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Could US Cannabis Reform Help the Canadian Market?
A panel of experts at the latest Lift Expo discussed whether US cannabis reform will be able to help Canada's ailing producers.
Cannabis reform in the US could open the doors to market stabilization in Canada, experts believe.
The cannabis industry has long been eager to see reform in the US for obvious reasons. But beyond that, federal changes may bring a much needed re-evaluation and appreciation for players in Canada.
During an investment panel at the most recent Lift Expo in Toronto, a group of experts discussed how proposed policies like the SAFE Banking Act could in the long run also help Canada.
What could banking reform do for Canada?
When asked by panel host Joshua Reynolds, president of CapitalNow Cannabis, about how the SAFE Banking Act could impact Canadian players, one financial advisor said this policy would free up investment capital.
“Canadians and Americans have been competing for the same pool of capital for a very long time,” noted Nawan Butt, portfolio manager at Purpose Investments. “It's Canadians that have really propped up this industry on a global basis. And right now, we have Americans competing for the same pool of (limited) capital."
Due to current US federal laws against the drug, all US multi-state operators trade on Canadian exchanges; this has meant companies in the two countries have had to square off for capital markets attention.
“When Canadians and Americans are not competing for the same pool of capital anymore, and capital in Canada becomes more available for Canadian players, we'll see a lot better financing conditions for smaller players,” the Purpose Investments expert said during the discussion.
The opening of capital Butt described was echoed by Phillip Shum, director of listings development at the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE).
Shum said meaningful reform in the US would make it so “more Canadian financiers (jump) to the table because they are now less worried about getting sanctioned by US authorities.”
The CSE executive added, “That potentially could help us here in Canada as well.”
A more streamlined understanding of US and Canadian cannabis opportunities would offer clarity to a market that has struggled to keep expectations in check. Canadian operators listed on senior US exchanges have routinely seen high trading volumes due to news about reform below the border.
“A rising tide will lift all boats and provide greater access to capital, more eyes on the space, more confidence in the space and will help terms and availability of capital,” Peter Graham, managing director of investment banking at Echelon Capital Markets, told the audience.
Despite that excitement, several experts have told INN that the roadmap for big-name Canadian cannabis companies into the US is murky at best.
Banking changes wouldn't have immediate effect, banker says
During an earlier panel at the Lift Expo, Allen Benjamin, managing director and national team lead of cannabis and emerging industries at the Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO), was asked if the enactment of a policy like the SAFE Banking Act would change his perspective on cannabis investments.
Benjamin isn’t against the market at the moment, but said his firm does not evaluate deals with US operations.
The Canadian bank analyst commented that even if the bill were to become law, the market would not see an immediate shift in approach from bigger banks.
“It's not a quick switch where it passes and all of a sudden lenders can start (doing deals in the US). From a capital markets perspective, it makes things easier,” he said. “There'll be a lot more access to capital from that perspective.” More mature deals, such as senior debt from bigger banks, would still take some time.
US policy remains tricky to predict
Following US President Joe Biden’s win of the White House in 2020, cannabis observers expected reform to be addressed at some point — maybe not right away, but certainly at some point during his tenure.
However, as the midterms loom in 2022, some have grown frustrated with the lack of progress from Democrats.
“Democrats had high hopes that, particularly during the first years of the Biden administration, there would be greater support from the administration to get this done,” John Kagia, chief knowledge officer at cannabis research firm New Frontier Data, previously told INN.
The outlook is gloomy for meaningful policies to address the banking and financial needs of cannabis players, or to allow Canadian players to leverage their expertise into entering the vast US marketplace.
Dan Ahrens, managing director and chief operating officer at AdvisorShares Investments, previously told INN he expects to see a piecemeal approach to cannabis reform in the US.
“There’s a lot more support for some type of federal reform for cannabis really coming from both sides of the aisle, more than at any point in the past,” said Ahrens, who also manages two cannabis exchange-traded funds.
US reform could allow bigger player entry
It is widely expected that significant cannabis reform in the US could open the possibility of bigger investments and partnerships from consumer packaged goods (CPG) players.
While a few cannabis players have made deals with diversification-hungry alcohol and tobacco companies, several experts have pointed out that the wait-and-see status of US legalization or policy reform is impacting major entries from large CPG players.
“They also want to enter on their own terms,” Shane MacGuill, global lead of nicotine and cannabis with Euromonitor International, told INN.
Investor takeaway
Politics continue to play a key role in the development of the cannabis market, a fact investors have been well aware of for years now. Particularly in the US, the investment community continues to wait for changes to affirm the opportunity surrounding state market operators and companies pining for US exposure.
The long-running possibility of US reform bringing stability into Canada may offer some relief to the market losses seen in recent years by players across the board.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Cannabis for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Bryan Mc Govern, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
- Expert: Cannabis Investments Need US Reform in 2022 ›
- 3 Cannabis Investing Experts Explain US Legalization Hype | INN ›
- Why Consider Investing in the Cannabis Industry? | INN ›
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Bryan is a Senior Editor with INN. After graduating from the Langara journalism program he did some freelance reporting with community newspapers in British Columbia. He initially wrote about the life science space for INN and now spends his time covering the marijuana market, from Canadian LPs to US-based companies, and the impact of this sector on investors.
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