Aurora Cannabis Announces Cultivation Internship Program in Germany

In a recent press release, Aurora Cannabis Inc, announced it had partnered with the Erfurt University of Applied Sciences in Leuna, Germany to create a student internship program in medical cannabis cultivation (1). Headquartered in Alberta, Canada, Aurora’s portfolio contains several medical use brands as well as adult-use brands, and the company is continuing to expand its global reach. Last month, the company announced a partnership between The Entourage Effect and MedReleaf Australia, a subsidiary of Aurora (2). The Entourage Effect will operate as a wholesaler for MedReleaf Australia, providing distribution services to Australian pharmacies.

In the new internship program in Germany, students in the Horticultural Crop Production course will gain experience in cloning, care, harvesting, packaging and cleaning, as well as join in research and development projects. The six-month program will take place at Aurora's EU-GMP facility in Leuna, considered one of the only sites in Germany permitted to grow medical cannabis.

"We are thrilled to be giving these students the opportunity to collaborate with our leading experts in the global medical cannabis industry, providing them with unparalleled insights and skills," stated Michael Simon, President of Aurora Europe (Interim), in the press release. "We are committed to nurturing talent and fostering a collaborative environment, ensuring that our interns leave with an enriched understanding of the industry and a solid foundation for their professional journeys."

As noted by Niklas Kouparanis, CEO and Co-Founder of Bloomwell Group, in his recent article, “German Medical Cannabis Market Has Yet to Reach Its Full Potential,” there are many opportunities still to be fulfilled in the medical cannabis market (3). As of April 2024, there are approximately 300,000 medical cannabis patients in the country, and 17 tons of supply, with the potential to grow to 20 million patients and 60 tons of supply. As Kouparanis explains, patients still struggle to find doctors who can prescribe medical cannabis, and patients would prefer to obtain their prescription through telemedicine, both of which would benefit from ongoing education and conversations with patients and industry leaders and stakeholders. “Providing clear and accurate information about the benefits and regulations of the legalized medical cannabis market can help patients understand the benefits of securing cannabis through licensed pharmacies rather than risk contaminated products from the illicit market,” he states.

On April 1, 2024, having passed the German parliament with a vote of 407 to 226 in February, cannabis for non-medical purposes became legal for adults ages 18 and older in Germany (4). The push for legalization came from the goal to weaken the country’s illegal cannabis market, which had reportedly posed health risks from contamination.

References

1. Aurora Cannabis Inc. Empowering the Next Generation: Aurora Announces German Internship Program https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/empowering-the-next-generation-aurora-announces-german-internship-program-302347597.html (accessed Jan 16, 2025).
2. Aurora Cannabis Inc. Aurora Announces Distribution Partnership Between MedReleaf Australia and The Entourage Effect https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aurora-announces-distribution-partnership-between-medreleaf-australia-and-the-entourage-effect-302333188.html (accessed Jan 16, 2025).
3. Kouparanis, N. German Medical Cannabis Market Has Yet to Reach Its Full Potential https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/german-medical-cannabis-market-has-yet-to-reach-its-full-potential (accessed Jan 16, 2025).
4. McEvoy, E. Germany’s New Cannabis Laws: An Overview https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/germany-s-new-cannabis-laws-an-overview (accessed Jan 16, 2025).