Product / Flower FAQs

As of early 2026, we're going to take a measured approach to companies that we work with.

We've had to decline to supply a number of traditional clinics / prescribers / pharmacies initially, due to the high material cost of distribution and compliance.

Unfortunately we're unable to advise which pharmacies / clinics you can get it from because that would fall afoul of advertising regulations ("Advertising availability") and we really don't want to get into trouble over that.

Eventually we'll establish a broader series of relationships with the wider industry, however until then we recommend asking around.

As a company that focuses on small / botique batches, we're unable to offer any discounts at this time.

Instead we've priced our product such that it's as affordable as possible, while still paying the cultivators a premium for their product. By doing that, we hope to encourage more cultivators to grow to the quality standard we believe that consumers are looking for.

If we were to offer any further CSC discounts, we'd have to increase the price of our product, which would defeat the purpose of what we're trying to do.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, we've participated since 2022 in the Compassionate Access Programme that Rua Biosciences has put together. It's a fantastic way for us to give back, while ensuring it's not self-serving because we simply cover the cost of someone elses prescription regardless of what that prescription may be.

We would encourage anybody who is able to participate in that programme to do so, it's a great initiative that's helping a lot of people.

Loss on Drying (LOD) is a method for determining the moisture level of the bud.

Too wet, and it won't last in the jar and will go moldy. Too dry means the terpenes or other volatiles will evaporate.

There is a very narrow band of "optimal" moisture level, usually 58-62%. Unfortunately that doesn't directly translate to Loss on Drying, but it's approximately 12% LOD.

Previously the Loss on Drying limit was a mere 10%, which was why a lot of early medicinal products were "crispy" and overdried. That limit was increased to 12% in the July 2024 regulatory amendments, and where applicable we want to ensure consumers are aware of the product difference.

There are upper-limits on flower moisture levels set by NZs regulations. This is known as "Loss on drying" or "LOD".

This limit was originally 10% when the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme was first introduced, however was increased to 12% as of July 2024 for newly registered products (where the product stability data supports it).

Although the difference may sound small, we strongly feel that a 12% LOD maintains a significantly higher quality consumption experience.

However, some consumers may want to use a Grove Terploc pouch, to bring the flower to a more traditional moisture level.

Traditionally, consumers have used the "snap test" as a method of ascertaining if flower has been suitably dried.

However, this usually means that the flower has been dried down past 10% LOD, or, down to a moisture level below 55%, depending on the bud.

This is fantastic for legacy producers / consumers at ensuring that flower will not go moldy in a bag, however it greatly degrades a product well past "optimum".

With rigorous lab-testing, at up to 12% LOD there should be no degredation across the shelf life of the product, while also ensuring that it remains at an ideal moisture level for consumption.

The size of the buds does not impact the efficacy of the product. More specifically, larger buds often have more inner-stem which contains minimal amounts of the active ingredient (THC/CBD), decreasing the potency per-gram.

This is especially true for a lot of "Runtz" based genetics, that have smaller flowers.

Traditionally, a smaller bud size was an indication that the grower had taken "lowers" or "popcorn" which is normally of lower potency due to less light on the flower, or as a sign of a novice grower.

However, due to strict medicinal testing requirements, the size of larger / smaller bud is taken into consideration when ascertaining the label potency, and is not subject to this same sign of being cultivated by a novice.

The size of the buds does not impact the efficacy of the product. More specifically, larger buds often have more inner-stem which contains minimal amounts of the active ingredient (THC/CBD), decreasing the potency per-gram.

Traditionally a smaller bud indicated "popcorn" and lowers from a plant that hadn't received enough light.

In a legacy setting, there is good reason for not wanting these, however under strict medicinal frameworks requiring a relative +/-20% from the stated label claim, the buds should all be within specifications.

For this reason, although we have heard of some vendors doing this, there is no "medical" need, and the consumer is not getting any form of degraded product by having larger / smaller sized flower buds.

We totally agree, they're incredibly important, and we'd love to have them on our label.

However, the terpene profile of a product can change over time, and it's not always possible to accurately represent the terpene profile of the product on the label.

