Cannabis

While every company has its challenges, the hurdles that cannabis businesses face are particularly complex. Indeed, as the regulatory and commercial frameworks shaping the global cannabis sector continue to crystallize, significant business risk inheres in every new opportunity.

At Gowling WLG, we help a wide range of cannabis industry participants manage such risk and find success across a number of fronts. We also work closely with entities from other sectors that are looking to leverage the growth opportunities presented by cannabis.

Making sense of cannabis regulation

Our professionals can help you navigate the emergent legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern cannabis from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Our expertise also encompasses cannabidiol (CBD) and related products. From nuanced consumer protection issues to municipal real estate zoning bi-laws, we ensure you have the knowledge and resources needed to anticipate obstacles and scale your business with confidence.

Helping you grow

We have comprehensive experience leading issuers, investment dealers and strategic investors through multi-faceted corporate finance and M&A transactions. Our work has resulted in the listing of a number of private cannabis companies - through initial public offerings, reverse take-over/qualifying transactions, private and public mergers and acquisitions, or debt and equity financing transactions.

We have experience working with businesses in the cannabis and CBD industries across a wide range of practice areas. We are able to provide our clients with a deep understanding of this area of the law to ensure their success.

Meet the team and grow your business

Contact any member of our team to find out more about how can help you succeed in the cannabis industry.

Recent projects and experience

• Counsel to Canopy Growth Corporation, one of the world's largest cannabis companies, on planning, real estate (including leasing), construction, environmental and IP matters associated with the production, storage and distribution of cannabis in Canada.
• Counsel to an online cannabis delivery company on its successful acquisition of distressed cannabis assets from the receiver of an insolvent company.
• Counsel to a cannabis producer on its proposed acquisition of the assets of an insolvent company.
• Advising the board of directors of a cannabis company on insolvency risks.
• Counsel to a cannabis company in its proposal proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
• Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Emblem Corp. valued at $172.3 million at the time of announcement, pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement under the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act.
• Counsel to Aleafia Health Inc. in a public offering of convertible debenture units of the company for aggregate gross proceeds of $40.25 million, which included the full exercise of the over-allotment option.
• Counsel to Phivida Holdings Inc., a premier brand of CBD-infused products listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
• Counsel to MPX Bioceutical Corporation in $30-million financing. MPX, through its wholly owned subsidiaries in the US, provides a range of services to two medicinal cannabis enterprises in Arizona.
• Counsel to Khiron Life Sciences Corp., a Colombian medical marijuana company, in its going public transaction on the TSX Venture Exchange.
• Advising The Green Organic Dutchman on construction contracts for a cannabis hydroponics plant.
• Counsel to Molson Coors Canada, advising on the creation of a joint venture with HEXO Corp. called Truss Limited Partnership. The venture will pursue opportunities to develop non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages for the Canadian market.
• Counsel to Cannabis One Holdings Inc. in connection with its RTO transaction on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The project resulted in the client becoming a multi-state dispensary operator and aggregator of popular cannabis brands throughout North America.
• Counsel to GW Pharma, the global leader in developing cannabinoid based medicines.
• Counsel to Cenkos Securities on English cannabis regulatory advice.
• Counsel to a global investment bank on English cannabis regulatory advice.
• Counsel to an investment bank on the IPO on the Standard List of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange plc of a cannabinoid-based pharma company.

Related services

• Advertising
• Commercial litigation
• Consumer protection
• Debt & equity financing transactions
• Employment & labour issues
• Intellectual property
• IPOs & private placements
• Legislative and regulatory frameworks
• Licensing & distribution
• Packaging & labelling
• Private & public M&A
• Product liability & risk management
• Real estate & municipal zoning
• Regulations matters
• Restructuring & insolvency
• Tax