Tilray exports 3 million medical cannabis from Portugal to Germany

Tilray will export three million euros of medical cannabis produced in Portugal to CannaMedical, in Germany. In a press release released yesterday, Tilray announces that the The agreement was concluded with the Portuguese subsidiary of Cannamedical Pharma GmbH and provides for the wholesale export of a batch of medicinal cannabis, in early autumn 2019, which will be distributed to patients under the German Medicinal Cannabis program.

For Tilray CEO Brendan Kennedy, “this is a significant milestone for Tilray”, which thus increases the Portuguese Campus’ capacity to meet the demand of international markets and allows “to generate revenue from Portugal by the end of 2019″ . Cannamedical Pharma is an independent pharmaceutical supplier, supplying 2.500 pharmacies and clinics across Germany.

This will be the first shipment of medical cannabis to leave Tilray's campus in Cantanhede, which, however, has not yet been authorized by Infarmed to sell it on the Portuguese market. Infarmed has not yet granted any Marketing Authorization (ACM) to companies that have cannabis-based products, meaning that patients' access to these products continues to be illegal.

Portuguese patients remain without access, indefinitely
For now, Tilray only has an export license, which means it cannot sell its products on national territory. Asked when this could happen and how far ACM is in order to sell its products in Portugal, a Tilray spokesperson replied by email: “We anticipate full GMP certification at our EU campus in Cantanhede, in autumn 2019. This will allow us to directly serve other EU countries, including Portugal, as well as other international markets, as regulations allow. We are committed to providing access to Tilray medical cannabis to patients in need around the world and look forward to serving more countries over the next year.”

Carla Dias, president of the OPCM — Portuguese Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis, has already manifested on the issues of access to medical cannabis, considering that “six months after the regulation of the medical cannabis law, the situation of patients has worsened”. 

For its part, Infarmed states that several meetings have already been held with companies interested in placing their products on the national drug circuit, but only one ACM request is under evaluation. It is not known which company made this request and, to date, only the drug Sativex, from GW Pharmaceuticals, has been approved in Portugal. 

Founded in 2016, Cannamedical is fully licensed and certified with Good Distribution Practices to import and distribute high quality cannabis medical products. Company CEO David Henn says, “Cannamedical Pharma is committed to helping physicians, specialists and pharmacists improve the quality of life for their patients.” In addition, “Tilray's product has surpassed strict quality control standards, thus being able to use it in Cannamedical's own brands”. 

“We are pleased to enter into an agreement with a partner who shares Tilray's commitment to quality, product safety and patient access,” says Sascha Mielcarek, Managing Director of Tilray Europe. “This initial shipment will be the first of many from our EU Campus from Portugal to Germany, as well as other European and international markets.”
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Featured Photo: Miguel Schmitt // CannaReporter

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Antonio João Costa

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I am one of the directors of CannaReporter, which I founded together with Laura Ramos. I am from the unique Island of Madeira, where I currently reside. While I was in Lisbon at FCUL studying Physical Engineering, I became involved in the national hemp and cannabis scene and participated in several associations, some of which I am still a member of. I follow the global industry and especially legislative advances regarding the different uses of cannabis.

I can be contacted by email at joao.costa@cannareporter.eu

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