If we put the terpene profile on the label, or even the terpenes that are showing up, it means we can't deviate at all, let alone ensure they're consistent for 9+ months.

Unfortunately under a medicinal scheme we're unlikely to ever see terpenes on a label. However, you can scan the QR code on the accompanying packaging to find out more!

We do this for two main reasons, but both reasons boil down to it being important to us.

Many green fairies provide flower to patients, and part of this can be an appeal knowing where it was grown, by whom, when etc.

In a similar vein, a lot of experienced and connoisseur wine consumers can attest that the provenance of grapes plays a large role in the final product.

It may take time but we feel that the provenance of medicines will begin to play a more important role for discerning consumers.

The expiry date is based off the amount of testing that has been done to confirm that the product won't degrade, and will remain within +/- 20% of the stated label claim during that period.

Most of our product is based off 9 months of stability data, meaning that from the time it's packed, it's been effectively "triple checked" (with three separate batches) to still be good to that point.

That's not to say that product "goes off" like milk would overnight, but rather it's simply the extent of the time that a product has been tested until.

Firstly, please ensure you are weighing with a scale that is accurate to at least 0.05g.

Second, make sure you've calibrated them with accurate calibration weights. We've found people using 2x 50c pieces, and although each is "5g", they actually weigh closer to 5.2g

Every single jar is packed by hand, and the minimum amount packed will always be 10.0g to ensure you're getting what you're paying for.

Scientific trade-scales are also used in the packign facility, which are regularly calibrated and have a certificate of calibration that remains valid while the jars are being packed.

If you've done all of that and still believe there's an issue, please contact us and we'll be happy to resolve it.

The Terploc bag will keep flower between 58-62% moisture.

It's a special two-way membrane, that helps to cure the flower similar to how you would with a cigar.

This is to keep it fresher, for longer, where most people aren't aware of the huimdity level in their home be it above/below the optimal levels.

There are only specific permitted product materials that a medicinal cannabis product may be packaged in, as part of the NZMQS standards. These are defined in the European Pharmacopoeia, and it's why you'll note most products across all vendors come in very similar base packaging materials.

The stability data supporting the product shelf-life / expiry date is specific to the jar or packaging that it is provided in, and the components in the Terploc pouches are not the same as the original packaging.

However, stability data only takes into account the sealed jar, and not specifically once it's been opened / closed half a dozen times as the consumer pulls out their medicine, and potentially lets more humid air into the container. This is why some consumers prefer to store in a "breathable" Terploc pouch.

This is why we may opt to supply one alongside our supplementary packaging materials, for consumers who want to use one.

There are some pretty strict rules around product advertising in New Zealand that prohibits us from discussing an "unapproved medicine" (despite going through NZMQS verification) in-public.

As a result, any product we have in jars as a finished-product is unable to be publicly discussed or commented on, including availability such as where it can be prescribed / dispensed from.

We can talk about general things that aren't product-specific though, and we would love to be able to discuss more, but if we aren't able to comment on certain aspects then this is likely why.

It can't hurt for you to ask though, we would rather you did, so please don't take it personally if we have to decline to comment. We're as much of an open book as we possibly can be on our Instagram, but even that has limits as well.

Absolutely! We welcome any other start-ups or opportunities for better flower products for consumers, and are happy to help with licensing aspects!

Keep in mind that a Medicinal Cannabis License for Cultivation is not for any home-grow / tent situation, rather most companies we work with start by leasing a ~200-300sqm warehouse to appropriately fit-out.

If that sounds like you, and you've got a dream to pursue commercial cultivation, we would love to assist with SOPs, regulatory consulting, site design or other aspects of cultivation start-up.

Get in touch with us via our website, and book a free consultation call so we can make sure we're going to be a good fit to work together, and be able to help you achieve your goals.

We'd love to hear any feedback you have, especially if it's ways we can improve things like our FAQ cards we distribute, or information that could improve our website.

We also love getting some nice feedback about the product too so if you liked it or disliked it, then let us know because we're always on the lookout for ways to improve, or some kind words that might just make our day.

Get in touch with us via our website on the Contact page, you can flick us an email, or alternatively flick us a DM on Instagram. You can tap the picture up the top-right of the page here to be taken to it.