ISSUE 2 – OCTOBER 2018
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A Note From the Founders At the time of writing, we are days away from the historic moment when Canada becomes the first G7 nation to fully legalize medical and adult-use recreational cannabis. It’s hard not to be incredibly excited. Legal cannabis ushers in an incredibly sophisticated and disruptive industry, which will reshape every sector with which it intersects, from tourism to beauty, health, culture and technology. On the cusp of this new era, this edition of Papers looks to better understand the forces and people that are shaping the cannabis industry in the critical months ahead. We share stories from the start-ups innovating at the front lines of the future of cannabis, take a deeper look at the implications of an increasingly consolidated market landscape, and with our Green + Silver series, explore one of the most powerful trends to intersect with cannabis: the health and wellness needs of seniors. We also look at the provincial breakdown of what legal cannabis will look like, and the underpinning concern over whether this policy patchwork will lead to public confusion, and with it, public frustration. Support for legalization is fragile and far from certain. In the months ahead, Business of Cannabis will be expanding our platform significantly to be better contribute to driving public conversations that lead to a deeper understanding of the sector, its potential and its people. Until next time. Jay Rosenthal Blaine Pearson Reva Seth
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Contributors B RYA N B O R Z Y KOW S K I
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ Should I buy into pot stocks?” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ Chip sales will soar.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ The vape… I still don’t know how to roll.”
ALLAN BRITNELL
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “The one-word answer is usually, ‘cool.’ The majority of my friends and colleagues either partake, or have a progressive view about those that do.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “Legalization means countless ordinary people no longer have to break the law to get the medication they need or partake in a method of relaxation they enjoy.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “Edibles (once legal). Being able to consume without having to inhale smoke will be a great innovation.”
JOHN F U R N E AU X
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ There is so much interest and misinformation about what is going to happen with legalization. People usually ask me what I think will happen after October 17. They seem to be looking for the answer that says everything will change — either for good or bad — but this being Canada, I’m pretty sure that October 18 will be very much like the day before.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ Legalization to me means the end of making criminals of ordinary Canadians.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ I love the design innovation that is happening with accessories and especially with vaporizers. This new category really pushes forward the perception of the industry, moving it away from its dated head-shop image.”
JON S. GODFREY
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ They asked me if it was required that I was high whilst brainstorming ideas for my illustration.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ I hope it means that there will be far less negative associations attached to cannabis consumption, especially for those who really need it for health reasons.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ I find the advancement in LED lighting to be quite interesting. The development of better indoor lighting solutions would have a big effect, not only for cannabis but other indoor farming solutions as well.”
MONICA HELLSTRÖM
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ I have not had a conversation about it, as illustration is a one-man job, but my guess is that they would be intrigued, and that it would spark a discussion on legalization. I will probably bring it up when the publication is out and see what they have to say.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ Hopefully, putting an end to the criminality that plagues the populations in many producing countries.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ I have no personal relation to the cannabis industry, but I think I am most excited about the potential for medical uses..”
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DIANE PETERS
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ Some are ‘oh!’ and others start a long conversation about cannabis and legalization.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ A rise in a whole new economy here in Canada and maybe some friction and confusion with our southern neighbours.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ Too early to tell! I suspect there shall be many.”
CAI SEPULIS
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ I wouldn’t say that anyone is shocked — I have done quite a few cannabis-related projects lately. Overall, I would say that most folks recognize the common stigma and perception of cannabis users (even for medical cannabis users). I think most would be happy that I’m working on these types of projects as it feels in a way that the industry as a whole needs to be rebranded as it is reintroduced to the public.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ I’m not sure what it means to me personally. On one hand, I think it’ll be good to have safe access to cannabis producers and products, but in the same breath, the commercialization and hype of what feels like ‘cannabis-infused everything’ feels a bit jarring. So I’m cautiously optimistic.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ Perhaps not technically an ‘innovation,’ but I would say the access to cannabis for medical purposes was a huge leap in how it provided alternative health-care options for folks around me.”
ANNA S H A R R AT T
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ Whenever I mention that I cover cannabis, I usually get a wink and a little smile. Many people ask me if the firms I profile send ‘freebies.’ I think they want to get in on the action.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ People will finally be able to relax about cannabis. It’s been a taboo topic for so long — and legalizing it forces a level of acceptance Canadians haven’t Oseen before.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ The new focus on women. Numerous female-focused products are emerging that are helping women manage chronic conditions, incorporate cannabis into their lifestyles and use it recreationally — without any stigma.”
KIM WILSON
What people say to me when they hear I’m working on a cannabis publication... “ People are generally intrigued and want to learn more; there is a curiosity when it comes to this emerging industry.” Legalization (or the end of prohibition) means… “ Consumers will now have access to more information, which will help them ultimately make informed choices. Companies who operate within a regulated model are focused on achieving the highest standards of responsibility within the cannabis industry.” My favourite innovation in the cannabis industry is... “ Legalization. Canada is the first G7 country to take the leap to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis and end prohibition with a focus on harm minimization for consumers.”
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In this issue The Global Cannabis Partnership
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Consolidation is Coming
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Startup Stories
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Ask the Expert: Curt Robbins on Cannabis Normalization
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The Next Big Business Opportunites
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In the Weeds… with Greg Engel
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5 Things We Learned from Medical Cannabis Week
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Provincial Breakdown
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Taking the Next Step
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OCTOBER 2018. Issue Two. Volume One.
Cover Illustration Cai Sepulis
Contact: editor@businessofcannabis.ca
Contributing Artists Jon S. Godfrey, Monica HellstrÖm, Sara Wong
Publisher Blaine Pearson E DI T OR I A L
A DV E RT I S I NG
advertise@businessofcannabis.ca
Editor at Large Bryan Borzykowski
PR I N T I NG
Writers Anna Sharratt, Bryan Borzykowski, Blaine Pearson, Diane Peters, Jay Rosenthal and Reva Seth
C ON TAC T
DE S IG N
Art Direction & Design John Furneaux and Andrea Gibson Projektor Brand Image Ltd.
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Moveable Inc.
