Australian medical cannabis company Montu is expanding its online clinic Alternaleaf into the United Kingdom, with Asif Dewan appointed as local managing director to lead the rollout.
Dewan said the service would address the needs of the "millions of Brits" who are either unable to access medical cannabis through legitimate channels or are turning to illegal markets instead.
"There are millions of Brits who suffer from medical conditions ranging from long-term pain, multiple sclerosis, mental health conditions to heavy migraines and epilepsy that may be eligible for medical cannabis, but haven't been able to access it," Dewan said.
"We also know that millions of people self-medicate on the black market. We're here to help everyone who is eligible for medical cannabis treatment access it in a safe and secure way."
He added: "Many of our patients have been taking much stronger medication before coming to us. It's not rare for us to meet patients who are on opioids, or who have been self-medicating illegally, or both."
Separately, Montu has secured fifth place on LinkedIn Australia's Top Startups list for 2023.
The annually published list highlights 20 Australian companies recognised for innovation and their ability to attract skilled professionals.
Montu managing director Christopher Strauch said the listing was "a testament to how hard our incredible team members work each and every day".
He added: "We look forward to continuing to attract top-tier talent that can further accelerate our growth for the benefit of both our patients and the wider industry.
"Being the first medical cannabis company to make the list, it's also an indication of the rapidly growing demand for our industry."
