Major cannabis research company gets development green light

A company has been awarded a licence for what will be the largest cannabis farm in the country so far, with thousands of plants for medical research. The Ministry of Health has given the go-ahead to Helius Therapeutics to research and develop cannabis products at their East Auckland site. It's the third licence awarded by the Ministry of Health, with one going to a university and another to a Ruatoria-based company Hikurangi. The co-founder and chief executive of Helius, Paul Manning, told reporter Eva Corlett the licence will allow the company to develop its own local strain of plants, which will help everything from sleep disorders to cancer pain.