The MMJ investment company has also made three key appointments as it continues its strategy of expanding into new markets.
() has welcomed news that its investment Southern Cannabis Holdings (SCH) has officially started operations in Australia and the United Kingdom.
SCH is a multinational company that builds, integrates and operates businesses in pharmaceutical cannabis markets.
Initial SCH companies include Cannabis Access Clinics, Australia’s first and largest network of medicinal cannabis clinics, Applied Cannabis Research, a specialist contract research organisation dedicated to assisting medicinal cannabis companies, and FreshLeaf Analytics, Australia’s leading source of data and information about the medicinal cannabis industry.
UK expansion
The UK expansion begins with the opening of Cannabis Access Clinics in Hartley St, London, while global expansion will continue in markets where regulations support the pharmaceutical medicinal cannabis sector.
SCH director Tim Drury said: “Australia was an early adopter of the pharmaceutical style approach to cannabis.
"We believe that more national markets around the world will follow this framework and our experience in research, data and clinical services puts us in a unique position to unlock value from these markets.”
"Key part" of strategy
SCH Europe director Dr Samuel Murray said, “We are proud to be a key part of Southern Cannabis Holdings’ global strategy.
"We look forward to being able to fill a gap in the newly-opened UK market and provide UK-based doctors and patients with access to research, data and medical treatment based on cannabinoid-based therapies.”
Three appointments
Along with the global launch, SCH has appointed three highly qualified and experienced executives from the Australian medicinal cannabis and healthcare industry.
The new team will allow SCH to embrace its next era of domestic growth and global expansion for its key businesses - Cannabis Access Clinics, Applied Cannabis Research and Freshleaf Analytics.
Drury said: “We’re thrilled to have so many high calibre executives joining our group.
“Our team is well-positioned to capitalise on “Cannabis 2.0”, the next phase of industry growth which will be defined by companies with real revenues, cashflows and profits.”
Andrew Glover has been appointed general manager, Cannabis Access Clinics for Australia and New Zealand, and has an extensive track record leading healthcare businesses.
His previous role was as the commercial director of Immediate Care and head of Primary Occupational Health for Healius Ltd.
Additionally, he brings a wealth of experience from the Telecommunications and FMCG industries where he has held senior commercial positions.
Drug health services experience
Dr Mark Hardy has joined the Cannabis Access Clinics medical advisory board with experience as an addiction specialist and visiting medical officer at The Hills Private Hospital, The Sydney Clinic and the Northern Beaches Hospital.
Hardy has worked in the addictions area since 1995 and has previously been a staff specialist in Addiction Medicine at Northern Sydney Local Health District.
In that role, he spent over 12 months as acting clinical director of Drug Health Services.
Rhys Cohen has joined FreshLeaf Analytics as principal consultant and is a recognised thought leader in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry.
Cohen was the director of Cannabis Consulting Australia and was previously the senior project officer at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics.