Papers, 998 Bloor Street West, #10587, Toronto, ON M6H 1L0 416-705-8382 Visit online: businessofcannabis.ca
Copyright notice: © Papers 2018. All rights reserved. Trademark Pending. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correct at press time. Business of Cannabis and Papers cannot accept responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Business of Cannabis and Papers a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine. All material is sent at your own risk and although every care is taken, neither Business of Cannabis nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be held liable resulting for loss or damage. Business of Cannabis endeavours to respect the intellectual property of the owners of copyrighted material reproduced herein. If you identify yourself as the copyright holder of material we have wrongly attributed, please contact us.
The Global Cannabis Partnership A Platform for Responsibility By Kim Wilson, Executive Director, Global Cannabis Partnership
In less than a month, Canada will become the first G7 country to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis from production to consumption. It’s an exciting time in the cannabis industry nationally and across the globe as more jurisdictions follow the path Canada is forging. But despite these noble efforts, we know that a regulated recreational model will present challenges and risks to those involved, from the private sector and government agencies to regulators and interest groups. There will be pressure from stakeholder groups, much like in the alcohol, tobacco and gaming industries, to eliminate or at the very least best manage the negative social impacts. That’s why Revolution Strategy founded the Global Cannabis Partnership — to develop worldwide corporate social responsibility standards in the cannabis industry. Now is the time. Leveraging Best Practices The Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP) is composed of government agencies, national associations, licensed producers and industry partners. Its objectives are to set the standard for responsibility for all those who play a role in the recreational cannabis supply chain through responsible practices; align and leverage common principles and practices across diverse jurisdictions; help partners mitigate negative impacts and leverage best practices from within and outside the industry; and enhance social licence to operate, with a view to minimizing harm. To kick-start our efforts, we secured 16 founding members who are leaders in their respective fields and who want to help shape social responsibility in the cannabis industry. Announced at the World Cannabis Congress last June, they include: Cannabis NB, Canopy Growth Corporation, Aphria Inc., the Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., GreenStar Brands, High Park
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Company, Up Cannabis, MedReleaf Corp., Cansortium Holdings, LLC, TG4 Limited, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, EY, PwC Canada, Civilized Worldwide Inc., Business of Cannabis, and Revolution Strategy. Building on our founding members, the member category currently includes Cannabis OneFive Inc., Emblem Corp., Grant Thornton LLP Canada, HEXO Corp., Maricann Group Inc., Organigram Inc., Sundial Growers Inc., and Zenabis, and continues to grow. Our focus is on collaboration and adherence to common principles that will help elevate the industry’s commitment to CSR, not duplicating existing advocacy and/or lobbying efforts of other reputable organizations. We envision a governmentregulated global cannabis industry that not only meets minimum legal requirements, but one that sets the standard for responsibility, including consumer use and broader economic and environmental performance.
Back row: Terri Riedle, Civilized; Chris Weir, EY; Awanish Sinah, McCarthy Tétrault LLP; Predrag Stegnajic, T4G; Neil Closner, MedReleaf; Jeffrey Reath, Cansortium Holdings; Jakob Ripshtein, Aphria; Samuel Carsley, GreenStar Brands; Ian Wilms, The Green Organic Dutchman; Jeff Ryan, Canopy Growth; Cynthia Goodwin, Revolution Strategy; Rick Peterson, Blu Communications; Lara Wood, Cannabis NB Front: Ruth Chun, Up Cannabis; Blaine Pearson, Business of Cannabis; Zamina Walji, PwC Canada
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“Building the cannabis industry will require working collaboratively with a wide group of stakeholders and industry partners to advance society’s understanding and acceptance of cannabis,” says Jeff Ryan, VP government and stakeholder relations, Canopy Growth and vice-chair of the GCP Advisory Board. “Through the Global Cannabis Partnership, we can change society’s perception of cannabis through impactful, needs-based initiatives.” One Collective Voice for Responsible Practices As the new executive director, I’m excited to work with all members to help advance our collective efforts in the area of social responsibility with one unified voice. Our immediate priorities are to validate and advance the GCP’s governance model and develop a Responsible Cannabis Framework, which will include a third-party accreditation process. In an effort to achieve our priorities, we’re collaborating with Cynthia Goodwin, president and CSR practice lead at Revolution Strategy and CSR veteran Rick Petersen from Blu Communications, founders of the GCP, to help us undertake a number of initiatives. We’ll be benchmarking best practices from a number of companies from various industries, conducting an industry assessment to identify gaps and areas of opportunity, and performing stakeholder audits to help us gather valuable feedback. The GCP is well positioned to propel this industry forward in a positive way. There will be obstacles along the way, but ultimately, a collaborative and unified approach from industry leaders will ensure we remain laser-focused on achieving our vision of setting industry-leading standards for responsibility. As Awi Sinha, partner at McCarthy Tétrault and one of our founding members says, “We recognize that for cannabis legalization to work, market players must accept and promote social responsibility. When you introduce radical changes in society, you can either create chaos or you can invite order. Serving on the Global Cannabis Partnership is our vote for order.” To learn more about the GCP, please visit us at globalcannabispartnership.com or contact me directly at kim@globalcannabispartnership.com.
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Start-up Stories
Canada’s cannabis sector is innovative, high tech and ready to compete globally. Here are a few of the visionaries.
