Deals, Mergers and Acquisitions for Cannabis Businesses
The cannabis sector has quickly become a hot spot for entrepreneurs, established businesses and financers in Canada. With the legalization of the recreational marijuana sector right around the corner, we can look to the already booming medicinal cannabis market for valuable insight. What should cannabis-sector participants be aware of regarding financing, selling and strategically growing their business as the sector flourishes under the new regulatory regime? Join our panel of experts as we identify best practices related to mergers and acquisitions, including strategic acquisitions, synergies and buying brands. You will receive professional insight on what makes mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis industry unique, what regulatory issues can come along with these transactions, and ideas for ways to raise capital. We will also discuss opportunities for ancillary businesses and provide insight on alternative financing models.
Moderator: Margaret Nelligan, Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP
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Closing Keynote with Mandy McKnight
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Grow Your Own
Office Spaced: What Employers Need To Know
Workplaces may be one of the most first places to test the ramifications of marijuana legalization. Drug and alcohol policies are turned upside down when the prohibited substance is also a prescribed medicine. In this session, we’ll talk about how these policies must evolve, how a company can tailor its “message” on the issue to remain forward-thinking, and how issues of liability, privacy and human rights will all enter the argument.
Moderator: Fiona Brown, Associate, Aird & Berlis LLP
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All Over The Map: Making Sense Of Global Marijuana Laws
Marijuana possession is still a felony in some juridictions, a fining offence in others and “just fine” in many more. As Canada prepares to legalize it recreationally, it will have to stickhandle the policies of its neighbours – notably the U.S. and its federally hostile/state-lenient attitudes towards pot. The business world is confused too. Shares dropped when the stock exchange operator The TMX Group announced it would “seek guidance” from securities regulators about Canadian companies with investments in the U.S. Our cannabis commerce may indeed be everybody’s business.
Moderator: Michael Lickver, Executive VP Strategy, Cannabis Wheaton
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Technology and Innovation in the Cannabis Space
From unobtrusive hi-tech vapes, to seed-to-sale software that manages inventory and tracks customer demand, the cannabis revolution is heating up its own R&D sector. Upcoming innovations will be the seed for the second-wave growth of ancillary businesses that will expand the marketplace into all-new areas. This crystal ball session offers a glimpse of tomorrow’s innovations today.
Moderator: Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder, Leaf Group
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Myth Busters: Separating The Facts From Fiction
This will be an interactive and engaging conversation that debunks many of the myths surrounding medical cannabis. Alex will answer questions from the audience, through facebook and emails received by the Growup conference. Some examples of the topics covered include:
Are the Indica vs. Sativa differences real and do you get higher when you smoke cannabis?
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How to Create the Best Craft Cannabis
In this session, learn an approach to effectively connect growing with marketing to create a premium cannabis brand. Ultimately, the “best” is what end user believes is best!
Market researcher Marc Solby of the Cannabis Consumer Update and Lighthouse Consulting will share a method successfully applied in the craft beer market, craft spirits and other consumer categories. He will share a canadian case study and draw on his experience as Director of Marketing at Labatt Breweries and fifteen years of brand consulting in alcoholic beverages globally.
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When National Branding Hits the Biz
Until now, the mass-marketing of pot has been fodder for comedians (like Cheech & Chong’s “ad” for Acapulco Gold: The Herb Superb). But now that it’s to be a billion-dollar legitimate industry, what tone will national branding take? Cannabis as a consumer product will be embracing brand recognition and a broad spectrum of audiences. This session will strategize how “Big Bud” should be presented to the marketplace.
Moderator: Derek Riedle, Founder & Publisher, Civilized
Sponsored By: Rouge Media
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