Medicinal cannabis companies venturing into overseas markets soon find that cross-border distribution bears little resemblance to moving product domestically.
Regulatory requirements differ from one country to the next, paperwork is dense, and a single documentation error can bring a shipment to a halt.
Australian freight company Inter World Shipping has built its entire business model around solving that problem.
The company is run by brothers Arky and Stephen Kalithrakas, a family operation with more than 20 years of combined logistics experience between them.
Two years into working with the medicinal cannabis sector, the company now handles freight for 23 medicinal cannabis businesses worldwide, moving substantial monthly tonnage along international routes that include Thailand to Australia, as well as Australian exports destined for the US, Germany, UK, Portugal and Denmark.
Air freight is the dominant mode of transport, with most shipments arriving door-to-door within three to seven days.
For Arky, the work carries personal meaning. He has followed the industry for close to a decade and read books by leading figures including Dr Peter Grinspoon, who spoke at February's United in Compassion conference.
"I followed its journey from criminalisation to regulated use and waited for the right time to combine that passion with my logistics background," he said. "Now I'm proud to be helping move medicinal cannabis to the patients who need it."
Import and export permits, controlled substance classifications and customs requirements vary between jurisdictions, and small mismatches in documentation can throw a sizeable spanner in the works, he said.
“Between strict documentation requirements and the time sensitive nature of the product, getting it right is critical”
Arky kalithrakas
Inter World Shipping reviews paperwork on both the origin and destination sides before any shipment leaves, identifies issues early, coordinates with customs authorities and regulators where required, and provides clients with real-time visibility throughout transit.
"The import and export of medicinal cannabis in Australia is still a developing space. Between strict documentation requirements and the time-sensitive nature of the product, getting it right is critical," Kalithrakas said.
"We manage the freight process end-to-end, and with our experience in this space, we know exactly what to look for – saving customers time and avoiding unnecessary delays."
Temperature control is a significant concern while flower is in transit. Exposure to unsuitable conditions can cause the product to degrade, a risk that grows on long-haul routes involving connecting flights.
To address this, Inter World Shipping selects routes with seasonal temperatures at transit hubs in mind, mandates thermal blankets and adequate insulation, and provides packaging materials when required.
The operation runs at all hours to stay in sync with suppliers and customers spread across different time zones.
"Our goal is simple. We take the stress out of logistics so our customers can focus on growing their business and helping patients," Arky added.
For more information, contact Arky Kalithrakas on +61 400 688 884 or email ar**@*************om.au.
