Canada’s Licensed Producers Gear Up for Recreational Market
Ryan Allway
April 21st, 2017
News, Top News
Canada’s cannabis industry could surpass C$22 billion in size over the coming years, according to industry analysts, as licensed producers gear up to meet a projected shortfall in supply. Investors looking to capitalize on these dynamics have many options among the 40+ licensed producers, but the best approach may be purchasing a diversified portfolio to insulate themselves from any risks stemming from a single producer.
In this article, we will take a look at the status of recreational cannabis in Canada, how licensed producers are gearing up to meet demand, and how investors can capitalize on these trends.
Canada Readies Legalization
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government introduced long-awaited legislation that would permit adults to possess, share, and purchase marijuana earlier this month. Under the new regulations, provinces and territories would make their own decisions about the distribution and sale of marijuana. Consumers living in provinces without a regulated retail framework would be able to purchase cannabis online from a federally-licensed producer with secure home delivery.
The government also continues to explore ways to enhance safety and keep the drug out of the hands of children. According to Health Canada, the country has one of the highest youth marijuana usage rates in the world. That’s why Trudeau appointed Bill Blair – a former Toronto police chief – to lead the legalization effort. Mr. Blair has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to rush the process and aims to create a safe and effective framework for legalization.
The legislation will be reviewed by Parliamentary committees, but the Liberals’ majority in the House of Commons means that it’s extremely likely to pass into law. According to senior government officials, Canadians should be able to legally smoke marijuana by July 1, 2018 after the bill passes through final regulatory steps and provinces have time to build a framework and develop specific regulations that work best with their jurisdictions.
Licensed Producers Ramp Up
Canada’s legal cannabis industry could see sales of $4.9 billion to $8.7 billion after recreational legalization, according to Deloitte Canada. The consultancy based its findings on a survey of 5,000 Canadians through market research firm RIWI Corp. Deloitte Canada reckons that the market could be worth between $12.7 billion and $22.6 billion when including ancillary goods and services that support the industry – excluding tourism and paraphernalia.
Many analysts believe that the market will experience a shortfall in supply given that there are only about 40 licensed producers. For instance, PI Financial believes that licensed producers will need to cultivate a total of 610,000 kilograms of cannabis to fulfill domestic and export demand by 2019, but existing capacity could result in a 200,000 kilogram shortfall.
“The rigorous process of becoming a licensed producer of cannabis in Canada imposes significant barriers to entry and there will be a shortfall in supply in a legalized market in the short-term until production capacities catch up by 2020,” said Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. analysts in a November 2016 research note. This could create an enormous opportunity for existing licensed producers that enjoy an oligopoly over the short- to medium-term.
Investing in Licensed Producers
Investors looking to capitalize on the Canadian cannabis industry may want to consider some of the 40+ licensed producers of medical cannabis under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, or ACMPR. These licensed producers enjoy exclusive rights to supplying the cannabis industry with a relatively high barrier to entry. Any future licensed producers must undergo a lengthy approval process that can take years to complete.
Those seeking the most established licensed producers may want to consider market leaders, like Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX: CGC) (OTC Pink: TWMJF) or Organigram Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: OGRMF) (OGI.V), although these companies have already achieved elevated market capitalizations that exceed C$1 billion in some cases. A better approach may be investing in a diversified basket of licensed producers to eliminate any risks stemming from a single licensed producer.
Some of the most promising up-and-coming licensed producers include:
| Ticker | Name | Market Cap | Description |
| IMH.V, IVITF | Invictus MD Strategies Inc. | $140M | Focus on diversification with 250 acres of cultivation space in Alberta and Ontario. |
| EMH.V | Emerald Health Therapeutics Ltd. | C$170M | Focus on characterizing cannabis strains and developing proprietary products. |
| MGW.V, MGWFF | Maple Leaf Green World Inc. | $53M | Final stage of approval with existing cultivation experience in California. |
| HVST (following pending RTO) | Harvest One | N/A | Upcoming RTO opportunity and focus on CBD products and cultivation. |
| Private | WeedMD | N/A | Focus on the senior living industry where management has a lot of experience, and upcoming IPO. |
| Private | ABcann Medicinals Inc. | N/A | Upcoming IPO opportunity with a focus on high-yield, standardized, organic practices. |
* Data as of April 19, 2017.
Looking Ahead
Canada’s cannabis industry could exceed C$20 billion in size following the legalization of recreational cannabis next year. As legislatures pass these laws, many licensed producers are gearing up their operations to capitalize on the opportunity. Many analysts expect there to be a shortfall in production that could translate to higher revenue for existing licensed producers as they work to meet projected demand over the next decade.
This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.
About Ryan Allway
Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.
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Alan Brochstein’s 420 Investor is the go-to community for investors to learn, explore, and profit from the marijuana companies. The main goal of 420 Investor is to provide real-time, objective information about the top marijuana companies in the market in order to help investors capitalize on cannabis.
The producers of O’ Cannabiz have decades of experience producing national-profile events and creating global connections between business communities in the arts, broadcasting, media and technology. They have organized trade summit initiatives with governments around the world. And they have worked closely with sponsors in all levels of Canadian government.
Delta 9’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical marijuana pursuant to the ACMPR and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada . Delta 9’s shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “NINE”.
AYR Strategies was created as a special purpose acquisition corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario that acquired five subsidiaries.
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