Eqalis

20/12/2022

Big news, this week we’ve announced a prospective 50/50 merger with !

By merging with Cannasouth Bioscience Limited and combining the technology and resources of both businesses, we see a major opportunity to deliver improved access and affordability for New Zealand patients.

“We know the most significant barrier to medicinal cannabis for many Kiwis is affordability. As a combined entity, we’re investing in diversification to lower the price for patients,” says Eqalis chief executive Greg Mission.

Read more in the New Zealand Herald article below.

A very different kind of dope deal: $49m medicinal cannabis tie-up to put patients first.

16/11/2022

We are pleased to announce we have officially received our Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) licence. This licence allows for the sale of in-house developed medicinal products.

Eqalis managing director Greg Misson says achieving GMP certification means the company can begin delivering for Kiwi patients across Aotearoa.

“With GMP certification under our belt, we can focus on providing affordable, accessible medicinal cannabis to patients suffering from a wide range of ailments from anxiety and insomnia through to chronic pain,” says Misson.

We’re doing our best to make high-quality medicines available to kiwis. Today we are one step closer to achieving that goal. It’s a massive effort from our team who have worked tirelessly to get here. Thank you for your ongoing support 💚

Read the full press release here: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2211/S00237/eqalis-receives-gmp-certification-to-accelerate-local-production-of-medicinal-cannabis.htm

28/10/2022

Why is plant-based medicine so stigmatised?

The stigma surrounding medicinal cannabis stems from its former illegal status. There have been plenty of anti-cannabis campaigns that have contributed to the belief that anyone using cannabis regardless of if it's for medical reasons or not, is a “lazy stoner”.

As laws have changed, more people are beginning to understand that people from all walks of life, including high-functioning individuals use medicinal cannabis to help them. Change will not come overnight but we are heading in the right direction.

26/10/2022

Research out of Australia has shown a major shift from the blackmarket to legal medicine.

From a harm reduction point of view, this is a great result. It means fewer patients are dealing with stigma, they’re getting the right product, and the medicine they’re prescribed has been heavily tested.

Learn more in the link below.

Background Australia has had a framework for legal medicinal cannabis since 2016, yet prior online surveys in 2016 and 2018 indicated that most consumers continued to use illicit medical cannabis products. Regulatory data indicate an increase in the prescription of medicinal cannabis since 2019, and...

25/10/2022

The price of medicinal cannabis varies greatly depending on who and where you fulfil your prescription. Some pharmacies and clinics mark up prices significantly.

Unfortunately, prices can’t be publicly disclosed by vendors online, so information is not widely available.

If you would like more specific information about pricing, we recommend talking to your GP or reaching out to your local pharmacy.

18/10/2022

Instead of going through with his retirement plans, Dr Shane Rutherfurd decided to join the Eqalis team. Shane is applying his extensive biochemistry qualifications and expertise to research how our plant-based medicine can help people who suffer from chronic pain and insomnia.

As our Lead Scientist, Shane has proven invaluable to the Eqalis team. He has helped future-proof our extraction and testing processes and provided insight into how different cannabinoids interact with our bodies through his research conducted in our Katikati facility.

17/10/2022

Should Pharmac fund medicinal flower, CBD and THC treatments?

Patients and the industry are well aware of the costs and barriers to accessing their medicine. Patients are spending hundreds of dollars every month and often pay more than the black market.

A large portion of medicinal users struggle to afford or can't afford their medicine. While the industry is working to drive prices down, rigid regulations are slowing our progress. We firmly believe that every eligible patient should be able to access their medicine and funding should be considered for disadvantaged patients.

Two years on from the introduction of the Medicinal Cannabis Act, cost is still a barrier for most Kiwis.

12/10/2022

Recently, the Ministry of Health approved homegrown and manufactured medicines. Kiwis will no longer be reliant on imported products.

It is important that patients are able to access both local and overseas medicines at an affordable price.

Read more about the Ministry of Health announcement in the article below.

Kiwis will no longer have to rely on imported medical cannabis.

29/09/2022

Unfortunately, it’s impossible for outdoor grown medicinal flower to meet New Zealand’s quality standards for flower intended for va**ng or tea.

Outdoor plants come in contact with far more contaminants in a less controlled environment.

However, medicinal flower grown outdoors can still be used to manufacture high-quality medicines by removing contaminants through extraction and distillation.

26/09/2022

This figure is hardly surprising. Medicinal cannabis is still too difficult and expensive to access for most patients.

People using medicinal cannabis should not be pushed to the black market or find themselves in trouble with the law.

New Zealand needs more cannabis-educated prescribers and product options to improve access and affordability. We hope to be a part of the solution when our product becomes available in the near future.

19/09/2022

Could CBD help relieve withdrawal symptoms?

Addiction to prescription and recreational drugs can be incredibly difficult to overcome and the cravings can be extremely uncomfortable.

In 2019, a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that when compared to a placebo, CBD significantly reduced cravings and anxiety. This study only considered 50 participants and therefore further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Read the study here:

Objective: Despite the staggering consequences of the opioid epidemic, limited nonopioid medication options have been developed to treat this medical and public health crisis. This study investigated the potential of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonintoxicating phytocannabinoid, to reduce cue-induced cravin...

16/09/2022

Can you guess how tall this plant is? 🤔

Hint: our Grower Jason is a little over 6ft.