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Dr Marta Rychert PhD

Senior Research Officer

Doctoral Co-Supervisor
SHORE Centre

Marta is a Senior Research Officer at the SHORE & Whariki Research Centre. Her work lies at the intersection of health, policy and law, with particular focus on regulating legal markets for cannabis (recreational and medical cannabis) and other psychoactive products, including new psychoactive substances (NPS, “legal highs”), e-cigarettes and alcohol. She has analysed implementation of drug and cannabis policy reforms in Europe, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Prior to her academic appointments in New Zealand she worked in the European Union Drugs Agency (EMCDDA) in Portugal.

Professional

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2017)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Co-Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Cannabis law reform, Drug policy, Medicinal Cannabis, Illegal drugs, Health Law and Policy, Law and regulation, Drug Trends, Theories of policy process, Health practitioners regulation

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Health Policy (160508):
Law (180100): Law And Legal Studies (180000): Law and Society (180119):
Medical And Health Sciences (110000): Mental Health (111714):
Policy and Administration (160500):
Public Health and Health Services (111700):
Public Policy (160510): Studies In Human Society (160000)

Keywords

Cannabis Policy, Drug Law, Drug Policy, Medicinal Cannabis, Drug Law Reform

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 5 3
Team Member 0 1

Current Projects

Project Title: Exploring medicinal cannabis use in New Zealand in a time of policy change

Date Range: 2019 - 2023

Funding Body: Health Research Council of New Zealand

Project Team:

Project Title: Legal cannabis for sale: homegrown or supermarket?

