Canadian medical marijuana company to distribute pet products in New Zealand
Canadian company shifts its focus to pet products after long delays in applying for a medical marijuana license
By Emma Crawford Hampel
Pets in New Zealand will soon be going green, thanks to a new agreement between a medical marijuana company based in the Canadian city of Vernon and New Zealand’s largest pet retail chain.
True Leaf Pet has entered into a deal with Christchurch’s Liberty Premium Pet Products to distribute its True Hemp-branded pet chews in pet stores across the country, marking the company’s first foray into the Asia Pacific region.
“With no other comparable hemp-based therapeutic dog products already on the market in New Zealand, we are enthusiastic about the release of True Hemp and eager to see the response of dog owners to True Hemp,” said Carl Reese, Liberty’s managing partner.
The company shifted its focus to pet products last year after facing long delays in the process in applying for a medical marijuana license for human consumption. It has passed through the preliminary and enhanced reviews of Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations to become a licensed producer.
True Leaf CEO Darcy Bomford said the growth of the company’s pet division was the its biggest success last year.
“We’ve doubled sales from quarter-to-quarter, and now we’re getting 2017 off to a great start working with Liberty in New Zealand.”
In addition to being sold across North America, True Hemp chews are also being sold in England and Germany.
