Ora Pharm has confirmed that New Zealand patients, prescribers and pharmacies continue to have uninterrupted access to Helius Therapeutics products following the successful acquisition of the business and its key assets, directly challenging the misinformation being circulated to patients and prescribers by cannabis importer MW Pharma Limited (trading as NUBU).

Industry monitoring was highlighted on Monday, July 20th, when Helius Therapeutics announced that NZ Grow Co. As he inaugurated Growers Day. The event demonstrated the full operational strength, advanced capabilities and integrated supply chain now fully operational under Ora Pharm’s leadership to support the growth of the NZ sector.

At the event, CEO Zoë Reece addressed concerns stemming from a July 9 industry bulletin distributed by NUBU, which stated that “Helius Therapeutics has ceased production and all products are now discontinued.”

© Ora Pharm

Ora Pharm said the statement was incorrect and had the potential to create unnecessary uncertainty in a highly regulated healthcare sector.

“Inaccurate information about the availability of medicines can cause unnecessary worry for patients, prescribers and pharmacies, interfere with treatment decisions and undermine confidence in the New Zealand cannabis industry.”

Ora Pharm completed the business and acquisition of key assets of Helius Therapeutics on June 18, 2026, resuming manufacturing, packaging and nationwide distribution the following day. All Helius brand formulated products and locally grown products remain approved and available for patient supply.

CEO Zoë Reece said the company’s focus is on ensuring continuity of care while strengthening New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry.

“The Helius facility gives New Zealand growers direct access to world-class pharmaceutical drying, extraction and manufacturing capabilities. Combined with NZ Grow Co., we are creating a secure and integrated pathway from cultivation to finished products and international markets. Our focus is on clinical continuity, quality assurance and confidence in patients and prescribing physicians every day.”

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The integration of the GMP-certified Auckland manufacturing facility with NZ Grow Co.’s cultivation network creates New Zealand’s largest medicinal cannabis supply chain. This unified network insulates domestic patients from volatile international import dependencies while providing independent local growers with a transparent, high-standard route to export markets.

Ora Pharm remains committed to working collaboratively across the sector to support patient access, strengthen confidence in the New Zealand cannabis industry and continue to invest in New Zealand’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

California’s state treasurer has announced he will convene a hearing next week to highlight the marijuana industry’s banking access “challenges” and its impact on businesses, workers and communities.

The hearing, organized by Treasurer Fiona Ma (D), comes ten years after her predecessor launched a Cannabis Bank Task Force to look into the issue.

Titled “Continuing the Conversation: Advancing Safe and Legal Banking for California’s Cannabis Industry,” Wednesday’s hearing will feature state and local officials, financial institutions and representatives of marijuana companies. The plan is to “review progress made, discuss remaining obstacles, and consider practical steps California can take to support a safe, transparent and well-regulated legal cannabis market,” Ma’s office said in a press release.

“Nearly a decade after the launch of the Cannabis Banking Working Group, California’s legal cannabis industry continues to face barriers to access to affordable and reliable financial services due to state-federal conflict,” Ma. he said. “This hearing it will help us assess what has changed, identify challenges that remain, and continue the conversation about practical solutions that support public safety, transparency, and responsible business operations.”

Last month, bipartisan members of the US House and Senate reintroduced the legislation protect banks from being penalized for providing financial services to marijuana businesses.

Previous iterations of the banking legislation have been introduced in previous sessions of Congress, and while the House of Representatives has passed versions on several occasions, the reform has never become law.

While some banks serve marijuana businesses, the continued federal illegalization of the plant has made many reluctant to work with the industry.

“Limited access may increase operating costs, complicate routine financial transactions, and require some businesses to handle larger amounts of money, creating additional security and administrative concerns,” Ma’s office said.

Increasing public scrutiny has questioned whether the use of peat is environmentally sustainable. A new review According to Dr. James Altland, research director of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and Dr. Bruce Bugbee of Utah State University, they present a more nuanced picture than much of the current evidence portrays.

“Much of the debate in the popular press suggests that the use of peat in horticulture is unsustainable because it causes global warming and other environmental impacts,” shares James. “We have seen that agriculture is much more sustainable than some parties in the media want us to believe.”

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Differences between regions matter
The review states that assessments of peatland sustainability should differentiate between regions. While European peatlands have been heavily impacted by centuries of drainage and peat extraction, most Canadian peatlands remain undisturbed, with only a small proportion used for horticulture. According to the authors, this distinction is important when assessing the environmental impact of peat production.

“Currently, Canadian peatlands are sequestering carbon faster than the rate of extraction from container crop production. At current rates of extraction and with appropriate restoration, peatland use in North America is environmentally sustainable.”

The authors note that horticultural peat extraction in Canada accounts for only a small fraction of the total peatland area and that harvested sites are routinely restored after production.

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Restoration supports long-term recovery
The paper highlights the role of restoration practices, particularly the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT), in restoring peat-forming ecosystems.

“Restoration techniques, such as the moss layer transfer technique, can turn harvested peatlands into carbon sinks over decades,” he added. The review found that restored peatlands can restore vegetation, biodiversity and carbon sequestration functions over time, while improvements in water storage and hydrological performance are also documented.

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Alternatives also have environmental impacts
The researchers also looked at published life cycle assessments comparing them to substrates such as peat, korea, wood fiber, perlite and rock wool. “Life cycle assessments show that alternative substrates often have environmental impacts comparable to or greater than peat, especially when considering water use, transport and fertilizer inputs.”

The review concludes that comparisons depend on system limitations and assumptions, and that broad claims that alternatives are inherently more sustainable than peat are not consistently supported by published analyses.

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Figure A: Global carbon storage in natural systems (Gt, gigatons)
(Hirschler and Osterburg, 2022; Cleary et al, 2005; IPCC, 2023)

Performance remains an important consideration
Beyond sustainability, the paper reviews the functional characteristics that have made peat the reference substrate for container production.

“Soil’s high cation exchange capacity, water retention and stability support optimal plant growth and nutrient uptake,” shares James. The authors point out that these properties contribute to efficient irrigation and fertilizer management, maintaining good root zone conditions.

Although wood fibers, coir, and other materials can reduce peat use in mixes, each introduces its own management considerations, such as nutrient immobilization, water use, or processing requirements.

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Figure B: Annual carbon flux from human activities and sequestration through natural processes (Gt CO2-eq per year)
(Hirschler and Osterburg, 2022; Cleary et al, 2005; IPCC, 2023)

Managing future demand
As the global demand for soilless growth media is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades, the authors believe that a variety of substrate materials will be required.

“At current rates of extraction and with appropriate restoration, peat use in North America is environmentally sustainable and remains essential for horticulture and urban greening.”

For more information:
US Department of Agriculture
James Altland, Head of Research
Application Technologies Research Unit
(email protected)
www.usda.gov