Vic hands out first contract for cannabis

Patients who need medicinal cannabis are one step closer to using the newly legal treatment after the Victorian government awarded the first commercial permit.

The plants have been transferred from Agriculture Victoria's growing centre in an undisclosed location into the hands of Melbourne-based Cann Group Limited.

The recent state budget included $28.5 million to establish the Office of Medicinal Cannabis to regulate the clinical and manufacturing framework, while an independent medical advisory committee will advise the government.