Pharmaceutical company AusCann and Tasmanian Alkaloids entered into a partnership in May to seek a licence to cultivate, grow and distribute medicinal cannabis. In a statement to the ASX on Tuesday, AusCann confirmed the licence had been granted for the crop.

“This is a major milestone for the strategic partnership and represents significant progress in our joint strategy to become a leading producer and supplier of high quality medicinal cannabis to Australian patients,” AusCann managing director Elaine Darby said.

Tasmanian Alkaloids has a processing facility at Cressy and is owned by SK Capital Partners. Operating since 1976, Tasmanian Alkaloids produces about 40 per cent of the world’s opiate crop.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the licence was a “significant step” towards the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Tasmania.

He said the announcement was another vote of confidence in Tasmania’s primary industries.

“This is a significant step towards AusCann and Tasmanian Alkaloids’ plan to cultivate, grow and process medicinal cannabis in Tasmania. This is great news for Tasmanian Alkaloids and the team based at their Westbury production facility,” he said.

The state government’s controlled access scheme will support Tasmanians to get access to medicinal cannabis. The scheme opens on September 1.