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Medicinal cannabis producer Cann Group Limited (ASX: CAN) has been granted an import permit to commence the import of cannabis products from Canada.
The listed pharmaceutical company has been granted import permits by the drug control section of the Therapeutic Goods Administration that enables the company to commence the import of genetics and cannabis oils from its Canadian partners.
The import permit will allow Cann Group to begin importing tissue culture from Aurora Cannabis and Anandia labs, which will be used to develop mother plants for Cann's cultivation activities.
This licence is a coup for Cann Group's research capabilities, as it can now begin to establish a bank of various genetics, facilitating research into the sustainability of each genetic strain for certain therapeutic applications.
The group will also establish a plant breeding program to ensure surety around the supply of material and broaden this supply beyond what is currently available in Australia.
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The process of importing the tissue culture commenced immediately after the permit was granted. The imports will however be subject to a quarantine screening process conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
In addition to importing genetics and cannabis oil from its Canadian partners, the permit allows Cann to bring four products developed by Aurora Cannabis to Australia, which will be made available to medical practitioners seeking to prescribe the products to patients.
Cann Group CEO Peter Crock says working with quality Canadian partners enables the company to accelerate its own development.
"With these genetics we will broaden our genetic base and improve our ability to cultivate various strains of medicinal cannabis," says Crock.
"In addition to this, we are serious about providing access to product for Australian patients as quickly and easily as is possible, and the importation of oils fast-tracks this while we develop our own capabilities and products within Australia."
In February, Cann Group was granted two new licences by the Office of Drug Control for cultivation and production purposes.
The company says it will scale up production through 2018, with the licenses allowing the group to continue working with partners including La Trobe University, Aurora Cannabis, Agriculture Victoria, CSIRO and Anandia Labs.
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