Drapalin: medical cannabis exclusively from africa for germany – an interview with Lana Korneva
2017 was a year of many moving events: Roaming charges in Europe were abolished, the German Constitutional Court called for a third gender for the birth register, and Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the USA. But that’s not all: in 2017, the German Bundestag also approved the release of medical cannabis for patients. This landmark legislative change on March 10, 2017, allows doctors to prescribe cannabis as medicine while making it reimbursable by public health insurers. It didn’t take long for the company Drapalin Pharmaceuticals GmbH to be born. Because the founders behind the brand – with the vision to build a wholesale company for medical cannabis on the German market – were waiting for exactly this decision. We had the great honor to conduct an exclusive interview with Lana Korneva, co-founder and CEO of DRAPALIN: What exactly are the company’s motivations and what is DRAPALIN’s vision for the future? You can learn more about this and more in the following article.
Medical cannabis from Africa
Drapalin Pharmaceuticals GmbH is an importer and wholesaler of medical cannabis of high pharmaceutical quality and is now making available to the German market an EU-GMP compliant strain from Lesotho, a landlocked country in South Africa. It is an indica-dominant hybrid of the Californian variety White Lemon and the local variety Marakabei Local with a high THC content.
With the support of DRAPALIN, MG Health became the first African company ever to be recognized as a producer of non-irradiated medicinal cannabis under EU GMP guidelines in Germany. This also means that it has assured quality and production standards in the field of standardized medicinal plant cultivation – one of the prerequisites for exporting the product to Europe. Now both partners can proudly look back on the first import of medicinal cannabis from Africa to Europe, which was realized through their efforts. In doing so, they have made history.
DRAPALIN’s goal is to secure and expand the supply of medical cannabis in Germany in order to continuously improve the well-being and quality of life of patients. In addition to quality products, this includes simple ordering processes, a reliable logistics network, and comprehensive product and application information.
Transparent and open communication with all DRAPALIN stakeholders
Transparency is a top priority at DRAPALIN. Detailed information on the manufacturer, country of origin and production processes is made available. After all, this is a plant-based product whose quality is significantly influenced by the place where it grows, the cultivation conditions and, last but not least, the philosophy underlying its cultivation.
For this reason, DRAPALIN is very proud to have MG Health as an exclusive and reliable producer. In the small, mountainous town with the beautiful name Marakabei, not only excellent medicinal cannabis has been growing for five years on professionally managed cultivation areas at an altitude of 2000 meters in optimal cultivation conditions. Here, the producer has also created training and jobs, expanded the sanitary infrastructure and the local library, and reformed waste management in the area. Thanks to the expansion of the local drinking water supply, no villager has to travel miles for water anymore either.
DRAPALIN and its supply chain partners hold all the permits required to produce, import, and distribute medical cannabis. These certifications are designed to ensure consistent quality of the medicine. Drapalin ensures that the composition of the active ingredients in its products is always comparable, including the terpenes that co-determine the effect.
Furthermore, DRAPALIN is working on a constant expansion of its product range and aims to offer all relevant pharmaceuticals in the field of phytocannabinoids. Thus, the Munich-based cannabis wholesaler would like to expand its offer by CBD/THC extracts this summer and expects further high-quality cannabis strains from licensed producers in Europe in the coming weeks.
Company values from deep conviction and passion
But high-quality products alone are not enough. That is why DRAPALIN follows important principles for the goal of becoming an established pharmaceutical wholesaler for medical cannabis in Germany. After all, a high standard can only be achieved by fulfilling other factors.
First of all, it is important to provide the customer with a basic trust. At first, this sounds easier than it is. DRAPALIN succeeds in this balancing act by promoting a trusting dialog between health professionals and patients through a detailed and competent range of information for professionals. You can also rely on fast and reliable delivery.
In the following interview, we asked Lana Korneva, co-founder and CEO of DRAPALIN, a few questions about cannabis as medicine and her vision for the company.
Weedo: How would you describe DRAPALIN in three words?
Lana Korneva: “Off the top of my head, I would describe us as bold, transparent and communicative.”
W: How long have the medical benefits of cannabis been known?
LK: “The positive properties of the cannabis plant have been known for thousands of years. For example, early in the history of Chinese medicine, a healing effect of cannabis is described. The Ancient Egyptians also knew about the positive effects of the cultivated plant and used cannabis, among other things, in the treatment of inflammations. Similarly, the Ancient Greeks also used hemp as an anti-inflammatory substance. The number of research projects and clinical trials on the medical use of cannabis is currently increasing.”
W: How and in what cases does the patient receive a prescription?
LK: “Cannabis-based medications can be prescribed as primary or secondary treatment. Prescription, in the case of cannabis flower, is not limited to specific indications and is subject to the decision of the prescribing physician.”
W: Who pays for therapy with cannabis?
LK: “Self-pay patients receive a prescription from the doctor at their own expense. Private patients get their bill reimbursed by the responsible PKV. It makes sense to ask for reimbursement in advance. Statutory health insurance companies usually cover the costs of cannabis therapy after applying for reimbursement.”
W: What is the difference between medical cannabis and so-called “street cannabis”?
LK: “The difference is not in the plant itself, but in the manufacturing processes and the associated quality differences. Medical cannabis from dispensaries is subject to strict quality regulations that apply to the cultivation, processing and transport of medical cannabis. Extensive controls and laboratory analyses on each of these steps ensure that only cannabis preparations that guarantee patient safety reach the market. DRAPALIN relies on double-checking at this point and analyzes its products a second time in a German laboratory for patient safety. In addition, unlike “street cannabis”, the exact composition of the ingredients in medical cannabis is known and bound to certain specifications. This enables a therapy to be prescribed by the doctor on a patient-by-patient basis. Medical cannabis is also produced under the supervision of a government body called a cannabis agency.”
W: What is your vision for the future?
LK: “Our vision is unrestricted and hurdle-free availability of high-quality medical cannabis for all patients whose quality of life can be improved by this therapy.”
In good hands with DRAPALIN
So DRAPALIN has a lot going for it as a wholesaler of medical cannabis in Germany. This is confirmed not only by the first-class products, but also by the ambitious appearance of the company, both in personal conversation with Lana Korneva and on its website. DRAPALIN’s own website provides further detailed information, e.g. about the history and the mechanism of action of medical cannabis. We at Weedo are very convinced by all this and we are looking forward to everything that is to come!
Based on the materials www.myweedo.de
