Polish government approves import of medical cannabis

The Polish Ministry of Health has granted Canadian company Aurora approval to begin shipping medical cannabis to Poland.

“Becoming the first company to supply cannabis to Poland is validation of Aurora’s ability to do business in international markets with high barriers to entry,” said Neil Belot, Aurora’s chief global business development officer.

Aurora Cannabis Inc, headquartered in Edmonton, is one of the world’s leading medical cannabis suppliers with operations in 19 countries across five continents. It is believed to be the first time a non-government run business has been granted approval to supply medical cannabis products in the country.

“This is an important milestone for patient access in Poland, which will provide options for people seeking alternative medications to help manage symptoms of a wide range of medical conditions. Aurora continues to grow its international footprint, and puts us in an enviable position to capitalise on our early mover advantage,” added Mr Belot.

Aurora has established a uniquely advanced, consistent and efficient production strategy, based on purpose-built facilities that integrate leading-edge technologies across all processes, defined by extensive automation and customization, resulting in the massive scale production of high quality product at low cost. Each of Aurora’s facilities is built to meet EU GMP standards, and its first production facility, the recently acquired MedReleaf Markham facility, and its wholly owned European medical cannabis distributor Aurora Deutschland GmbH, have achieved this level of certification.

Aurora Deutschland will begin shipping medical cannabis to a pain treatment centre and a hospital in Warsaw in the next few days.

The use of medical marijuana as a form of treatment was legalised in Poland 2017, although with limited scope. Under Polish legislation, physicians can prescribe medical marijuana  products to patients who can then access it through registered pharmacies.

“We are thrilled to have successfully navigated the complexities of the Polish regulatory framework, and are proud to become the first company to supply a Polish hospital with medical cannabis. Throughout this process we’ve established strong relationships with medical professionals, state-owned wholesalers, and local foundations who have played an integral role in achieving this milestone,” explains Maximilian Weinberg, head of business development at Aurora Europe.

In specific instances, products will be covered under statutory Polish health insurance, thus establishing a new and significant medical market for Aurora.