First license granted for commercially grown medicinal cannabis in Australia

Access to medicinal cannabis has taken another major step forward today with first license being granted for an Australian company to grow and harvest medicinal cannabis, the Department of Health and Ageing announced today.

The Department of Health’s Office of Drug Control has issued the license under the medicinal cannabis provisions of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 to Cannoperations Pty Ltd – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Australian company Cann Group Limited.

Melbourne-based Cann received the first license issued by the Australian Government’s Office of Drug Control in February 2017, a research license that allows it to progress the development of medicinal cannabis. It has established relationships with organizations in both Australia and overseas that can supply elite genetics and collaborate on breeding programs.

This heralds the beginning of Australian domestic supply of medicinal cannabis products.
The Turnbull government is committed to facilitating faster access by qualified doctors to medicinal cannabis for patients with the necessary approvals.

Supply from the license granted today will initially be for the Victorian medicinal market, but other licences for other Australian jurisdictions are expected to be issued shortly.

While the Australian supply of medicinal cannabis continues to develop, the government has authorized the importation and storage of the product from international sources for interim supply in Australia. This will give faster access by qualified doctors to medicinal cannabis for their patients.

Cannoperations was subject to the necessary fit and proper person and security tests associated with processing license applications, resulting in the Office of Drug Control granting a research license on February 17 and the commercial license on March 8. Cannoperations now hold licences for both research and domestic patient supply purposes.

Prior to granting the license, the Office of Drug Control undertook a rigorous on-site security assessment of the Cannoperations facility and operating procedures. Similar assessments for other license applicants are in progress.