大麻 - Marijuana, Japanese Sacred Herb

The G-20 summit is currently taking place in Hamburg, Germany and marijuana has made its presence known.

Although some of the expected discussion topics include climate change, security and trade, we think medical marijuana will be a topic that takes center stage. 20% of the countries at the G-20 summit have legalized medical marijuana and it will be a topic that is nearly impossible to ignore. Every country is looking for ways to lower its debt level and marijuana is the answer.

Marijuana will not only create a new revenue stream but it will also significantly decrease expenses and allow countries to better allocate its resources.

World Leaders Climb Aboard The Marijuana Train

From Germany to Canada, Australia to Mexico, the benefits of marijuana are being recognized and this trend is just getting started.

2017 has been a year to remember and we are only halfway through it. One of most significant developments so far this year was Germany legalizing medical marijuana and we think this will have a major impact on its European counterparts.

Germany is the largest country (by population) in the European Union and it represents a massive opportunity for marijuana companies. Per the most recent United Nations estimates, the current population of Germany is more than 80.6 million, which is twice the size of California.

Germany is the Next Major Marijuana Market

Canadian licensed medical marijuana producers have benefited from the rapidly growing German medical marijuana market since it does not allow for domestic cultivation. Until state-supervised cannabis plantations are set up, the country will continue to rely solely on imported products.

Germany has now been writing formal prescriptions for medical marijuana since March and there are no signs of slowing down. We are excited about the German medical marijuana market and want to highlight three of the companies capitalizing on it.

Aurora Cannabis (ACB.V) (ACBFF) entered Germany’s medical marijuana market in May through the acquisition of Pedanios GmbH, which has been importing, exporting, and distributing medical cannabis into and within the European Union (EU) since December 2015.

Pedanios holds all required licenses and permits and is a federally licensed medical and narcotic wholesale and GMP inspected narcotic import business. The company wholesales medical marijuana to more than 750 pharmacies and offers the largest variety of products. When Germany’s new law came into effect in March, Pedanios' monthly sales doubled and we expect Aurora to report strong numbers from this segment of its business.

Canopy Growth Corp (TWMJF) (WEED.TO) was one of the first Canadian licensed medical marijuana producers to enter Germany and the company has the largest and most significant global presence.

In 2016, Canopy Growth acquired MedCann GmbH Pharma and Nutraceuticals, a German-based pharmaceutical distributor that has placed Tweed-branded cannabis strains in German pharmacies. MedCann is federally licensed by the German Health Ministry to import, manufacture and distribute medical cannabis products.

We are favorable on Canopy Growth’s global presence and the company is also capitalizing on the medical marijuana markets in Australia and Chile.

Another Canadian licensed medical marijuana producer looking to take advantage of this market is Maricann Group Inc. (MARI.CN: CSE). In May, Maricann raised $42.5 million (CAD) from The Green Streaming Finance Company to fully fund the expansion of its Ebersbach Facility, which is expected to be completed this month. In return, Green Streaming has the right to purchase 20% of production at an all-in cost and 10% from expansion in Germany (from what they funded).

The financing will fund the initial 150,000 sq. ft. expansion of production space in the facility and an additional 250,000 sq. ft. in a two-tiered cultivation plan, as well as an outdoor hemp farm that will produce high cannabidiol (CBD) marijuana.  

Maricann executed an agreement to purchase the facility for $3.41 million (EUR) and this is a pretty good deal since the facility cost $80 million (EUR) when it was built 20 years ago. The facility offers a significant advantage when it comes to construction costs and speed to market. The facility already has the infrastructure needed to cultivate cannabis in an indoor secured environment and is comprised of multiple individual clean rooms that are ideal for cultivation of cannabis