AusCann
AusCann is an Australian cannabis-industry company focused on medicinal cannabis cultivation, cannabinoid products and pharmaceutical development.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
AusCann is an Australian cannabis-industry company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. It was incorporated in September 2014 by former politician Mal Washer and businessmen Troy Langman and Harry Karelis, with an early strategy centered on establishing a domestic medicinal-cannabis cultivation and export business. The company pursued large-scale cultivation on Norfolk Island and examined Christmas Island as another possible production site. In May 2015, it announced plans for a two-hectare Norfolk Island operation that was projected to produce as much as ten tonnes of cannabis for potential export to Canada. AusCann was described as the first company in Australia to receive a licence to grow and export medicinal cannabis. The island-based plans were ultimately abandoned by late 2016. AusCann moved from private development into the public markets through a reverse takeover of TW Holdings in January 2017. TW Holdings was already listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, and following the transaction it was renamed AusCann Group Holdings and adopted the ASX code AC8. The transaction provided AusCann with a listed corporate vehicle at a time when Australia's medicinal-cannabis sector was beginning to develop under a new regulatory framework. The company subsequently sought production partnerships and in May 2017 entered into an arrangement with Tasmanian Alkaloids to produce cannabis at Tasmanian Alkaloids' facility in Westbury, Tasmania. This reflected a shift away from the earlier remote-island cultivation concept toward collaboration with an established pharmaceutical and agricultural manufacturing operator. AusCann's business interests included medicinal-cannabis cultivation, cannabinoid-based products and the development of pharmaceutical applications for cannabinoids. AusCann's public profile also included the appearance of its chief executive, Layton Mills, on the tenth season of the television program Married at First Sight, which aired in 2023. The company was removed from the ASX in September 2024 after failing to pay its listing fees. Delisting ended its exchange-listed status, although the available reference material does not establish whether the underlying business was formally wound up or whether all operations ceased. In April 2025, AusCann signed an agreement with Argent Biopharma intended to accelerate cannabinoid pharmaceutical development. The arrangement was described as reducing competition between the companies and enabling the sharing of technology. Because the available material does not provide detailed information on the agreement's consideration, duration, products or subsequent implementation, AusCann's current operating status remains uncertain. Overall, the company represents an early Australian medicinal-cannabis venture that progressed from cultivation and export ambitions into public-market financing, production partnerships and cannabinoid pharmaceutical development.
History
AusCann was incorporated in September 2014 in Australia by Mal Washer, a former politician, together with businessmen Troy Langman and Harry Karelis. Its initial business concept was based on the emerging medicinal-cannabis market and the possibility of producing cannabis in Australian territories for domestic use and export. In May 2015, AusCann announced a proposed cultivation operation on Norfolk Island. The plan involved a two-hectare site that was expected to produce up to ten tonnes of cannabis sativa. Canada was identified as a potential export destination. AusCann was also described as the first Australian company to receive a licence to grow and export medicinal cannabis. During this period, the company explored whether Christmas Island could provide another cultivation location. The island-based strategy did not proceed, and by late 2016 the Norfolk Island and Christmas Island plans had been abandoned. A major corporate turning point came in January 2017, when AusCann completed a reverse takeover of TW Holdings, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company. The transaction brought AusCann into the public market through the existing listed entity. TW Holdings was subsequently renamed AusCann Group Holdings and operated under the ASX ticker AC8. This structure gave the company access to public-market capital and visibility during the early expansion of Australia's regulated medicinal-cannabis sector. In May 2017, AusCann entered into a partnership with Tasmanian Alkaloids to produce cannabis at Tasmanian Alkaloids' facility in Westbury, Tasmania. The partnership marked a move toward working with an established production facility rather than relying solely on the company's earlier remote-island cultivation proposals. AusCann's activities encompassed cannabis production, medicinal-cannabis products and the development of cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical applications. The company's chief executive, Layton Mills, appeared on the tenth season of Married at First Sight, which aired in 2023. This gave AusCann an unusual degree of general-media exposure beyond the specialist cannabis and pharmaceutical sectors. AusCann's period as an ASX-listed company ended in September 2024, when it was delisted for failing to pay its listing fees. The available information does not clarify whether the delisting represented a complete cessation of business operations, a restructuring or a transition to private status. In April 2025, AusCann signed an agreement with Argent Biopharma to accelerate cannabinoid pharmaceutical development. The arrangement was intended to reduce competition between the two businesses and allow technology sharing. The available material does not provide enough detail to assess the agreement's commercial value, implementation or long-term result.
