With the benefits of medicinal cannabis seemingly endless, it should come as no surprise that countries outside of the United States are beginning to embrace the plant as a viable form of treatment for an assortment of diseases. One such country is Australia, who in 2016, legalized medicinal cannabis at the federal level—something even the U.S. has yet to do.
Two companies, in particular, are capitalizing on Australia’s progressive policy and hope to gain licenses to operate large-scale cannabis-growing and research facilities for a project aimed towards assisting multiple sclerosis patients.
Helping Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Australian-based pharmaceutical companies MYM Nutraceuticals and PUF Ventures have formally asked the Australian Office of Drug Control for medical cannabis and cannabis research licenses. If approved, PUF Ventures, PUF Ventures Australia and MYM Nutraceuticals will team up to create the Northern Rivers Project in the Australian province of New South Wales.
The project will be initially geared towards helping MS patients in Australia, but the group is still discussing other potential areas of focus, including women’s health disorders and immune disorders.
MYM Nutraceuticals and PUF Ventures Australia have also joined forces with the National Insitute of Complementary Medicine for additional research counsel.
PUF Ventures Australia CEO Michael Horsfall described the tag-team project as “a world-class research institute, and this collaboration will allow for access to our planned state-of-the-art labs and greenhouse facilities. NICM will provide their independent academic expertise to contribute to PVA’s research agenda. This is a significant step forward to allow PVA to focus on its mandate to develop innovative medicinal products.”
The venture will include a 10,000-square-foot laboratory, a 1.2-million-square-foot greenhouse, a training center and several other research facilities. The first harvest is expected to occur at the end of 2018.
Jerome Sarris, the deputy director of the National Insitute of Complementary Medicine, expressed his excitement with the blossoming venture.
“There is a growing appetite globally for clean-green, high-quality medicinal plants,” said Sarris. “[The NICIM] engages in selective research collaborations with medicinal cannabis, and the Northern Rivers Project is a significant development in the field which we are proud to be involved with.”
Final Hit: Cannabis Project Aims To Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients
There is plenty of research that verifies cannabis as a practical form of treatment for MS patients.
It’s been proven to relieve pain, prevent muscle stiffness and spasm, help digestion and lessen the constant urge to urinate for sufferers of the disorder.
One of the most notable advocates for medicinal marijuana in conjunction with multiple sclerosis has been former television host Montel Williams, who has suffered from the disease for years and has used cannabis regularly. The ex-television personality has claimed to use medicinal cannabis every day for the last 17 years, with astounding results.
And if the Northern Rivers Project proves successful upon its inception, it’s not only a win for Australia’s MS patients, but for sufferers around the globe.
