Zimbabwe’s policy to legalise the production of medicinal cannabis is beginning to deliver measurable results, with a multi-million-dollar value-addition facility in Headlands now producing pharmaceutical-grade products for the local market and future exports.

Ivory Medical, located in Makoni Rural District in Manicaland Province, has positioned itself as a leading player in the sector by focusing on value addition rather than raw material exports. The company is aligning its operations with Government priorities under the National Development Strategy 1 and 2, which emphasise industrialisation and beneficiation.

The investment comes despite high entry costs in the sector, where licensing fees alone are estimated at around US$60 000. Ivory Medical has moved beyond cultivation and into processing, setting itself apart by manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients locally and reducing reliance on imports.

Speaking during a tour of the facility, Ivory Medical quality assurance manager Mr Fortune Chagonda said the company responded to Government policy aimed at transforming raw materials into finished products. “In 2023, we answered the call of the Government policy which speaks to the beneficiation of raw products into finished products,” he said.

Mr Chagonda explained that the company sources cannabis biomass from licensed farmers and processes it into finished pharmaceutical products. This approach is helping to build a local value chain within the cannabis industry, which has been identified as a potential growth sector for the economy.

At the facility, Ivory Medical is producing high-purity Cannabidiol distillate and CBD isolate crystals with a potency of 99,9 percent. These substances form the foundation of the company’s CBD oil product line, which includes six medicines that have already been registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.

Quality Control Manager Mr Opulence Zhou said the products are already available to consumers. “From these two active pharmaceutical ingredients, we can formulate finished products that you can find over the counter in your pharmacy for various ailments,” he said.

Mr Zhou added that the registered products are classified as complementary medicines and are used for sleep support, stress relief, anxiety management, and chronic pain. In addition to medicinal products, the company has introduced consumer items such as hair, body, and beard oils, which are available in supermarkets.

To increase production capacity, Ivory Medical is constructing a one-hectare greenhouse that will use indoor vertical growing systems. The facility is expected to produce high-grade THC biomass for medicinal use, marking a shift towards more advanced cultivation methods.

The company is also developing a larger main facility, which is expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2027. According to management, this plant will focus on indoor cultivation of high-quality cannabis for export markets, particularly in Europe.

Mr Zhou said the expansion is aimed at meeting international standards and generating foreign currency. “This facility is built to achieve the highest international standards, specifically EU-GMP standards,” he said, adding that the global cannabis industry is projected to reach US$60 billion by 2030.

Beyond production, the project is contributing to local employment. Ivory Medical currently employs only Zimbabwean workers and expects its workforce to grow to 50 professionals once the main facility becomes operational, supporting skills development in the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.

The development highlights how Zimbabwe’s cannabis legalisation policy is beginning to translate into industrial growth, with companies like Ivory Medical moving into manufacturing and positioning the country for participation in the global cannabis market.

Ivory Medical Leads Zimbabwe Cannabis Industry Growth

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