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# Cannabis Separating the weed from the chaff July, 2018 The global political and public climate recently took a major step forward in relaxing attitudes to cannabis laws with Canada the first G7 nation to legalise recreational Author cannabis use, serving as a catalyst for further worldwide liberalisation. Emma Ulker 020 7065 2690 In parallel, the tide of opinion in Europe is turning in favour of medical cannabis, with new horizons in the UK as its Government works towards a full legislative review. Forecasts point to a total value of the Canadian cannabis market approaching C$6bn in 2017 to at least C$9bn by 2025. With cannabis now fully legalised, that means Contacts its market value could match the size of the wine sector in Canada. Eran Zucker Following the path set by some larger companies seeking to gain exposure to the fast- 020 7469 0932 growing European medical cannabis market (estimates of a core market size as high as [email protected] €20bn in a fully legalised scenario), a first wave of smaller medical cannabis companies is moving onto the NEX London market to gain an early foothold and Martin Lampshire 020 3198 2554 to attract new capital. There could be unprecedented investment opportunity arising [email protected] in this ‘new’ UK sector. Charles Goodfellow Canada’s recent grant of Royal Assent enacting the change in Criminal Code comes as a 020 7220 9791 part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s commitments to stimulate economic growth, to [email protected] restrict black markets and underage use, and to invest tax proceeds for public good. Guy Miller 020 7220 9795 In the UK, paradoxically the largest exporter of the drug (contributing over 95 tonnes [email protected] or 75% to world exports in 2016), cannabis cannot be legally used in medical therapy, apart from the licensed MS medicine Sativex. However, the recent high-profile case of childhood epilepsy sufferer Billy Caldwell, granted access to cannabis medicine by UK Government because of his acute therapeutic need, highlights the value of medical cannabis and has helped to expedite the Legislative review. There are also huge political and financial gains that can accrue from legalisation. This could be a feature of Trump’s next campaign, as public opinion in the US appears to be swinging in favour, potentially putting an end to the clash between State and Federal law, with 61% supportive according to recent polls. In the US, the first FDA approval of a cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical, for the childhood epilepsy drug Epiodolex, adds scientific weight in support of legalisation. Law changes in Canada opens the gate to multiple investment angles arising from the nascent industry. The size of services, products and related industries is estimated to be up to three times the value of the core C$8bn production revenues for the recreational market. While in the medical market demand is also growing for consistent pharmaceutical quality and delivery precision. Some estimates show the medical cannabis market in Ontario alone could exceed C$2bn per annum. Shares in dominant Canadian-listed Licensed Producers have already seen enormous increases, reflecting optimism ahead of legalisation of recreational cannabis. At the same time, a diversified group of smaller companies is emerging across a myriad of subsectors. As these new companies and investment vehicles emerge on public markets, they provide an opportunity for investors to gain exposure to a range of cannabis industry companies in both mature and newer markets. Please refer to the important disclosures shown on the back page and note that this information is Non-independent and categorised as Marketing Material July, 2018 Cannabis Contents Cannabis is ‘highly’ sought after ............................................................................. 4 Global cannabis regulatory backdrop ...................................................................... 8 Canada - the backdrop to legalisation ........................................................................ 8 The US paradox .................................................................................................... 10 A patchwork of European laws ................................................................................ 12 Australia’s legislative backdrop ............................................................................... 14 Structure of international cannabis markets ......................................................... 16 Canada looks forward to economic boost .................................................................. 16 Recreational use could increase market by over 30% ................................................ 18 US has a thriving $7bn< cannabis economy ............................................................. 20 Europe’s medical cannabis set for exponential growth ................................................ 22 CBD and Hemp boosted in parallel with cannabis ...................................................... 24 Surfing the cannabis investment wave .................................................................. 26 Canada looks to innovate, diversify and consolidate .................................................. 26 UK investment opportunities are about to rocket ....................................................... 30 Selection of active companies ............................................................................... 31 Ananda Developments ........................................................................................... 31 Cannabis Growth Opportunity Corporation ................................................................ 32 Cannex Capital Holdings ........................................................................................ 33 Green Sky Labs .................................................................................................... 35 High Growth Capital .............................................................................................. 36 Sativa Investments ............................................................................................... 37 XtraBio BV ........................................................................................................... 38 In Summary .......................................................................................................... 40 Appendix ............................................................................................................... 41 Legal aspects ........................................................................................................ 41 Sensitivities .......................................................................................................... 41 www.pcorpfin.com 2 July, 2018 Cannabis Investment Case A highly regulated Cannabis sector is gradually being opened-up, starting in Canada. The market there is not only is a source of capital for Canadian companies, but provides a home for the public listing of US companies as well. In our view, recent developments mark a new era for the sector and bring the potential for a revolution in the scope and scale of the global industry. European markets are already established, with the formal reimbursement of medical cannabis in Germany helping to legitimise large-scale investment. Other existing markets include Australia, which hosts a range of listed cannabis stocks that has seen a boost of over 90% in stock prices since the start of 2018 when Federal law moved to legalise cannabis exports. Whereas UK exchanges are only just starting to admit companies beyond those involved in drug development and biotech. The NEX is providing a route to European markets and capital, opening the doors to companies that operate legally in their own jurisdictions. Imperial Brands Ventures, a subsidiary of tobacco giant Imperial Brands, recently invested £7.6m into Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies, a medical cannabis biotech: confirmation, if needed, as to how ‘real’ interest in cannabis is. It is still early days for the sector in the UK, but the potential returns for investors could be substantial judging by the past performance of Canadian producers. Even recent months have seen some 100%-plus increases in share values in response to the Royal Assent. The upside potential would be enhanced if the UK government moves to legalise medical cannabis, and the chance of this happening has certainly strengthened recently, with a review scheduled for this month. www.pcorpfin.com 3 July, 2018 Cannabis Cannabis is ‘highly’ sought after The use of Cannabis has long been part of human culture, with applications that range from the medical, spiritual and recreational right across to industrial, wellness and cosmetic uses. The current estimated value of the North American cannabis markets is over $10bn and some forecasters1 estimate it will reach over $60bn by 2025 as markets expand alongside cannabis liberalisation. Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the world according to the Global Drug Survey, with around 6.5% of the global population having taken the drug during 2016. The versatility of the plant and increasing knowledge of its scientific and therapeutic qualities means that, while cannabis remains largely illegal for recreational use, the stigma surrounding it is starting to lift. In particular, its medicinal qualities are gaining increasing scientific recognition. Cannabis is a fast-growing, annual plant, with a seed-to-bud harvest lifecycle of between two to four months,