Leaf Forward Alex Blumenstein
Tell us about Leaf Forward. What do you do? Leaf Forward is a global launch pad for cannabis entrepreneurs — we’re working to build a nationwide ecosystem that supports the growth of cannabis startups. Our Cannabis Startup Bootcamps provide intensive training for early stage companies and our programming includes monthly speaker and networking events in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. Our 12-week accelerator program is focused on ancillary and downstream products. At the beginning of the program, we invest $50,000 each into a cohort of companies who participate
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in intensive training, networking and mentoring. Our team, along with our network of mentors, help the start-ups hit key traction points in a short period of time. The program culminates with a chance for the founders to show off what they’ve accomplished with a demo day for industry and investors. Tell us your start-up story: when and how did you get into the cannabis sector? Before moving into cannabis full-time, I ran a small public affairs agency with clients that included airlines, tobacco, land use, ground transportation and a small cannabis project. This is where I caught the itch for the industry. Along
with my partners Brett Chang and Taylor Scollon, we began searching for opportunities to become more involved in the space. Looking at Toronto’s booming tech community we saw that no such infrastructure existed for the professional cannabis industry. We ripped off the model to launch our first meetup event in January 2017 with guest speaker Vic Neufeld of Aphria. We grew out the events from there, quickly realizing our strongest assets were our network of entrepreneurs and network of industry leaders who attended and spoke at our events. It only made sense to throw both sides together in a room to start an accelerator. Since then we’ve organized four programs, worked with 50 start-ups and will be making our first investments as part of the 12-week accelerator program in mid October. What’s ahead for the cannabis industry? At Leaf Forward we’re focused on companies who solve problems. As the industry scales up to serve the recreational adult-use market, we unfortunately see plenty of growing pains. We’re excited to see new software, technology, hardware, brands and other start-ups who will solve
Our Cannabis Startup Bootcamps provide intensive training for early stage companies and our programming includes monthly speaker and networking events. these problems by improving producer processes, helping consumers better understand their choices, improving delivery mechanisms and much more. Leaf Forward by the numbers: • Worked with 50 cannabis start-ups • Five city chapters • 3,400 event guests What will you be doing on Oct. 17? We’ll be keeping our heads down on October 17, as it will be day three of the accelerator program. Nothing changes for us, our sights are set on longer-term opportunities. Where can we find Leaf Forward? leafforward.org Twitter: @leaf_forward Instagram: @leafforward
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Daniel Sax Sensi Properties
Tell us about Sensi Properties. What do you do? Sensi Properties was founded as the first cannabis real estate investment company in Canada. We focus on helping licensed producers (LPs) and other federally regulated players grow by freeing up the capital that’s trapped in their real estate. Sensi invests alongside the LPs in their real estate, providing a non-dilutive capital solution and allowing them to focus on an already complex and risky business. We allow them to take some of that risk off the table and grow without watering themselves down from an ownership perspective. The LPs become tenants and can invest that capital back into a business that will produce a much higher return than that of the real estate. I think it’s the fairest deal in the space, since none of the value for these companies comes from the ownership of the real estate, but rather the use of it. Sensi is active in the acquisition, development and financing of cannabis
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real estate across the value chain, from cultivation, manufacturing and distribution. Tell us your start-up story: when and how did you get into the cannabis sector? I began investing in the public space with a stockbroker who was really into it back in mid to late 2016, and later into some private companies. As an investor, I watched myself get diluted down as these companies raised equity capital to put it into real estate they didn’t need to own in the first place. This approach to capital, having spent my whole career in real estate investment and finance, made no sense to me, so out of frustration I launched Sensi Properties to try and fix what I saw as broken. In that way, it’s a typical entrepreneurial story. In the end I focused on an area that no one else was serving, and that I already had a deep expertise in. It was the marriage of two things I love, opportunistic real estate investing and cannabis.
I think it’s the fairest deal in the space, since none of the value for these companies comes from the ownership of the real estate, but rather the use of it. What’s ahead for the cannabis industry? The future is really bright for the cannabis industry. The more you learn about the plant and its uses, the more it feels like the possibilities of where this is going to go are infinite, especially on the medical side. I like to think of everything on a time scale. It will be fascinating to see how cannabis evolves at both a societal level and a business level. While in some ways this space is moving at breakneck speed, there’s a tinge of relativity there if you realize that alcohol prohibition ended 85 years ago and there are still dry counties in the United States.
• Two to five shots of espresso per day • Six hours of sleep max • Zero fluff press releases issued • 1,500 business cards given out at meetings and conferences • Two limited edition Sensi hoodie runs What will you be doing on Oct. 17? On October 17 I’ll either be hanging out with friends, having a good laugh and sharing stories about the good ol’ prohibition days, or more likely I’ll be networking at some industry party, talking about how we can shape what the future looks like for this space. Ideally, that party would be thrown by Business of Cannabis (wink wink).
Sensi Properties by the numbers:
Where can we find Sensi Properties?
We’re private and can’t really share anything at this time about our investments or the portfolio. On a personal level it looks like this:
sensiproperties.com Twitter: @dansax, @SensiProperties
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Alison McMahon Cannabis At Work
Tell us about Cannabis At Work. What do you do? Cannabis At Work is Canada’s only recruitment, training and HR consulting firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry. Since 2015, our mission has been to elevate the conversation around working in the cannabis industry by helping people prepare for a career in this sector and connecting employers to qualified individuals. Tell us your start-up story; when and how did you get into the cannabis sector? In 2015, I was exiting from a HR technology start-up I had co-founded. It was around the same time that I started seeing a lot of content on cannabis — news, documentaries, and Trudeau was running on the campaign promise of legalizing cannabis. I could see the business opportunity and it was also an HR issue without a lot of precedent. It was just the type of meaty, undefined HR issue that I was looking to dig my teeth into. So I started delivering 12
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education to employers on cannabis legalization and drug policy. Our services quickly evolved to recruitment, training and HR consulting services for the cannabis industry. What’s ahead for the cannabis industry? I think it will be fascinating to see the categories of business that will emerge out of the implementation of the Cannabis Act. I’m also really excited to see consumer demand in action — the products and brands that consumers gravitate to. I think the product mix will have to evolve quickly to meet the new consumer market, and I’m excited to see the response from new and existing businesses — and the regulator — to these buying patterns. It’s hard to believe that the learning and growth curve could get steeper, but I think it will. Fun times ahead!
Cannabis At Work by the numbers:
What will you be doing on Oct. 17?
Cannabis At Work has a number of “firsts” that we’re proud of.
Our team is delivering a retail consultant training workshop in Edmonton and we’re involved in a career fair with the University of Alberta School of Retail. In the evening, our team is going to supper together to celebrate.
• We were the first to hold a conference in Canada on the workplace implications of cannabis legalization, which was subsequently delivered six times across four cities. • We were the first recruitment agency in Canada to focus exclusively on the cannabis sector. • We were in the first group to receive a government contract (LCBO/OCS) under the ACMPR era for recruitment services. • We were the first to launch a cannabis industry–specific salary survey. • We were the first to bring together HR professionals in the cannabis sector at the HR Summit.
I will be the one on cloud nine, repeatedly asking people to pinch me. Where can we find Cannabis At Work? cannabisatwork.com budtender101.ca Twitter and Instagram: @cannabisatwork
It’s hard to believe that the learning and growth curve could get steeper, but I think it will.
