Pharmacies in Santiago, Chile will begin selling medical cannabis products this week as the nation’s legislature is considering allowing small home grows for patients, Reuters reports. The products will be imported by Canadian licensed producer Tilray in partnership with Alef Biotechnology, which is licensed by the Chilean government.
The Tilray products, T100 and TC100, will cost about $310 per month for individuals with a prescription. Chile legalized medical cannabis in 2015 but MMJ therapies were only available through a limited number of dedicated farms set up by a charity.
“By importing Tilray’s medical cannabis products to Chile we intend to ease the suffering of those in need by offering pure, precise and predictable medical cannabis products,” Roberto Roizman, Alef board president, said in a statement.
In April, Australia’s AusCann Holdings and Chile’s Fundacion Daya harvested its first crop in the South American nation; however, those formulations must complete successful clinical trials before being registered with the Chilean Institute of Public Health and made available for patients.
Last March, Argentinian lawmakers passed legislation legalizing medical cannabis for patients with a prescription and for research purposes. In July, some pharmacies in Uruguay will begin selling cannabis to adult residents who register with the state. Uruguay legalized the cultivation and sale of cannabis in 2013.