Canadian Chamber of Commerce Forms National Cannabis Working Group

(OTTAWA) – June 25, 2019 – As the first G20 economy to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use, Canada must do more to take advantage of its first-mover status and realize the full economic potential of the country’s burgeoning industry.

To support these global ambitions, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the National Cannabis Working Group to develop and advocate for public policies that will improve the growth and competitiveness of the Canadian cannabis sector, and help governments achieve their health and safety objectives.

The Working Group is co-chaired by Ryan Greer, Senior Director and Cannabis Policy Lead for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Nathan Mison, Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations for Fire & Flower Cannabis co, one of Canada’s leading adult use cannabis retailers.

“While Canada has a lucrative opportunity with our head start in the nascent global cannabis industry, we need a public policy environment that will help maximize the full economic potential of the sector.  Our National Cannabis Working Group includes companies from across cannabis value chains committed to developing and advocating for government policies that will balance safety and access with industry sustainability and competitiveness,” said Greer.

“We are excited to build a cannabis sector working group that includes participation from licensed producers and retailers, but also creates room for crucial ancillary business that are underrepresented in the national cannabis conversation. Creating awareness about the opportunities that exist within the burgeoning cannabis sector both in Canada and globally is a message we are looking forward to sharing with Canadians,” said Mison.

The National Cannabis Working Group is comprised of some of Canada’s leading companies with a shared interest in developing and supporting a high standard and competitive cannabis industry:

·        Fire & Flower

·        Canopy Growth

·        Organigram

·        WeedMD

·        Rolling Greens

·        Lift & Co.

·        Cannabis Compliance Inc.

·        Harvest One

·        HEXO Corp

·        Yardstick Testing and Training

·        Zenabis

·        Aphria Inc.

·        Deloitte Canada

·        Dentons Canada LLP

·        Tilray Inc.

·        Clark Builders

The National Cannabis Working Group is open to members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.  In addition to cannabis cultivators, processors and retailers, the working group will include a range of ancillary sectors such as financial and legal services, construction, and transportation and logistics companies to tackle public policy issues from all sides of this new industry.

The Voice of Canadian Business

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most representative business association, which speaks with one unified voice on behalf of nearly a quarter million businesses. The Chamber’s job is to help Canadian businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions grow their business. We do this by helping them connect to each other, new opportunities, providing essential business services, and influencing government policy on their behalf. For more information visit www.Chamber.ca or follow us @CdnChamberofCom.

For more information, please contact:

Phil Taylor
Senior Director, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
[email protected] (preferred and fastest response time)
613.238.4000 (2231)