Norfolk Island Cannabis Licences a Game-changer

The decision by the Norfolk Islands to issue licences to cultivate medical cannabis is a game-changer for the industry in the Oceania region, ALCP leader Julian Crawford says.

Tasmanian company Tasman Health Cannabinoids (THC) have been granted permission by the Norfolk Island Administration to import, export and grow cannabis for medical purposes.

Norfolk Island, which is just one and a half hours flight from Auckland, was looking forward to the economic boom brought to the island by the cannabis industry.

"Cannabinoid Pharmaceuticals NZ Ltd will also be applying to the Norfolk Island Administration for a licence to import, export and cultivate medical cannabis," Mr Crawford said.

"The New Zealand Government's pig-ignorant, head-in-the-sand attitude towards the medical cannabis industry will be its loss and Norfolk Island's gain."

Recovering from the Global Financial Crisis is one of the reasons why Norfolk has embraced the revenue from medical cannabis.

Norfolk Health Minister Robin Adams said she could "grant a licence to import cannabis into Norfolk Island, export from Norfolk Island, plant, cultivate tend or harvest cannabis and sell cannabis".

"We see this as a great opportunity both for the economy of Norfolk Island whilst providing a much needed medical product for export. We are open for investment, we are open for business on Norfolk Island," she said.

New Zealand's Health Minister also has the power to issue cannabis cultivation licences but refuses to do so.

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