top of page
SA Landraces with Cannabis Plants. and species-min.png

CANNABIS INDUSTRY 

BREAKING  NEWS

Shape-Shifter: Australia’s Biggest Pharmacy Chain Embraces Medical Cannabis

Shape-Shifter: Australia’s Biggest Pharmacy Chain Embraces Medical Cannabis

Australia's biggest pharmacy chain has joined a medicinal cannabis joint venture that plans to deliver its first products across its network in the coming months.

Australian Associated Press

15 March 2023 at 09:30:00

The Daily Mail reports that Wellnex Life announced on 14 March 2023 that Chemist Warehouse will take a 10 per cent interest in the cannabis venture, which already includes OneLife Botanicals.


The joint venture plans to launch the first of five medicinal cannabis products by the end of the financial year on 30 June 2023, under a jointly-owned brand with Chemist Warehouse.


"We are excited to be entering a rapidly transforming industry which is seeing surging consumer demand with growing recognition of the legitimacy of cannabis-based medicine by patients and prescribers," Wellnex Life CEO George Karafotias said.


The joint venture has reached an agreement with OnTracka to develop a telehealth application for connecting patients with authorised prescribers and relevant cannabis products.


Australian regulators in 2016 created several pathways under which medical cannabis can be legally prescribed to patients.


Last year, 970,041 Australian patients, including 307,026 new ones, were prescribed medical cannabis by "authorised prescribers" - doctors specifically authorised to dispense cannabis.


Another 117,000 prescriptions for medical cannabis were dispensed last year by GPs under the Special Access Scheme Category B, meaning a doctor does not have a special dispensation to prescribe cannabis but asks for approval on a case-by-case basis.


Medicinal cannabis has been prescribed to treat chronic pain or anxiety, sleep disorders, cancer pain, insomnia, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, arthritis and migraines.

Goodleaf says SAHPRA restrictions on dosages and packaging have pushed it into an uncompetitive corner. It says it's pulling its range off the shelves until there's more regulatory certainty in the cannabis market.

Regulatory Uncertainty Bites SA's Biggest CBD Brand, Goodleaf Temporarily Pulls It Range From The Shelves

Goodleaf says SAHPRA restrictions on dosages and packaging have pushed it into an uncompetitive corner. It says it's pulling its range off the shelves until there's more regulatory certainty in the cannabis market.

For the first time non-government stakeholders in the cannabis industry will have a formal seat at the policy table

The Presidency Unveils New Structure to Align Cannabis Stakeholders on Future Policy

For the first time non-government stakeholders in the cannabis industry will have a formal seat at the policy table

Government has the capacity to invest in strategic parts of the cannabis value chain but says that it's looking to the private sector to cough up most of the cash to kick-start the new sunrise sector.

SA Cannabis Finance ‘Eco-System’: The Phakisa Acknowledges That Private Sector Has to Lead the Way

Government has the capacity to invest in strategic parts of the cannabis value chain but says that it's looking to the private sector to cough up most of the cash to kick-start the new sunrise sector.

5.cannabiz-africa Hemp -min.png

Cannabis in South Africa: The People’s Plant

We are a civil society organisation with the interests of the existing Cannabis industry and the Human Rights of ALL citizens at heart.

WE’RE BRINGING A NEW STANDARD

We are more than just a cannabis retail company. We are about a lifestyle that promotes vitality, balance & good health.

Resources & Equipment

Explore cannabis growing equipment for growing weed at home. 

Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to enhance your outdoor or indoor weed grow setup – we have the perfect range of cannabis growing equipment to match your marijuana growing ambitions. 

Find everything from LED grow lights, grow tents, fans, and hydroponic setups, to environmental equipment and controls, harvesting accessories, extraction equipment and plenty more. 

Design your ideal cannabis growing setup with high quality growing equipment available in South Africa. 

Explore cannabis growing equipment we’ve curated from reliable online suppliers in South Africa

bottom of page