Date Range: 2019 - 2023

Funding Body: Royal Society of New Zealand

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Wilkins, C., Tremewan, J., Rychert, M., Atkinson, Q., Fischer, K., & Forsyth, GAL. (2022). Predictors of voter support for the legalization of recreational cannabis use and supply via a national referendum. International Journal of Drug Policy. 99
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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van der Sanden, R., Wilkins, C., Romeo, JS., Rychert, M., & Barratt, MJ. (2021). Predictors of using social media to purchase drugs in New Zealand: Findings from a large-scale online survey. International Journal of Drug Policy. 98
[Journal article]Authored by: Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
Adams, PJ., Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2021). How does the influence of the cannabis industry differ from that of alcohol and tobacco?. Addiction. 116(11), 2951-2952
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2021). Response to commentaries: The politics (and science) of cannabis law reform. Drug and Alcohol Review. 40(6), 888-889
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., Parker, K., Wilkins, C., & Graydon-Guy, T. (2021). Predictors of medicinal cannabis users' willingness to utilise a new prescription Medicinal Sannabis Scheme in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal. 134(1534), 66-75
[Journal article]Authored by: Parker, K., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., Emanuel, MA., & Wilkins, C. (2021). Foreign investment in emerging legal medicinal cannabis markets: the Jamaica case study. Globalization and Health. 17(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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2
Adams, PJ., Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2021). Policy influence and the legalized cannabis industry: learnings from other addictive consumption industries. Addiction. 116(11), 2939-2946
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2021). Why did New Zealand's referendum to legalise recreational cannabis fail?. Drug and Alcohol Review. 40(6), 877-881
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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5
6
Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2021). The rejection of cannabis legalization in New Zealand: issues with the Cannabis Legalization and Control Bill or wider concerns?. ADDICTION. 116(2), 236-238
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2021). Assessing New Zealand’s Cannabis Legalization and Control Bill: prospects and challenges. Addiction. 116(2), 222-230
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Surgenor, LJ., Diesfeld, K., Kersey, K., Kelly, O., & Rychert, M. (2020). Fifteen Years On: What Patterns Continue to Emerge from New Zealand's Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal?. Journal of law and medicine. 28(1), 165-178
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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Rychert, M., Emanuel, MA., & Wilkins, C. (2020). Issues in the establishment of a therapeutic cannabis market under Jamaica's Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2015. International Journal of Drug Policy. 86
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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3
Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2020). The Government's proposal to legalise cannabis in New Zealand: 10 key questions. New Zealand Medical Journal. 133(1515), 9-15
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
2
Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., Parker, K., & Graydon-Guy, T. (2020). Exploring medicinal use of cannabis in a time of policy change in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal. 133(1515), 54-69
[Journal article]Authored by: Parker, K., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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3
Diesfeld, K., Surgenor, L., & Rychert, M. (2020). Breaches of New Zealand's Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights: Human Rights Review Tribunal Decisions. Journal of law and medicine. 27(3), 679-692
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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1
Wilkins, C., Romeo, JS., Rychert, M., Prasad, J., & Graydon-Guy, T. (2020). Determinants of the retail price of illegal drugs in New Zealand. International Journal of Drug Policy. 79
[Journal article]Authored by: Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
1
Sanchez Lozano, CD., Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2020). Investigating the New Zealand policy response to methamphetamine-contaminated houses. Drug Testing and Analysis. 12(6), 691-703
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2020). “You have to make some money before you can do some good”: Balancing the commercial, social and public health objectives in a “community enterprise” regulatory model for alcohol and cannabis. International Journal of Drug Policy. 77
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
1
Rychert, M., Romeo, JS., Wilkins, C., & Graydon-Guy, T. (2020). Could the community trust model be applied to regulate cannabis? Findings from a survey of two alcohol licensing trust communities in New Zealand. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. 27(6), 427-435
[Journal article]Authored by: Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
1
Rychert, M., & Diesfeld, K. (2019). Teachers' health, wellbeing and professional misconduct. An exploratory analysis of cases from New Zealand's Teachers disciplinary Tribunal 2017-2018. Journal of Law and Medicine. 26(4), 922-942
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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1
Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., & Noller, G. (2019). Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in New Zealand: lessons from international experience and our own recent drug policy reform setbacks. The New Zealand medical journal. 132(1503), 8-12
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
5
Surgenor, LJ., Diesfeld, K., & Rychert, M. (2019). Consensual Sexual Relationships between Health Practitioners and Their Patients: An Analysis of Disciplinary Cases from New Zealand. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 26(5), 766-782
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2019). A ‘community enterprise’ model for recreational cannabis: Lessons from alcohol licensing trusts in New Zealand. International Journal of Drug Policy. 67, 72-78
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2019). New Zealand's review of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013: a missed learning opportunity ahead of the national cannabis law reform referendum?. Addiction. 114(6), 1129-1130
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
Wilkins, C., Rychert, M., Romeo, JS., & Randerson, S. (2019). Smoke in our eyes: The sense partners’ evaluation of the legalisation of cannabis in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal. 132(1490), 6-9
[Journal article]Authored by: Randerson, S., Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
2
Moore, JS., Forster, C., Diesfeld, K., & Rychert, M. (2019). New Zealand lawyers and conveyancers disciplinary tribunal cases involving vulnerable clients, 2011–2017<sup>*</sup>. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 26(2-3), 265-294
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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1
Wilkins, C., Romeo, JS., Rychert, M., Prasad, J., & Graydon-Guy, T. (2018). Determinants of high availability of methamphetamine, cannabis, LSD and ecstasy in New Zealand: Are drug dealers promoting methamphetamine rather than cannabis?. International Journal of Drug Policy. 61, 15-22
[Journal article]Authored by: Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2018). Responding to a new wave of high potency synthetic cannabinoids. New Zealand Medical Journal. 131(1482), 6-9
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
2
Rychert, M. (2018). New Zealand court dismisses Ministry of Health case against ‘heat-not-burn’ tobacco products, highlighting the need to future-proof tobacco control laws. Addiction. 113(10), 1953-1954
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2018). Understanding the development of a regulated market approach to new psychoactive substances (NPS) in New Zealand using Punctuated Equilibrium Theory. Addiction. 113(11), 2132-2139
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2018). A critical analysis of the implementation of a legal regulated market for new psychoactive substances (“legal highs”) in New Zealand. International Journal of Drug Policy. 55, 88-94
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., Parker, K., & Witten, K. (2018). Are government-approved products containing new psychoactive substances perceived to be safer and more socially acceptable than alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs? Findings from a survey of police arrestees in New Zealand. Drug and Alcohol Review. 37(3), 406-413
[Journal article]Authored by: Parker, K., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., Witten, K.
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3
3
Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., & Witten, K. (2018). “Lost in translation”: Issues with the establishment of a legal market for “low risk” psychoactive products (“legal highs”) in New Zealand. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. 25(3), 254-261
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., Witten, K.
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Rychert, M. (2017). New Zealand’s legal action against IQOS postponed, consultation with big tobacco follows. New Zealand Medical Journal. 130(1465), 109-111
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M.
3
Wilkins, C., Prasad, J., Parker, K., Rychert, M., & Barnes, HM. (2017). Recent Trends in Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among Police Detainees in New Zealand, 2010-2015. Current topics in behavioral neurosciences. 34, 161-172
[Journal article]Authored by: Parker, K., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., & Witten, K. (2017). Issues with monitoring the safety of psychoactive products under a legal regulated market for new psychoactive substances (‘legal highs’) in New Zealand. Drug and Alcohol Review. 36(5), 589-596
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C., Witten, K.
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11
11
Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2017). Thirty-one psychoactive plants exempted from New Zealand's Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. Addiction. 112(1), 181-182
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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1
Wilkins, C., & Rychert, M. (2017). Recent developments with the New Zealand regulated market approach to ‘low-risk’ psychoactive products. Addiction. 112(1), 34-36
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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11
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2016). Legal high industry business and lobbying strategies under a legal market for new psychoactive substances (NPS, ‘legal highs’) in New Zealand. International Journal of Drug Policy. 37, 90-97
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Wilkins, C., Prasad, J., Wong, KC., Graydon-Guy, T., & Rychert, M. (2016). An exploratory study of the health harms and utilisation of health services of frequent legal high users under the interim regulated legal high market in central Auckland. New Zealand Medical Journal. 129(1431), 51-58
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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8
Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2016). What products are considered psychoactive under New Zealand's legal market for new psychoactive substances (NPS, ‘legal highs’)? Implications for law enforcement and penalties. Drug Testing and Analysis. 8(8), 768-778
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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10
8
Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2015). Did we have the wrong debate about elixinol<sup>™</sup> and medicinal cannabis?. New Zealand Medical Journal. 128(1421), 69-70
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
2
Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2015). The challenge of a ban on animal testing for the development of a regulated legal market for new psychoactive substances (NPS) ('legal highs') in New Zealand: Issues and options for resolution. International Journal of Drug Policy. 26(12), 1273-1278
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2015). Is the recent ban on animal testing of legal high products a fatal blow to the development of a legal market for 'low-risk' psychoactive products in New Zealand?. Addiction. 110(4), 714-715
[Journal article]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Book

