Perth-based Little Green Pharma has announced it has commenced cultivation of Western Australia’s first medical cannabis crop.
The plants are being grown at the privately-owned company’s secure growing facility south of Perth. Little Green Pharma expects to have medicines available for patients within the first few months of next year, which will be manufactured by a local licensed facility.
At this point in time, Little Green Pharma is the only company in Western Australia with a licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control to commence growing locally. The company was granted a license to cultivate and produce medicinal cannabis in April, followed by a permit in October.
Managing Director Fleta Solomon said the plants being cultivated are low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but higher in the non-intoxicating cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) when compared to marijuana used for recreational purposes.
“We are very excited about the future of our medicinal cannabis products,” said Ms. Solomon.
In October, Ms. Solomon said she believed multiple layers of regulation facing Australian suppliers will give the local sector an edge over international competitors.
Little Green Pharma says its manufacturing technology aims for high bio-availability of active cannabinoids, resulting in a therapeutic effect being achieved through very low dosage rates combined with precise dosage control. Products developed will be taken via oral administration.
“Where necessary, our manufacturing process can mantain the integrity of CBDA and THCA if required, advoiding the decarboxylation of important cannabinoids,” states the company.
Little Green Pharma has also attracted interest from overseas. In October, Canada’s LGC Capital Ltd. announced it will acquire an initial strategic 4.99% interest in the company.
In other news from Australian cannabusiness, AusCann (ASX:AC8) announced yesterday its 50:50 joint venture, DayaCann, has planted its second medicinal cannabis crop in Chile; at DayaCann’s 30-hectare facility south of Santiago.
The highest yielding strains were chosen from the first crop.
“From these strains, it is our intention to develop final dose form medicines for the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain that will be supplied into the significant Latin American market,” said Auscann Managing Director, Elaine Darby.
