A new medical cannabis firm based in Katikati has been quietly positioning itself to make a significant impact on the New Zealand pharmaceutical market and local horticultural industry.
With two Medsafe cultivation licences to grow medicinal cannabis secured, Eqalis Research Ltd is poised to produce a range of plant-based pain relief products for the New Zealand market.
Major investors in Eqalis include Alan Bougen, the co-founder of Comvita, Murray McBride, large-scale Kiwifruit grower and founder of BayGold, and Tony Ponder a director of Southern Produce and the chairman of the Avocado Growers Association.
Eqalis managing director Greg Misson believes that the deep expertise and experience amongst the Eqalis shareholder group covering horticulture and high value natural therapeutic products will be the key to building Eqalis into a Bay of Plenty success story which will include expansion into global markets.
“Confidence in Eqalis is high; we are the first Bay of Plenty medical cannabis firm to secure not one but two growing licenses, with the aim to improve the health and quality of life of New Zealanders suffering from chronic illness and pain."
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