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5 Things We Learned from Medical Cannabis Week (Plus a Bonus #6)
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The Passion of Patients Should Not Be Underestimated While the current focus is very much on the adult-use recreational market, it was patients and their doctors who were at the forefront of moving Canada to this point. And this group remains focused on finding the best forms of the medicine that work for them and keeping that medicine available and affordable — against a rapidly shifting landscape.
Earlier this year Business of Cannabis hosted Medical Cannabis Week 2018, the inaugural event series focused on Canadian patients, physicians, policy and innovation. Currently, more than 260,000 Canadians have legal medical access to cannabis and the week was dedicated to expanding the dialogue on cannabis treatment and focusing on the needs and experiences of patients, practitioners and health innovators. It was an exciting and informative week and these are among the top lessons and insights that we learned.
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2.
Removing Prescription Barriers for Doctors Is Critical During the opening event of Medical Cannabis Week, Dr. Michael Verbora of Canobo Clinics noted that doctors take an oath to do no harm, and that part of that should include doctors recommending medical cannabis. Currently, only a small fraction of doctors in Canada have ever recommended cannabis to their patients. Barriers toward getting more doctors on board are varied, but several were raised throughout the week. Among them are that many doctors still think of cannabis as a product to be smoked and so are reluctant to recommend that option. However, as more varied product forms (such as tinctures, vape pens and sprays) become available to patients, doctors may be more likely to prescribe.
3.
The Licensed Producers (LPs) Focused on Patient Education and Engagement Will Win Everyone is currently focused on adult recreational use, but it is the LPs, who are focused on medical cannabis education and engagement, that will have the market advantage. This is a strong existing base, and one that is growing significantly, but it needs to be respected and rrespected and regularly engaged on medical and product developments.
Another barrier is the challenge around dose control. Doctors like to prescribe specific amounts, and currently, the majority of products make that kind of medical precision very difficult for doctors. But as cannabis stigma decreases among Canadians, patients are likely to push their doctors and seek out doctors who are accepting of medical cannabis. Patients move mountains — see #1.
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4.
Canada Has a Chance to Lead
And as an added bonus:
During the 360 roundtable discussion on medical cannabis policy, Dr. Anne Snowdon of the World Health Innovation Network discussed how Canada’s medical cannabis system is the best set up to track, trace and monitor the efficacy of medical cannabis on a significant scale. This is a global opportunity for Canada to lead in terms of research and innovation, and something Canadians should celebrate and embrace.
6.
5.
Taxing Medical Cannabis Must End The current policy will apply a 10% excise tax to all cannabis, whether for medical or recreational use, meaning that medical cannabis will be subject to both provincial and federal sales tax. This approach is considered both inconsistent and unfair: medical cannabis can only be obtained with a prescription from a healthcare practitioner, and those using cannabis for healthrelated reasons may already be financially vulnerable due to medical expenses.
The Canadian Medical Association Must Do Better The need to better engage Canadian doctors is paramount, and the Canadian Medical Association must do more to educate their membership who, whether they like it or not, will soon be on the front lines of patient questions on medical cannabis. Most physicians are not adequately informed on cannabis treatment options or how cannabis can be used alongside other prescriptions. Currently, eight out of nine physicians in Canada say they do not feel comfortable discussing or recommending cannabis. This must change. Better engagement with both long practising medical professionals as well as those currently in school must become a priority for both industry and government.
We are already looking forward to Medical Cannabis Week 2019, where we will be looking at the research, engagement and product innovations that will have happened in the eight months since legalization. www.medicalcannabisweek.com
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Provincial Breakdown When the Canadian government decided to legalize recreational cannabis in June 2018, it gave the ten provinces and three territories time to get their acts together. Now that the sale of recreational cannabis is around the corner, each province is hammering out how it will be sold, by whom and in what setting. Each province has a slightly different take on how it will handle cannabis sales — whether that’s provincially run, privately or a combination of both. “They aren’t all following the same path,” says Samantha Roman, a Toronto-based cannabis consultant. “We’re going to see a lot of different business models.” That will allow provinces with less-formalized plans, such as Quebec, to watch and learn.
ALBERTA
Age you can legally consume:
18
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated online sales and through approximately 250 private retailers
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants Where you can — and can’t — smoke*:
You can’t smoke in cars, areas frequented by children or public spaces where smoking is already banned. You can smoke at home and in some public spaces where smoking is already allowed.
Where to get information:
albertacannabis.org; alberta.ca/cannabis-legalization.aspx
* Throughout this article, laws apply to both smoking and vaping.
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BRITISH COLUMBIA
MANITOBA
NEW BRUNSWICK
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government (BC cannabis stores) and privately run storefronts and online sales
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants, not visible from public spaces and not in community care facilities Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can’t smoke in designated recreational areas; public spaces, such as parks, beaches and ski hills; or on buses trains or ferries. You can smoke at home.
Where to get information:
gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/cannabis
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Private stores and online
Possession limit:
Nothing formalized yet
Personal cultivation: Not allowed Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can’t smoke in vehicles, mental health facilities, nor streets, school grounds, parks, beaches or restaurant patios. Most indoor public areas – palliative care units in hospitals excepted – are also off limits. You can smoke at home.
Where to get information:
gov.mb.ca/bills/41-3/b011e.php
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated stores and online sales; no private sales
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: You can grow plants outdoors in a 1.52-metre-high locked enclosure or indoors in a separate, locked space Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke only on private property and in private residences.
Where to get information:
gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news
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NEWFOUNDLAND AND LBARADOR
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
NOVA SCOTIA
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Privately run licensed storefronts and government-operated online sales
Possession limit:
To be determined
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants per house or dwelling Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can only smoke on private property and in private residences. Public areas are off limits.
Where to get information:
shopcannabisnl.com
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Private stores, in NWT’s six liquor stores and through an online purchasing system
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke on private property and in private residences. Smoking will also be allowed on trails, highways, streets, roads, and in parks when they are not in use for public events.
Where to get information:
eia.gov.nt.ca/sites/eia
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated stores and online sales
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants per household Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can’t smoke in in indoor public spaces, beaches, close to playgrounds, public trails, sports areas and restaurants. It can also be prohibited by landlords. You can smoke in your own home or the apartment you’re renting.
