The NZ Herald reports
The Government has given a cash injection to the country’s largest medicinal cannabis grower, saying it could become as successful as the wine industry.
Puro, a specialist cannabis grower near Kēkerengū, between Blenheim and Kaikōura, was given a $32 million grant today.
The $13m is coming from taxpayer money, and the remaining $19m is from private investors.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said the “weird and wacky” grant would kickstart the organic medicinal cannabis industry in New Zealand.
“There’s a lot changing, and a lot of the new generation coming into agriculture are excited by the potential opportunities,” he said.
O’Connor said one of the main reasons for the investment was to diversify the agriculture industry to combat climate change.