Wilkins, ., Prasad, ., Moewaka Barnes, H., Romeo, JS., & Rychert, . (2017). New Zealand Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring (NZ-ADUM) 2016 Report. : Massey University
[Monograph]Authored by: Moewaka Barnes, H., Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
Wilkins, C., Prasad, J., Romeo, JS., & Rychert, . (2017). Recent trends in illegal drug use in New Zealand, 2006-2016: Findings from the Illicit Drug Monitoring System (IDMS). : Massey University
[Monograph]Authored by: Romeo Nunez, J., Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
Wilkins, C., Rychert, M., Byrska, B., Van Hout, MC., Corazza, O., & Roman-Urrestarazu, A. (2017). Exploring innovative policy responses to NPS and legal highs in New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Ireland and the UK. In O. Corazza, & A. Roman-Urrestarazu (Eds.) Novel Psychoactive Substances. Policy, Economics and Drug Regulation. (pp. 57 - 74). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature
[Chapter]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Rychert, M., & Wilkins, C. (2017). New Zealand’s pre-market approval regime for low risk new psychoactive substances (NPS, legal highs) – a regulatory alternative to prohibition. In A. Malczewski (Ed.) Monitoring and response to Drugs, Drug Addiction and New Psychoactive Substances (English title) / Monitorowanie problemu narkotyków i narkomanii na poziomie lokalnym oraz przeciwdziałanie narkotykom i „dopalaczom” (Title in Polish). (pp. 171 - 182). Warsaw, Poland: Information Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction
[Chapter]Authored by: Rychert, M., Wilkins, C.
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Report

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), .(2014). EMCDDA–Europol joint report on a new psychoactive substance: methoxetamine (2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
[Technical Report]Contributed to by: Rychert, M.
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Mounteney, J., Groshkova, T., Thanki, D., Cunningham, A., & Rychert, M.(2014). Exploring methamphetamine trends in Europe. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
[Technical Report]Authored by: Rychert, M.Contributed to by: Rychert, M.
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Rychert, M., Palczak, K., Zobel, F., & Hughes, B.(2014). Drug policy profile: Poland. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
[Technical Report]Authored by: Rychert, M.
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Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

 Doctoral students supervision.

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 2 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Robin Van Der Sanden - Doctor of Philosophy
    Exploring social media markets for illegal drugs in New Zealand
  • Denisse Sanchez Lozano - Doctor of Philosophy
    The New Zealand policy response to residential methamphetamine contamination