Where to get information:
novascotia.ca/cannabis
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NUNAVUT
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Consultation requirements mean no stores will open in 2018. Private sales allowed through agencies acting on behalf of the government. Government sales allowed online.
Possession limit:
No word yet
Personal cultivation: The provincial government will decide whether or not plants can be grown at home in the future
ONTARIO
Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke in designated cannabis lounges or permitted events. You can’t smoke in public places or in apartment or condo common areas.
Where to get information:
assembly.nu.ca
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government online sales and in private retail shops starting in April 2019
Possession limit:
30g
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants per residence
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
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Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
Cannabis use will follow the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, requiring recreational pot smokers and vapers to follow the same rules as tobacco and e-cigarette users.
Where to get information:
ontario.ca/page/cannabis-legalization#section-5
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated retail locations and online sales; no private retailers
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants, so long as they’re not accessible to those under 19 Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke only in private residences and in certain designated spaces, such as apartments or condos. You can’t smoke anywhere else.
Where to get information:
princeedwardisland.ca/en/news
QUEBEC
Age you can legally consume:
18
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated stores and online sales; no private retailers
Possession limit:
30g, subject to regulatory change
Personal cultivation: Not permitted
SASKATCHEWAN
Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can’t smoke in all places where smoking is already banned; on the grounds of health and social services institutions; at college-level institutions and universities; on bicycle paths and in shared transportation waiting areas. ou can smoke in your own home and in designated areas.
Where to get information:
encadrementcannabis.gouv.qc.ca
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Privately run stores and online sales
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Up to four plants, subject to landlord restrictions
YUKON
Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke only on private property and in private residences. You can’t smoke in schools, school grounds or child care facilities, as well as vehicles or campgrounds.
Where to get information:
saskatchewan.ca/government/cannabis-in-saskatchewan
Age you can legally consume:
19
Where it’s sold:
Government-operated storefronts and online sales; private sales to start six months after legalization
Possession limit:
30g in public
Personal cultivation: Four plants, out of public sight Where you can — and can’t — smoke:
You can smoke only on private property and in private residences, subject to landlord restrictions, as well as designated areas in nursing homes or health-care facilities, subject to facility restrictions. You can’t smoke in group living facilities and around daycares or other other licensed child care homes, whether or not children are present.
Where to get information:
www.hss.gov.yk.ca/pdf/cannabisdraftlegislativesummary.pdf
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TAKING THE
NEXT STEP By Allan Britnell
October 17 is nearly here. Here’s how to flourish in a legal cannabis world.
Over the last couple of years, cannabis producers have been busy hiring staff, building production facilities, testing product, scrutinizing regulations and generally getting ready for legalization day. While there are still a lot of questions around who will buy and how best to get cannabis into people’s hands, all those long hours companies have been putting in will finally bear some fruit. But then what? Indeed, legalization day is not the end of the road – it’s just the beginning. Companies now must engage in the long-term, complex task of growing their business, fending off competitors, finding new customers, marketing their wares and staying on top of ever-evolving regulation. Here’s how running a cannabis company might look after legalization. Growing Pains In the weeks and months ahead, demand for product will certainly pick up. Producers will have to grow a lot more than they do now, but how much is difficult to predict. A 2018 Deloitte report found that 20% of Canadians already use cannabis recreationally and 17% more
Illustration: Sara Wong
will start using after legalization. The accounting firm estimates that retail sales of dried marijuana leaves alone could top $9 billion in Canada. In 2019, the extracts market will likely become legal, too, which will lead to more business opportunities. Many producers have already secured amendments to their licenses to increase output. Large players are building facilities ranging from 100,000 to 1 million square feet, while smaller players are ramping up production, too. That could be a problem. “Overcapacity is a risk,” says Scott Willis, head of research for Toronto-based investment analysis firm Grizzle.
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Setting yourself apart from the cannabis crowd will be crucial, says Deepak Anand, vice-president of business development and government relations at consulting firm Cannabis Compliance Inc. Quality will matter as much as quantity for securing a spot in the market. “The key is very much going to be execution,” he says. Canadians should look to how companies in the California market are gaining market share. Businesses there are developing innovative products, often in niche businesses such as tech and edibles, and often through partnerships. It will take more than just a production increase to meet demand, though. Investments in research and development and finding talent — which will only get harder as competition increases — is also a must. “HR is becoming one of the biggest, if not the biggest, issues in the industry,” says Anand, adding that it may worsen as the sector grows. Financial Insecurity Cannabis companies are going to continue needing investments if they’re going to grow — at least until they start making profits. Medical cannabis operations have a leg up, as many are already selling cannabis and have revenues to cover regulatory costs or invest in expansion. Many will also be competing in the recreational market, says Allan Rewak, executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada. His organization represents about 85% of Canada’s medical producers, and “the majority of them plan to sell to
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the legal market,” he says. Those starting out in the recreational cannabis market may have a harder time financially. Up until now, turning to banks for financing hasn’t been much help as they’ve been reticent to give cannabis companies loans — some of these companies have even had trouble getting bank accounts. That could change as attitudes toward cannabis transform, and as the industry becomes more legitimate, says Rewak. Another option for capital-seeking entrepreneurs is the stock market. There’s huge demand for cannabis stocks, with numerous companies, such as Canopy Growth, which has seen shares rise by 502% over the last 12 months, experiencing massive gains. The equity market could be less friendly to newcomers, especially once the hype dies down and these companies start reporting real profits and revenues. “I don’t think the markets fully understand what’s happening in cannabis,” he says. Smaller companies might find more luck with venture capitalists from Europe and Asia who are starting to see cannabis as a global opportunity. Sellers’ Markets Once cannabis becomes legal, it’ll be time to sell, sell and sell some more. Unfortunately, companies can only unload product to one kind of client: provincial governments. The provinces will act as a middleman, buying bud and then selling it to private stores or in their own government shops. You’ll be subject to
their rules around product display — both on shelves and online — and price. “You’ll have to take whatever the government is going to give you,” says Willis.
nixes print and radio ads, billboards and celebrity spokespeople or mascots. “You have to be kind of guerrilla with your marketing,” says Willis.
Exporting is the natural next step. While many U.S. states have legalized cannabis use for medical and recreational purposes, weed is still illegal at the federal level, so that limits opportunities and increases red tape. “There are extremely secure rules on shippings,” says Rewak of sending cannabis south over the border. “We have not had one gram of [medicinal cannabis] diverted.”
