NANAIMO, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tilray, a global pioneer in cannabis cultivation, processing and distribution, today announced that it has successfully exported medical cannabis products to South Africa for nationwide distribution to qualified patients through pharmacies. Tilray’s product is the first cannabinoid-based product derived from the cannabis plant that has ever been legally exported to and made available for medical purposes in the country of South Africa and on the continent of Africa.

“With this announcement, Tilray products are now available in nine countries on five continents. This export is another strategic milestone as we aim to build the world’s leading medical cannabis brand,” said Brendan Kennedy, Tilray CEO. “We are encouraged by the evolving regulations pertaining to cannabis in South Africa and around the world and are pleased to make our pharmaceutical-grade products available to qualified patients in need in throughout the country.”

Tilray’s medical cannabis product in South Africa is a GMP-manufactured, full-spectrum oral solution featuring a balanced ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The product is available to qualified patients under South Africa’s named patient program. Through that program, authorized practitioners can apply for permission to access and prescribe unregistered medicines, including the Tilray product, when intending to treat individual patients for specific conditions where certain registered medicines have failed. The product will then be distributed to patients through authorized distribution channels.

In South Africa, Tilray is proud to partner with BGM Pharmaceuticals, a locally-owned biotechnology company with a focus on providing innovative medical solutions to improve patient health outcomes in Africa. BGM is a level 1 Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) research-focused company.

About Tilray®

Tilray is a global pioneer in cannabis cultivation, processing and distribution currently serving tens of thousands of patients in nine countries spanning five continents.