- 2025
Argent Biopharma development agreement
AusCann signed an agreement with Argent Biopharma to accelerate cannabinoid pharmaceutical development through technology sharing and reduced competition.
- 2024
ASX delisting
[1]AusCann was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange after failing to pay listing fees.
- 2017
Reverse takeover and ASX listing
[1]AusCann completed a reverse takeover of TW Holdings, which was renamed AusCann Group Holdings and assigned the ASX code AC8.
- 2017
Tasmanian production partnership
[1]AusCann partnered with Tasmanian Alkaloids to produce cannabis at its Westbury, Tasmania facility.
- 2016
Island cultivation strategy abandoned
[1]Plans involving Norfolk Island and the possible use of Christmas Island were abandoned by late 2016.
- 2015
Norfolk Island cultivation plan announced
[1]The company announced a proposed two-hectare cannabis cultivation site on Norfolk Island, with potential output of up to ten tonnes and possible exports to Canada.
- 2014
AusCann is incorporated
[1]AusCann was incorporated in September 2014 by Mal Washer, Troy Langman and Harry Karelis.
Products and positioning
An Australian medicinal-cannabis and cannabinoid-pharmaceutical developer combining regulated cultivation, production partnerships and therapeutic product development.
Medicinal cannabis
Medicinal cannabis
AusCann's core business area was regulated medicinal cannabis, including cultivation and production initiatives. Its early plans emphasized Australian cultivation and possible export, while later activity focused on production partnerships and the broader development of cannabinoid-based therapeutic products.
Pharmaceutical development · 2025
Cannabinoid pharmaceutical products
The company pursued pharmaceutical applications for cannabinoids and, in 2025, entered an agreement with Argent Biopharma intended to accelerate development in this area. Specific named medicines, formulations and commercialization status are not established in the available material.
Brand decisions
2025
Enter cannabinoid-development agreement with Argent BiopharmaStrategyBackground
AusCann and Argent Biopharma sought to advance cannabinoid pharmaceutical development while reducing direct competition.
Action taken
The companies agreed to share technology and collaborate in a way described as accelerating cannabinoid pharmaceutical development.
2017
Complete reverse takeover of TW HoldingsM&ABackground
AusCann used a reverse takeover to obtain access to an existing ASX-listed corporate structure.
Action taken
TW Holdings was acquired through the reverse takeover, renamed AusCann Group Holdings and assigned the ticker AC8.
Aftermath
AusCann became a publicly traded company on the Australian Securities Exchange.
2017
Shift toward Tasmanian productionStrategyBackground
Following the abandonment of the island-based cultivation strategy, AusCann sought an operating arrangement with an established producer.
Action taken
The company partnered with Tasmanian Alkaloids to produce cannabis at the Westbury facility in Tasmania.
Aftermath
The partnership provided a production route within Australia, although the available material does not document its later commercial output.
2015
Pursue Norfolk Island cultivation and Canadian exportsStrategyBackground
AusCann was seeking a scalable production base during the early development of Australia's medicinal-cannabis industry.
Action taken
The company announced a two-hectare Norfolk Island cultivation project and identified Canada as a potential export market.
Aftermath
The island cultivation plans were abandoned by late 2016.
Recent events
- 2025
AusCann signs cannabinoid-development agreement with Argent Biopharma
M&A
AusCann entered an agreement with Argent Biopharma to accelerate cannabinoid pharmaceutical development through reduced competition and technology sharing.
- 2024
AusCann is delisted from the ASX[1]
Regulation · Other
AusCann was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange after failing to pay its listing fees.
- 2017
AusCann completes reverse takeover and becomes ASX-listed AusCann Group Holdings[1]
M&A · Leadership change
AusCann executed a reverse takeover of listed TW Holdings. The listed company was renamed AusCann Group Holdings and began trading under ASX code AC8.
- 2017
AusCann partners with Tasmanian Alkaloids[1]
Other
AusCann entered a production partnership with Tasmanian Alkaloids covering cannabis production at the Westbury facility in Tasmania.
- 2016
AusCann abandons island cultivation plans[1]
Other
The company's proposed cultivation projects on Norfolk Island and its exploration of Christmas Island were abandoned by late 2016.
- 2015
AusCann announces Norfolk Island medicinal-cannabis cultivation and export plans[1]
Other
AusCann announced plans for a two-hectare cannabis sativa cultivation site on Norfolk Island, with projected output of up to ten tonnes and potential exports to Canada.
Sources1 sources
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