Kanabo Group PLC (LON:KNB) passed a significant commercial milestone with the shipment of its first medicinal cannabis cartridges to the UK, as set down in its IPO prospectus in January.
They will be sold by the LYPHE Group's clinics and dispensaries, to be used with Kanabo’s VapePod device.
According to market experts, this is the first time a medicinal extract formula has been made available for inhalation by a metered-dose medical-grade vaporiser in the UK.
At 70% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the purity of the end product makes it amenable to use in the handheld device, which also allows doctors to administer the medication via precision micro-dose.
In doing so it provides a more effective method of delivery than smoked cannabis, without the health implications, and allows accurate data to be collected by researchers developing effective treatment regimens.
In North America, where the market is more developed than in Europe, vapes make up 20-30% of the market.
UK doctors currently prescribe the drug for conditions such as severe epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and pain management.
“Medical cannabis is a safer alternative to the conventional opiate solutions and other pain management treatments,” Kanabo’s chief executive Avihu Tamir said.
“This announcement ensures that 1,000s of UK patients have access to the most effective medicinal cannabis delivery system.”
The research and development company's mission statement says it is working to “create a new standard in the medical cannabis industry”.
It is doing so by building an ecosystem that “improves the well-being of millions around the world by providing an alternative solution to the smoking of medicinal cannabis flowers”.