E-newsletters are allowed, provided recipients have opted in to comply with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation. Companies are allowed to have social media feeds, but, according to Bill C-45’s wording, postings can’t imply “a way of life...that includes glamour, recreation, excitement, vitality, risk or daring.” Canopy Growth has found a creative workaround by cheekily posting, “We’re Hi.ring,” and, on Canada Day, juxtaposing a maple leaf and a pot leaf. Meanwhile, some organizations are hosting “informational” sessions that will allow them to host art shows and other events with product experts on hand.
Most recently, BC-based Tilray received approval from the US Government to export medical cannabis for use in a clinical trial at the University of California, San Diego Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. It may be wise to look to the rapidly growing European market. In Canada, provincial buyers may pay $6 or $7 a gram for flower; in Europe, the price can be $20 or $30. But along with dealing with a whole other raft of paperwork, your facilities will have to meet European Union–level safety and sanitary standards, and you’ll need a European-based partner to be your importer. Marketing Matters If you want to get people to buy your product, you’ll need to market, just like any other business. However, there are very rigid rules and regulations on advertising thanks to Bill C-45, which
No matter the business, cannabis companies will need help with both marketing and compliance to find ways to set themselves apart. And the price of an error is steep: fines for breaching the Act’s marketing rules can top $5 million and entail up to two years in prison. “There are always ways to work within the system,” says Anand of marketing cannabis. Fortunately, the cannabis industry is a new one and while traditional business rules apply, companies can forge their own paths, too. If you can find innovative ways to build your brand and not run out of cash doing it, then you should be able to thrive in a legal world.
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Join us for:
Two days of cannabis education for seniors, caregivers and the cannabis industry.
October 11th: Industry Evening / 6-8pm October 12th: (Hotel Novotel North York) Seniors’ Breakfast / 8:30am-10:30am Caregivers’ Lunch / 11:30am-1:30pm Meals provided. Wheelchair accessible. Hearing accessible. All events are free, but preregistration is required.
Visit greenandsilver.ca for more details and to sign up. Presented by:
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Sponsors:
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Partners:
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Must be of legal age to attend.
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CONSOLIDATION NATION
CONSOLIDATION IS COMING By Bryan Borzykowski
It won’t be long before business’s biggest players try to score a budding cannabis business. Over the last couple of years, the Canadian cannabis sector has seen its fair share of takeovers, but it’s mostly been larger companies, like Canopy Growth or Aurora Cannabis, buying smaller players. On August 13, though, the M&A game changed when Constellation Brands, a massive Victor, New York– based alcohol company, sunk $4 billion into Canopy in exchange for a 38% share of the pot producer — upping its existing 10% stake — and an option to one day take full control.
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Illustration: Jon S. Godfrey
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It was the biggest marijuana-related deal made by a non-cannabis company to date, but it won’t be the last. With Molson Coors Canada sniffing around the sector — it entered into a joint venture with Hydropothecary Corporation to produce cannabis-infused drinks in August — and other big companies keeping a watchful eye on where the industry may be headed, expect many more mergers and acquisitions post-legalization. “The industry is going to look a lot different in a few years,” says Mark Whitmore, vice-chair and managing partner with Deloitte Private. “We’ll have a few big players buying up companies.”
UP FOR GRABS Every operation in Canada is a potential takeover target, but who does the buying will depend on what companies have to offer. At first, the sector will start consolidating, with bigger producers buying the smaller ones that can’t compete, says Whitmore. As demand picks up, many companies will find it difficult to scale. Bigger companies will then buy those businesses and incorporate their production facilities, their technology or their people into their own operations. Some niche players, companies with products, services or tech that others can’t replicate, will stick around, but most will get bought. “More than 100 licenses to produce have been given out, but we’re not going to need 100-plus producers,” he says. It’s when other countries legalize cannabis and when more information about the Canadian market becomes available, such as demand and profit potential, that far bigger companies will come around, says Scott Willis, head of research for Grizzle, an investment research firm that studies cannabis companies. While many industries could benefit from adding a cannabis company to their portfolio, businesses in the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical sectors will likely be the most eager to buy.
The beverage industry is worried that people will drink less and smoke more, while big tobacco needs a product to offset declining cigarette sales.
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BUYING GROWTH Those first two sectors need cannabis, says Willis. The beverage industry is worried that people will drink less and smoke more, while big tobacco needs a product to offset declining cigarette sales. “They need a place to find growth,” he says. These businesses will be looking for operations for existing brands that have some market share and they’ll want to see which products are in the pipeline, he says. “Beer companies know distribution and markets, but they don’t have any products,” he says. Pharmaceutical companies are looking to buy businesses with promising patents and clinical trials. If a company has a patent on, say, a new pill delivery mechanism, or if the business owns medical-related data that a drug company would want, they’ll buy in. They’re not interested in getting into production, he says, but they are interested in working with companies who can produce product in the same way every day. “They might want to buy into an oil company that can create the same thing every time,” says Willis. “They like to know what they’re getting.”
TIME TO CASH OUT? While some cannabis companies will want to try and make a go of things, many others will be more than happy to cash out. If you do want to attract suitors, though, you’ll need to give them what they want. “It comes down to whether you have something of interest to other players,” says Whitmore. What that is depends on your business. Maybe you have a popular brand of flower, a proprietary technology that can help grow plants faster, an experienced executive team that has a track record of success, or a top-of-the-line production facility, and so on. “A buyer will do an analysis and say, ‘Can I build that team or brand or process on my own?’” says Whitmore. “If it’s faster for them to buy it then they may be willing to pay a premium for it.” Now’s the time to get your pitch ready, because once legalization happens, buyers may start knocking on your door. “As more countries, especially in the G7, start looking at this, we’ll see more companies and institutional investors get in,” says Whitmore. “The big guys will come in and say, I’d rather buy it now than build it on my own.”
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Ask The Expert:
Curt Robbins on Cannabis Normalization Robbins Group LLC’s founder talks about the changes and growth he’s seen in cannabis industry since 2004.
