New Zealand's Cannabis Legacy Genetics Reach Australian Medical Marijuana Market

New Zealand medical marijuana company  Rua Biosciences RUA announced Monday the launch of its dried flower called Rua Rau Hiwa in Australia. This is the Maori-born business' first product launch into the Australian cannabis market.

Rua Rau Hiwa is derived from legacy genetics developed during the illegal cannabis cultivation era in the Tairāwhiti region.

"We are proud to offer Rua's medicinal cannabis genetics sourced from New Zealand's legacy market to thousands of patients across Australia," Rua's chief executive Paul Naske stated. "We continue to prioritize R&D and genetic discovery. Tairāwhiti is home to ‘legacy' genetics developed over generations – it is these unique cannabis strains that are grown and discovered at Rua's facility in Mangaoporo. "

Naske said the launch of this product in Australia marks an important milestone for the company whose commercial model is focused on the two ends of the value chain: genetics and international distribution.

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"For more than 50 years, growing cannabis in New Zealand has been about back-door expertise that's been developed illicitly," Naske continued. "Now, we have an opportunity for this expertise to flourish, supported by our scientists and our own legacy growers who deeply understand how premium cannabis plant genetics can form effective medical solutions."

The Australian medical marijuana market is considered one of the fastest-growing in the world. In 2023, it imported more than 42 tons of medical marijuana which makes a 69% increase compared to 2022. As per the data from Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), the use of unregistered medical marijuana products has increased substantially in recent years from 18,000 Australian patients in 2019 to more than one million patients in January 2024.

Rua Biosciences has four distributors in Australia, one of which covers 50% of the market, reaching around 200,000 medical marijuana patients in the nation.

The company also plans to introduce New Zealand genetics into the German cannabis market next year.

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