LONDON: Sativa Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Sativa Cultivation and Extraction Ltd, has been awarded a Controlled Drug licence for cannabis (with THC content of greater than 0.2%) cultivation, production, possession and supply, at its Somerset headquarters, by the UK Home Office.

Sativa Group is the UK’s leading quoted CBD wellness and medicinal cannabis Group.

The Group is therefore able to commence immediately the fulfilment of its research partnership agreement with King’s College London to research the impact of cannabinoids on inflammation and respiratory conditions.

The cannabis plants will be grown from seeds sourced from an EU approved supplier and are estimated to have a growing cycle of 12 weeks, allowing for multiple crops per year.

The Group already has a purpose-built secure growing facility that has been inspected by the Home Office as part of the application process. Once they have reached maturity, the plants will be dried, and the cannabinoids then extracted as a liquid using pressure and heat.

The process is strictly controlled to standard operating procedures approved by the UK Home Office, including all handling, transportation to the College, and the disposal of residual waste and by-products.

Dr Nick Horniman, Sativa’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, said: “This high-THC cultivation license complements our low-THC Industrial Hemp licence, held in the name of Geremy Thomas, Founder and Deputy Chairman of Sativa, that was granted in April 2018, and we continue to work with the regulators to broaden the suite of licences as the Group expands its operations.”

Henry Lees-Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Sativa, said: “We are delighted to receive this licence, responding to calls from regulators, government and healthcare providers for further research and development into the efficacy of medicinal cannabis. We are committed to operating at these high standards and to partner with Kings College London, to help establish a clinical pathway for patients to access medicinal cannabis.”

Edited by Kazim Rizvi