Australia Moving to Legalize MMJ Cultivation

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Australia could move to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis for clinical trials as soon as the end of next month, allowing its limited MMJ research program to advance.

A bill introduced in the Australian Parliament on Wednesday would establish a “national licensing and permit scheme to supply medical cannabis to patients… on clinical trials,” according to Reuters.

Australia recently legalized medical cannabis for research purposes, but cultivation remains illegal. The bill to allow cultivation is expected to pass.

What’s not immediately clear is exactly how the cannabis would be dispensed, or if there would be many business opportunities.

There are already business interests at work in the country, including prominent names such as Dixie Brands, which signed a licensing agreement with an Australian MMJ company in November. Other Australian businesses have expressed a serious interest in tapping the American market, as well.