Tilray, a Canadian medical cannabis research and production company, has announced a deal with Croatia that will see their products dispensed at pharmacies to individuals with medical marijuana prescriptions. It will be the first legal export of medical cannabis products from a North American country to a European country.
The partnership with the Croatian Institute of Immunology will initially see two varieties of Tilray Liquid capsules available to patients – one containing an equal 5 milligrams of THC and CBD per capsule, and another containing 2.5 milligrams of THC and 2 milligrams of CBD per capsule.
Professor Ognjen Brborović PhD MD, Chairman of Croatia’s Committee for Medical Cannabis, said the deal marks the end of a 16-month process to get patients access to quality medicine.
“I am glad that Croatia is the first EU country that will be able to assure patients first-class cannabis extract oil is available in pharmacies.” Dr. Brborović said in a press release. “I hope that patients in other EU countries will soon have the same opportunity.”
Under the Croatian program, individuals with multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, nausea, and Dravet syndrome are eligible for cannabis therapy.
Brendan Kennedy, Tilray president, estimates that the global medical cannabis industry has “the potential” to be worth $100 billion and his company is anticipating other clinical research partnerships in other European Union countries and Australia.
“We are excited about the rapid development of the medical cannabis sector in Europe, and we are pleased to be the first company to legally import medical cannabis products into the European Union after meeting all regulatory requirements in Canada and Croatia,” Kennedy said in the release. “With demand at an all-time high, we look forward to working with the Institute of Immunology to help eligible patients in need access medical cannabis products in Croatia.”