By Kefiloe Kajane
Lesotho is set to export 8.5 tonnes of medicinal cannabis to North Macedonia. This is Africa’s largest single legal cannabis export.
The chairperson of parliamentary social cluster, Moshoeshoe Fako has confirmed that for the first time Lesotho will make history when the country exports such cannabis quantity to the European country.
He said the sale of the 8.5 tonnes of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol flower is going to generate US $8.5million (equivalent to M128,507million) from the sale.
“We are very happy that finally Lesotho’s new hope for economic growth is fast becoming a dream coming true,” he said.
According to Highlands Investments, a licensed cultivator of high-quality GAP and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 22000 certified cannabis, it has secured the sale of 8.5 tonnes of its Highlands Pure THC and CBD flower and trim into the European medical cannabis market.
The company indicated that the shipment follows a previously successful shipment of 176.5kg of THC flower exported to Europe in April.
It also indicated that the company believed the quantity was the largest legal shipment of medical grade cannabis to date and is a significant milestone for their business.
“Our cannabis is GAP and ISO 22000 certified with a proven supply chain into the much-coveted European medical cannabis market. The shipping of cannabis is a highly complex process as the industry is closely monitored and regulated. Both the supplier and receiver of the cannabis products need to be licensed. The shipping companies also require stringent licensing to move raw cannabis materials and other products between legal jurisdictions.
“Having proven our ability to meet the stringent shipping requirements with our April shipment, we successfully secured the bulk sale of the remainder of our 2021 harvest, comprising just over 2,000kg of THC and 6,500kg of CBD flower and trim. The size of the shipment, which is enough to fill almost four 40 foot containers, required a chartered plane to transport to Macedonia,” Highlands Investments said.
The cannabis company explained that the rapidly growing global medical, wellness and consumer cannabis markets all increasingly require certified, high-quality flower to meet their expanding product portfolios.
It said it was fortunate that they have some of the most competitive cost per hectare metrics and this, together with their ISO 22000 certification and proven route to market, firmly entrenches Highlands as the partner of choice in this competitive space,” the company said.
