‘We’re here and we’re ready’ - Dalgety secures UK licence to supply medical cannabis
The company’s 30,000 sq ft facility in the Midlands has also been granted Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This dual achievement positions Dalgety as one of only two EU-GMP certified cultivators in the country, allowing the company to cultivate, manufacture, and now supply high-THC medicinal cannabis directly to the UK pharmaceutical market.
The journey to securing this licence was rigorous, involving more than 600 quality control tests across eight different batches of medical cannabis to ensure product consistency. James Leavesley, Dalgety’s chief executive, expressed his pride in the accomplishment: “This upgrade to our licence is a huge accomplishment for the Dalgety team, and more importantly, means we can deliver UK-grown products to UK patients, an ambition we have been striving towards since founding the business five years ago. We’re here, and we’re ready.”
The UK medical cannabis market is projected to exceed £1 billion by 2026, and Dalgety’s licence upgrade is a critical step in meeting the rising demand for locally sourced medicinal cannabis. The company’s products will be packaged and distributed through its partner, Grow Pharma, and made available to patients via prescription from licensed doctors. Pierre Van Weperen, CEO of Grow Pharma, highlighted the significance of this achievement: “The securing of this licence upgrade is a milestone moment for Dalgety and we are so pleased for James and the team. We are excited for supply to begin and are looking forward to continuing to build our partnership.”
Dalgety is not resting on its laurels. The company has recently launched a fresh round of investment, seeking £6 million to expand its operations. The expansion plans include increasing the number of cultivation rooms within its existing facility, which could eventually grow the facility by 40 times its current size. This expansion will enable Dalgety to meet growing demand across Europe and further solidify its position in the medical cannabis market.
Reflecting on the broader implications for the industry, Leavesley added: “This is an incredible step forward not only for Dalgety but for the UK medical cannabis industry as a whole. It will be good to see more cultivators achieve this licence in the future, to help support the growing need for a high quality and reliable source of medical cannabis.”
Since the legalisation of medicinal cannabis products in the UK in 2018, the majority of cannabis-based medicines have been imported. However, with new UK licences like Dalgety’s coming online, there is increasing confidence among patients, doctors, and regulators in the quality and traceability of domestically sourced cannabis medications. Dalgety’s achievements signal a new era in the UK medical cannabis industry, with the potential to reduce supply chain disruptions and enhance patient access to high-quality treatments.
