Copenhagen: Shares in Danish cannabis firm StenoCare more than tripled in value in their debut on Friday.

Shares were priced at 8.80 Danish crowns ($1.34) in the initial public offering on the Danish-Swedish Spotlight exchange and rose to as much as 33.50 crowns in early trading.

At 0721 GMT the stock was trading at 29.15 crowns.

Scientists say evidence is growing that cannabis can ease epilepsy and other conditions such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-induced nausea, prompting renewed interest in a substance best known for its psychoactive properties.

StenoCare plans to use the money to launch its own production facility to serve local customers and to export to other European markets. ($1 = 6.5540 Danish crowns)