Queensland-based Rapid Growth has become the first medicinal cannabis firm to have its licences suspended by the Office of Drug Control.
The company, which formed in 2018 and trades as Pure Cannabis Australia, has been banned from carrying out commercial activities for six months, other than tending to plants.
The ODC said it has suspended Rapid Growth’s medicinal cannabis and manufacturing licences and “associated permits” from December 1 until May 31 “unless the secretary of the Department of Health determines otherwise”.
The drug enforcement agency refused to disclose the reasons for the suspension, but confirmed it was the first time it has been forced to take such action.
It said in statement to Cannabiz: “The Office of Drug Control (ODC) does not publicly comment on operational compliance matters or provide specific information about individual licence holder circumstances.
“The notice of suspension published on the ODC website is in accordance with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and the Narcotic Drugs Regulation 2016 and is intended to assist other licence holders within the medicinal cannabis scheme, either with current or potential supply contracts with Rapid Growth Pty Ltd.”
It added: “This is the first time the Office of Drug Control has suspended a medicinal cannabis licence.”
Cannabiz has approached Rapid Growth for comment.
On the Pure Cannabis Australia website, the firm said it is a “100% Australian-owned and operated cultivator, manufacturer and exporter of medicinal cannabis”.
The ODC called on anyone who suspects non-compliant or “questionable” manufacturing and cultivation practices to get in touch with its compliance department.