You may not remember Curt Robbins’s writing in High Times and Cannabis Culture from 2004 onward, but you will remember Gooey Rabinski, Robbins’s cannabis writing pseudonym. Robbins wanted to keep his day job as a technical writer for banks and insurance companies in the U.S., so he created a pseudonym to keep the two identities separate. Why did Robbins decided to stop using his pseudonym and devote himself to cannabis documentation as the founder of Robbins Group LLC? He explains. Q: Why did you transition from Gooey Rabinski to Curt Robbins? CR: Back in 2004, when I first got turned on to the cannabis world, I was a technical writer for corporate America — banks, insurance companies, conservative and Republican organizations — so I didn’t wave the cannabis flag. But I still wanted to learn more about the efficacy of cannabis. So I fabricated a Jewish stoner — I never got blacklisted by corporate America, so I could pay my bills, raise my family, pay my mortgage and be a suburban middle-class American.
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Now that things are going legal, I think it sends the wrong message to have a pseudonym and work in cannabis. We don’t need to hide
anymore. Cannabis is science, research, objective facts — we need to keep the emotions and stigma out of it. Having juvenile and sophomoric names doesn’t represent the science and efficacy that is cannabis. That’s why I changed to my real name. Q: What are people just learning about the science and efficacy of cannabis? CR: We often hear that cannabis is a panacea — smoke a joint and your pain goes away. But it’s not that simple. Some of the most intelligent and enlightened answers to medical questions we have related to cannabinoids and terpenes are not concrete. It’s challenging to say “maybe cannabis will work,” or “sometimes cannabis works,” or “we have to talk for an hour to give you a base vocabulary before we have a dialogue about cannabis.” But that’s the truth more people need to know — that cannabis is a complex plant. My personal journey has been trying to learn about the complexity of this plant. Q: You live in California, so after seeing the state’s legalization, what are the societal shifts that we can expect when Canada legalizes cannabis on October 17? CR: There’s truth to the thought that it’s going to be mind-blowingly amazing and dramatic and tear apart society and the industry! But there’s also
truth to the thought that it’s going to be a lot more boring than most people think.
One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of U.S. cannabis companies are establishing themselves as CBD or non-THC businesses so the conservatives won’t fight against them. The idea behind it is to get your business infrastructure in place, get a slice of the market, so that when inner-state commerce — a true cannabis industry — emerges, then you can just plug THC channels into branding and marketing you already have. This may start happening in Canada once legalization comes into place.
Q: Did you ever think when writing for cannabis publications in 2004 that there would be publicly traded cannabis companies? CR: It’s truly mind-blowing. Prohibition sucked and I’m not a fan of the black market. We need to start thinking about moving a billion-dollar industry forward. To do that, we need to think about the cannabinoids and terpenes — and rid the industry, for the most part, of strain names. Suburban soccer moms are not going to buy a $45 jar with a label that says a strain name like “Cat Piss” on it. If we want to standardize and normalize and come out of prohibition, some compromises will have to be made on the social and cultural side of cannabis.
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THE NEXT
BIG
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITES By Diane Peters
Once legalization occurs, consumers will want all sorts of cannabis-related products. Here are four areas that should see good growth in the coming years. At the Queen Street West location of Tokyo Smoke, customers sip lattes and chat, or tap on laptops. Between benches and tables rise tidy shelves of merch, but not coffee beans and mugs — it’s all cannabis-related gear instead. There’s a $370 purse-like stash bag, a $225 Heirloom Stack, which looks like a vintage pink glass candy dish, but is an all-in-one device grinder and pipe device, and $320 vaporizers. The store doesn’t sell cannabis, but it may next year: Hiku, Tokyo Smoke’s Vancouver-based parent company, has applied to become a licensed retailer. For now, the six Tokyo Smoke stores across the country more than break even selling regular old coffee drinks and cannabis accessories. As Hiku is finding out, there’s plenty of money to be made on cannabis, without having to sell the stuff itself. With the recreational cannabis market expected to hit $8.7 billion a year, according to
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Deloitte Canada, pushing “value-added” products could be as lucrative as selling flower. “The green stuff is becoming an agricultural input to finished products,” says Will Stewart, a cannabis executive who until recently was the vice-president at Hiku. “This is the future.” Up until now, most of the industry has been focused on how companies will get cannabis into stores and how producers will meet demand. But once legalization happens, new cannabis-related industries and businesses will likely pop up. “You’re going to see a cultural shift, and a lot of new opportunities,” says Rebecca Brown, founder of Crowns, a Toronto advertising agency that focuses on the cannabis sector. For those looking to take advantage of the cannabis craze, here are four areas to focus on.
Accessories While some consumers may be content with smoking joints, others will want to inhale in more elegant ways, including with high-end bongs, tech-enabled vapes and other items they can proudly leave out on their coffee tables. “There will be a lot of price points,” Stewart says. “We’ll see a low-end winner, a couple of mid-market winners and some high-end. Just like with everything else.” In theory, consumers will buy their gear and stick with it, but manufacturers can seduce users into spending. Stewart admits to dropping hundreds of dollars on vaporizers: after using his first one, he wanted to upgrade to a second, better-looking and more efficient device. Cannabis users will keep shopping if they see a better pipe, a prettier grinder or even a gorgeous lighter. Unlike with producing cannabis itself, there are few regulatory barriers to entry — companies don’t need a license to design and create a pipe or home infuser. The challenges for newcomers will be edging out veteran companies, getting distribution into legal retail locations and, most importantly, honing in on a consumer need and developing
Illustrations: Monica Hellström
the right product for it. “We know as legalization comes in, smoking will go down,” says Stewart, as more users fall for the appeal of vaping, eating or drinking their doses. “The accessory market has to keep shifting.”
Cosmetics Everyone knows the beauty industry is massive, bringing in about $5 billion a year. Since cannabinoids have been found to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, combat aging and help with sexual function, combining cannabis with cosmetics should be a no-brainer. Brandi Leifso, owner of Evio Beauty Group in Toronto, thinks cannabisinfused cosmetics will be bigger than most people think. She’s working with Aurora Cannabis on a line of hemp skin care products, which will be released next spring. Cannabis-infused products will follow later, after extracts are legal. One benefit to these kinds of goods is transparency, says Leifso. “With cannabis there are so many regulations, you can give consumers information on exactly how that ingredient was grown,” she says.
