AUT gets approval to grow high-THC and high-CBD cannabis

AUT researchers are now able to "hit go" on several cannabis projects.

The university has been granted licenses to grow high-THC and high-CBD cannabis with medicinal cannabis producer Zeacann.

"There is a huge knowledge gap in regards to medicinal cannabis," senior lecturer Ali Seyfoddin told Newshub.

"We know a lot from unofficial and unattested sources. Having a licence means that we can do more research."

AUT says it is a step closer to ensuring access to safe and affordable medicinal cannabis products that work. 

Dr Seyfoddin says it means more research can be done to fill a huge knowledge gap "on the chemistry, on the formulation of pharmaceutical dosage forms". 

"And also you have some standard forms of cannabis medication that can enter clinical trials."

Regulations for the medicinal cannabis scheme come into effect next Thursday.

Dr Seyfoddin says they will research ways to extract active ingredients and formulate products, and it will be important to share their discoveries with the cannabis industry.

"Especially now there is a lot happening with cannabis and medicinal cannabis, we hope that our research can provide a source of valid information."

Zeacann has a partnership with Amsterdam-based TH Seeds, which has been in the business for 35 years.

"Our licenses let us 'hit go' on several research projects," said Zeacann CEO Chris Fowlie, "including trialling the best genetic strains for New Zealand growing conditions, developing standards and best practice methods for cannabinoid production, extraction and dose delivery, verifying anecdotal claims and researching several promising formulation."

A medicinal cannabis agency will be operational by the middle of 2020, Medsafe said in November, which will in charge of the licensing regime for growing cannabis for medicinal use, the manufacture and supply of products and standards.