabis treatment begins to take effect.

It is safe to continue increasing your dosage according to the treatment plan that your doctor provided to you at your appointment. If you still do not experience any relief, please schedule a follow-up appointment to adjust your treatment plan.

Medicinal Cannabis flower is inhaled, has a fast onset of action (two to five minutes), and the effects typically last two to four hours. Flower is best suited for patients suffering from severe acute symptoms.

Medicinal Cannabis oil is ingested, has a slower onset of action (1.5 to 2 hours), and the effects typically last two to six hours. Oil is easy to dose and is often prescribed for patients suffering from chronic symptoms.

Depending on what you have been prescribed (CBD vs THC), side effects that have been reported include:

• Red eyes

• Dry mouth

• Dizziness

• Fast heartbeat

• Hallucinations

• Low blood pressure

Medicinal Cannabis can also sometimes affect judgment and coordination, which could lead to accidents and injuries. Your doctor will consider factors such as occupation, driving, age, mobility and your overall health when prescribing any medicinal cannabis product.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD has no addictive or abuse potential.

If you haven’t already had a dedicated follow-up consultation with your doctor, you will need to book this in the first instance. This is for our doctors to ensure we have your personal treatment plan under control.
After your follow-up, we will be able to prescribe 3 months of product. (2 repeats).

We will contact and notify you when a repeat is available, but our friendly team is also always happy to advise on what medications you have available and when – simply email dispensary@cannaplus.co.nz

Your medication container will also display whether you have a monthly repeat available. Once you have used your repeats, you will need to book a follow-up appointment with your doctor.

Following your Initial Consultation we require a follow-up consultation approximately one month later.
It is recommended that you book this as soon as possible, we do, at times have limited consultations available so it is better to plan ahead.

We will prompt you to book this asap.

The one-month follow-up is where we check on your progress and ensure that your plan is working.

The pharmacist will start preparing your script as soon as they receive it. 
If you requested courier delivery,  you should receive a payment link email within 24  hours of your consultation. On receipt of that payment, your product will be sent on the next available courier. We will text you that it’s on its way and email the tracking number to you. 

Please note; our couriers pick up twice a day at 10 am and  2 pm

If you have requested pick up from our clinic, you will be sent a text message when it is ready to be picked up. Please note; you will need to pay via the payment link provided or over the counter before we release your medication. 

 

No. However, CannaPlus+ require a follow-up consultation 1 month following your Initial Consultation, and 1 month after any new medication is prescribed.

This is to measure progress and ensure the correct dosage and product have been prescribed.

For more information on the Patient Process click here.