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There is one catch: cannabis’s stigma. Evio, which works with cosmetics retailer Sephora, surveyed 2,000 customers to find out if they bought cannabis products or would in future. “Their general answer was no,” says Leifso. But these customers did want to reduce plastics and animal byproducts, and know where ingredients are from. She thinks that once legalization happens, people’s attitudes toward cannabis products will change. “It’s like the Uber effect,” she says. “You don’t know what you want until you have it.”
U.S. company moved 230,000 packages of gummies in a year. The Canadian government will likely limit foods that could entice kids and teens when it regulates extracts next year, says John-David Belfontaine, founder and director of Toronto’s Phivida Organics, a company that produces hemp-based foods and drinks, but adults will be able to partake. Chefs will create highend tasting menus and, if allowed, food producers could start offering packaged, fresh and meal delivery products.
Edibles Those who don’t want to smoke or vape may still want to partake in cannabis consumption. The best way to do that? Through edibles. A 2017 Dalhousie University survey found that 46% of people would try cannabis-infused food, while 39% would order an infused dish at a restaurant. It’s difficult to know what the edibles market is like now, but Brandon Wright, CEO of Baked Edibles in Victoria, thinks it will be huge. “It’s bigger than anyone is imagining,” he says.
Baked Edibles, which sells brownies, gummies and chocolates, along with oil capsules, topical and pet products, already does brisk business with 35 full-time employees producing thousands of units a week that the company sells online and to wholesale to dispensaries in BC. The company has created recipes that both mask the taste of cannabis (“The oil tastes awful: it’s the equivalent of drinking raw fish oil,” says Wright) and achieve consistent doses between batches.
In legal jurisdictions in the U.S., sales of cannabis-infused food and drink makes up more than 50% of the market. One
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While who can make edibles and where they can be sold is still to be determined, winners in this segment will be the ones who make the best tasting treats and
develop brand recognition. Baked Edibles, which has applied for a food processing license under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, hopes to be first in line. “The gates are about to be open before the big match,” says Wright. “The crowd is about to storm in.” Beverages Canadians already get a big buzz off booze — alcohol is a $22.5-billion industry here, according to Statistics Canada — so there’s a good chance they’ll enjoy sipping some THC-infused drinks as well. Beer, spirits and cocktails, plus teas, juices and energy-style drinks, could all be on the menu, says Belfontaine. “I think this category will lead all categories,” he says. Drinks that taste like beer, for instance, will likely offer a microdose, for a gentle high. Meanwhile, juices and teas might offer the more medicinal benefits of CBD, like calming people down. Since people already drink alcohol and caffeinated drinks to change how they feel, the cannabis-infused drink market has big potential. Already, we’re seeing big-name alcohol companies enter the market. Constellation
Brands, the makers of Corona, bought a 38% stake in Canopy Growth, and Molson Coors Canada entered into a joint venture Hydropothecary Corporation to produce non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages. Some smaller names are testing the market, too. Last summer, Winnipeg’s Delta 9 Cannabis partnered with Fort Garry Brewing Company to create hemp-infused Legal Lager, and the first batch sold out in days. “The beer just blew off the shelves,” says John Arbuthnot, CEO of Delta 9. Other companies have entered the fray too, As regulations come out and attitudes about using cannabis inevitably keep shifting in Canada, expect a big array of market opportunities to open up. On the retail side, pets look like a huge market, as well anything to do with DIY plant growing. “You’re going to see opportunities in experiences,” says Brown. Expect growers to host tours and tastings — like winemakers do — and companies offering how-to classes on using and growing. Start-ups, familiar brand names and licensed producers will all be forging new niches for those precious cannabis dollars.
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In the Weeds with Greg Engel, CEO of Organigram What time do you usually wake up? My typical day starts at 6:00 a.m., regardless of where I am in the world. Do you have a set morning ritual or habit that gets the day started? I always get up as soon as my alarm goes; on most days before it even goes off. I always check my phone and look at some key news sites first thing.
Where’s lunch and with whom? What’s on the menu? Lunch is a luxury that does not happen too often. When it does, I typically grab something quick with someone from my team, always a working lunch if it does happen. Afternoon is all about doing what? Typically, mornings are about dealing with nearterm issues and afternoons are about future planning, although at this point in the cannabis industry there is no typical day.
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Post-work Wednesday evening sees you...? Having dinner with my wife if we are both home, before doing some more work and calls with my team.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Get up to speed on some news sites.
First drink of the day is… Always a green or fruit smoothie before I have a latte. It’s 10 a.m. on a Wednesday. Where are you and what are you focused on? Wrapping up my weekly executive team meeting with my team.
What times does the day end? It never really ends, as I tend to have catch-up calls with key members of my team at night.
Do you work in the evening? Always. We have to ask: it’s 4:20 p.m. and you are where, doing what? I usually grab a lateafternoon coffee to keep me going through the rest of the day.
Bedtime is… Usually 11:30 p.m. or 12:00 a.m.
UNDERSTANDING THE
Treatment Journey
INFO@AGMEDICA.CA Licensed medical cannabis producer AgMedica Bioscience Inc. is pleased to announce that medical registrations are now being accepted from patients seeking new health options and solutions to their unmet medical needs. “Working closely with healthcare professionals across many communities, AGMEDICA and our staff understand the patient treatment journey” said Bruce MacEachern, VP of Sales & Marketing at the company. He added, “We recently launched a patient-focused initiative entitled “Excellence in Cannabinoid Therapy Administration” (ECTA), a collaborative effort that offers support, education, hands-on training and a standardized approach to healthcare providers as they explore new ways of providing their patients with cannabinoid options.
AGMEDICA.CA This win-win approach will enable optimal patient care, support low risk and responsible cannabinoid use and foster an open and ongoing dialogue between patients and their trusted healthcare provider”. Are you an HCP interested in learning more about ECTA? Give us a call! On the journey to well-being, cannabinoid therapy holds promise for so many individuals, families and communities across Canada. Are you interested in becoming an AGMEDICA client? Talk to your healthcare professional first. Enrolling is then an easy 3-step process that can be done online, over the phone or by traditional mail. Start your registration process today.
www.agmedica.ca/become-a-client p. 1-844-569-2273 (844-5MY-CARE) e. ClientCare@AgMedica.ca P A P E R S
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