Latest Government Certification Paves the Way for New Zealand Grown Medicinal Cannabis Flower

Helius Therapeutics, New Zealand’s largest Medicinal Cannabis company, has announced it has been awarded GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification for the drying and finishing of medicinal cannabis flower.

“This latest certificate moves us closer to delivering New Zealand-grown flower to market. In fact, we’re hoping to have it available for local patients later this year,” says Helius Therapeutics chief executive, Carmen Doran.

Although there are already quite a few dried flower product options available in New Zealand, all of these are being imported into the country. Supply chain issues are not uncommon and clinics report this creates a challenging situation for both patients and prescribers.

“This certification is a very significant development for Helius and our country’s newest sector. It’s also great news for the many patients and advocates who fought for years for the legalisation of a local medicinal cannabis industry to produce 100% local products for local people,” Carmen Doran says.

The news also has implications for the export of medicinal cannabis products. The company remains on track to be a global leader with signed contracts in place for cannabis flower.

Helius currently supplies the domestic market with six oil based medicinal cannabis products, with active ingredient being extracted from biomass organically grown by Puro – a leading South Island-based cannabis cultivator - or grown at the Helius facility.

The Helius CEO says once medicinal cannabis flower is in market, Helius will be among just a few medicinal cannabis companies in the world that are truly fully vertically-integrated and EU-GMP recognised, opening up access to European and Australian markets.

“It was Helius who first ensured New Zealand patients had access to locally made products across the spectrum of oral solutions. And it will soon be Helius that ensures local patients won’t have to rely on imported flower as their only legal means of obtaining it,” she says.

To hear more about Helius becoming the only fully certified medicinal cannabis flower company in New Zealand you can listen to the CEO, Carmen Doran being interviewed below.