MedCan organisers have confirmed that 30 subject experts will present at New Zealand’s first international medicinal cannabis summit on 18-19 March 2020 at SkyCity, Auckland.
Scientists, medical experts, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers, both international and Kiwis will present up to date information, learnings and first-hand insights on this new frontier of care.
Organised by BioTechNZ, MedCan 2020 will take place at Auckland’s SkyCity Convention Centre on Thursday 19 March, with pre-summit workshops to be held on 18 March.
“We have some incredible speakers coming in from all around the world, as well as a number of highly talented Kiwis closely associated with medicinal cannabis. With just over one month to go, excitement is building,” says Dr Zahra Champion, Executive Director of BioTechNZ and spokesperson for MedCan Summit 2020.
MedCan 2020 is dedicated to ‘connecting medicine, science, industry and technology’. The main summit and workshop programmes are available on the event's website.
Event attendees will hear from some of the world's greatest thought leaders in medicinal cannabis research, development, cultivation, manufacturing and prescribing. International experts will be joined by some of the top minds here in New Zealand. Speakers include:
Professor Raphael Mechoulam, PhD – Professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Dr David Hepburn, MD – Medical Director, Plena Global
Dr Maria-Fernanda Arboleda, MD – International Director Medical Services, Khiron Life Sciences Corp
Dr. Adele Hosseini – Chief Scientific Officer, Bod Australia
Dr. Mark A. Ware MBBS MRCP (UK) MSc – Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth
Dr Kevin Spelman, PhD – Molecular Biologist, Phytochemist and Clinician
Paul Mavor – Pharmacist, Health House International
Brent Zettl – President and CEO, ZYUS Life Sciences Inc.
Dr Stewart Washer – Executive Chairman, Emerald Clinics
Sharlene Mavor – Medical Scientist, Medical Cannabis Research Australia
Dr Graham Gulbransen, FRNZCGP, FAChAM – Cannabis Consultant, GP and Addiction Specialist
Dr Giresh Kanji, MbCHb, PhD – Musculoskeletal Pain Specialist
Dr Rick Acland MbCHb, FAFRM (RACP) – Rehabilitation Specialist, Christchurch
Simon Carson – Medical Director, Southern Clinical Trials Group
Dr Mike Williams – Director, Lakeland Clinical Trials Group
Dr Liza Schneider, BVSc – Director, Veterinarian, Holistic Vets
Dr Jo Nunnerley – Academy Director, Burwood Academy of Independent Living (BAIL)
Ido Kanyon – CEO, AusCann
Dr Samuel Banister, PhD – Team Leader in Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Sydney
Dr Richard Newcomb, PhD – Chief Scientist, Plant & Food Research
Dr Amy Fletcher, PhD – Associate Professor of Political Science and IR, The University of Canterbury
Dr James Polston, PhD – Chief Science Officer, Helius Therapeutics
Dr Leyla Bustamante – R&D Manager, Science, BioLumic
Dr Geoff Noller, PhD – Research Consultant, Substance Use and Policy Analysis
Tom Forrest – Founder & Horticultural Specialist, Indicated Technology
Rhys Cohen – Principal Consultant, FreshLeaf Analytics
Martin Woodbridge – International Consultant, Woodbridge Research
Dr Stephen Tallon, PhD – Team Leader, Process Engineering Group, Callaghan Innovation
The event's expert speakers will also be joined by several patient advocates including Katy Thomas whose son, Eddy, suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, treated with CBD. Also speaking is Lanai Carter whose son, Lindsay, became the first federally-approved botanical medical cannabis patient in Australia.
Dr Champion says the summit’s two-day content is designed around the fact that New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Scheme takes effect from 1 April, with the industry’s many stakeholders hungry for information and collaboration across a broad range of complex areas.
She says registrations are coming in fast, with spaces limited and the number of summit supporters continue to grow. The many major organisations involved so far include:
Callaghan Innovation
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED)
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
Agritech New Zealand
AgResearch
Plant & Food Research
NZTech Alliance
New Zealand's largest medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has been announced as the foundation sponsor of MedCan 2020. Another kiwi cannabis company, Setek Therapeutics, is a gold sponsor. Shimadzu and Spectrum Therapeutics are silver sponsors, with Cannasouth signing on as a networking sponsor. A number of other industry organisations will be exhibiting.
The event's organisers have also confirmed that the educational component of MedCan 2020 has been given approval for CME endorsement by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) Enhance Professional Development.
“Perfectly timed to align with the regulations coming into effect, MedCan Summit marks an enormous opportunity for New Zealand to unlock the full potential of medicinal cannabis,” says Dr Zahra Champion.
For more information on the summit, you can email info@medcansummit.co.nz or visit www.medcansummit.co.nz