Tilray, Inc. has announced its wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany, Aphria RX GmbH, has successfully completed its first harvest of medical cannabis cultivated in Germany for local distribution.
Germany’s medical cannabis market is a particularly lucrative one, representing an estimated 75% of the current EU market. Any doctor in Germany has been able to prescribe medical cannabis since 2017, and depending on the circumstances, health insurance companies pick up the tab.
The brisk uptake of medical cannabis in Germany has resulted in issues in ramping up local production of medicines to meet growing demand, leading to heavy dependence on imports. The final quarter of 2020 saw medical cannabis flower imports into Germany reach more than 3.2 tonnes.
But it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good – Australia’s MediPharm Labs exported its first shipment of cannabis oil products to Germany back in April and WA’s Little Green Pharma have also done well from the situation.
Germany’s domestic supply issue was expected to ease this year. Tilray/Aphria’s efforts are helping, via its 6,000 square meter indoor growing facility in Neumünster.
Tilray’s Head of International and Chief Strategy Officer, Denise Faltischek, said the achievement was an important milestone.
“It is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our team that, despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we remained on track as the first licensed producer to cultivate medical cannabis in Germany,” said Ms. Faltischek. “Our achievement would not have been possible without the trust and cooperation of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and the Germany Cannabis Agency, for which we are sincerely grateful.”
Tilray says it was the first company to import medical cannabis products into the EU and that the EU is central to its worldwide distribution network.
In other recent news from the company, late last month it launched a new medical cannabis brand – Symbios. Tilray said the new brand, targeting Canada, was developed to provide a broader spectrum of products and cannabinoid ratios at a better price point – and that’s what the fans want to hear. The product line includes flower, oils, and pre-rolls.
