New Zealand grower Kalyx and distributor Nubu will become the first companies to offer home-grown dried flower in the country after products were verified by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA).
The flower will be sold under Nubu’s Kikuya brand and will be available via prescription this month.
Nubu co-founder and chief executive Mark Dye said the production and approval of locally grown cannabis follows three years of work since the introduction of a medicinal cannabis framework in New Zealand.
Until now, no NZ-grown flower has been approved by the MCA for use via a vaporiser.
“I couldn’t be happier to celebrate this milestone,” Dye said. “We have the most stringent regulations in the world, so bringing local flower to market is no small feat.
“More importantly, this wonderful news means access to more affordable and fresher products for patients.”
He added: “Despite news of doom and gloom from some in the industry, Nubu and Kalyx show that with the right team, strong partners and unwavering commitment, it’s possible to succeed within the existing regulations. We’ve proven it’s possible, and the local industry has a bright future ahead.”
Kalyx was co-founded by Jesse O’Steen, who grew cannabis in California before moving to New Zealand in 2008.
He said: “We are excited and proud to reach this milestone with Nubu. The cannabis business is incredibly complex and challenging, so access to the market is a key component.
“We couldn’t be happier to support local patients with homegrown products.”
Alongside the Kalyx launch, Nubu is working with a second cultivator, Bay of Plenty-based OGG Holdings, to submit dried cannabis products for verification by the MCA.
Dye said the future of New Zealand cannabis will be built on “partnerships between local independent growers, cultivating premium cannabis alongside partners like us”.
