Is the United States a threat to Canada’s cannabis industry?

Greg Engel, Director General of Organigram (OGI), fears competition from the United States cannabis industry. However, in the United States, cannabis remains illegal at the Federal level. Engel is at the forefront of one of the largest cannabis companies in Canada. He hopes that the largest business association in the country will help the cannabis industry to stay ahead of the United States.

Greg Engel, CEO of Organigram (OGI), things the US may be a threat to Canada’s cannabis industry. Engel is at the forefront of one of the largest cannabis companies in Canada. 

Canada was the first G7 country to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational sale and use. As such, they gained a huge leadership and monopoly position in the world. 

Soon after, several states in America followed. Engel hopes that the new Cannabis National Working Group will push Ottawa to maintain its leading position. 

“Canada has a unique leadership position. We do things on a scale and scope that no one else does,” said Engel.

The economic potential of Canada’s cannabis industry

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said last week that a new working group is calling for government policy to help Canada’s cannabis industry realize its full economic potential.

The organization chart includes one of the founding members together with major cannabis producers such as Canopy Growth Corp (WEED.TO) and HEXO Corp. (HEXO.TO).

Parties such as Deloitte Canada and Detons Canada LLP are also part of the working group.

The interest of investors enabled Canadian companies to strengthen their international position and build facilities for large-scale breeding.

Meanwhile, U.S. federal law restricts the reach of cannabis companies and forces producers to operate at street level.

Cannabis has a wide range of applications, from medicine manufacturing to the making of cannabis containers.

The American cannabis market vs the Canadian cannabis industry

The growing number of countries that legalize cannabis and envision reforms at the federal level means that investors are increasingly focusing on the US.

Moreover, Engel said that it is difficult to predict how Washington’s position on cannabis will change.

“What I really see as a threat to the Canadian [cannabis] industry is a change in the US from the perspective of the regulatory framework,” says Engel, “We have the opportunity to benefit from the advantage that we still have in the short term.”

US legalization and policy

Illinois legalized recreational cannabis use recently, making it the 11th official state to allow this form of cannabis use.

However, this is still under consideration in many states. There is a good chance that more countries will join.

In the US, however, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. It is classified as Schedule 1 with no medical value and a high potential for abuse.

Engel said that the new National Cannabis working group is setting priorities. He hopes that the group in the financial, legal, construction and transport sectors will finally give guidance on policies that advance the interests of Canadian cannabis worldwide.

“The most important aspect is that public policy and decision-making in Canada are really taken as a starting point. However, I believe that in many ways the Chamber of Commerce works closely with the management and is internationally active,” said Engel.

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(Featured image by dennisflarsen via Pixabay)

First published in DrugsInc., a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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