Global Cannabis Partnership Welcomes New Members

New Members will collaborate and contribute to development of
Responsible Cannabis Framework

SAINT JOHN, NB, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Momentum continues to build for the establishment of a Responsible Cannabis Framework as eight more organizations join the Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP), in its newly opened Member category.

The GCP welcomes Cannabis OneFive Inc., Emblem Corp., Grant Thornton LLP Canada, HEXO Corp., Maricann Group Inc., Organigram Inc., Sundial Growers Inc. and Zenabis as its newest Members.

"We expect membership to expand as more and more stakeholders recognize the necessity of social responsibility policies and programs and want to be at the table to collaborate," says Kim Wilson, Executive Director of the GCP. "Adding more members to the Partnership will provide further insight, expertise and knowledge sharing as we set standards and guidelines for compliance and best practices that will make a real difference."

The Member category – open to government agencies, licensed producers, national associations, industry partners and community groups from the global cannabis industry –  broadens participation in the GCP beyond the cohort of Founding Members.

The Partnership is under the executive direction of CSR expert Kim Wilson, whose appointment was announced on September 5. The GCP is the first of its kind in the growing global cannabis industry and mirrors successful initiatives in many other industry sectors, such as alcohol, gaming, pharmaceuticals, forestry and others. Not an advocacy or lobby group, the GCP is a partnership of like-minded organizations who want to raise the bar with respect to social responsibility for the cannabis industry.

Founding Members of the GCP were announced on June 12, 2018 at the World Cannabis Congress and represent a cross-section of organizations that play – or will play – a role in the legal, adult-use recreational cannabis supply chain. A full list of Founding Members and Members can be found at globalcannabispartnership.com.

For information about joining the Partnership, contact Kim Wilson, Executive Director of the GCP at 506.646.9960 or [email protected].

About the Global Cannabis Partnership:
Founded by Revolution Strategy, the Global Cannabis Partnership is a collaboration of leaders in the government-sanctioned, adult-use recreational cannabis industry. With representation from government, private-sector and affiliate organizations, the GCP is creating an international standard for the safe and responsible production, distribution and consumption of legal recreational cannabis. One of its first activities will be to create a Responsible Cannabis Framework, to shape the face of social responsibility in the recreational cannabis industry. For more information, visit globalcannabispartnership.com.

New GCP Member Quotes:

Cannabis OneFive:
"At C15, our mission is to raise the quality and compliance bar for the cannabis sector and all its derivative products in the years to come," says Sean Samuel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CannabisOneFive. "We believe that a global community of cannabis stakeholders is a crucial component to accomplishing this shared vision. C15 looks forward to working with the founding, current and future members of the GCP to assist in developing a responsible framework for best practices in a compliance-driven sector."

Emblem:
"As we build a new cannabis industry to support the legalization of Canada's adult-use market, it's critical that licensed producers, regulators and affiliated organizations come together to lead the way on social responsibility and ensure that we are all held accountable to the highest standards of marketing and selling cannabis," says Adam Saperia, Chief Strategy Officer at Emblem. "This is a strategic initiative that will help provide the industry the social license to operate in the long term. Emblem is committed to working with industry partners both in Canada and globally to shape policy on promoting the responsible use of cannabis in a way that is collaborative, credible and effective. We have the opportunity to create a meaningful CSR platform that positively impacts consumers on a global scale."  

Grant Thornton LLP Canada:
"Being a member of the Global Cannabis Partnership connects Grant Thornton to like-minded industry leaders whose objective is to develop and establish a responsible cannabis framework," say Trisha LeBlanc, Partner at Grant Thornton LLP Canada. "We are pleased to be involved in setting cannabis standards and understand the responsibility, given that Canada will be the first G7 country to legalize cannabis."

HEXO:
"As we launch the Canadian adult-use cannabis industry it is important to demonstrate to the world that we can be responsible to our physical and social environment while providing world-class products to consumers," says Terry Lake, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at HEXO. "This aligns with HEXO's vision to be a global leader in cannabis and the Global Cannabis Partnership is an excellent vehicle to do just that".

Maricann:
"Being amongst some of the first cannabis licenses issued, Maricann Inc has always prided itself in offering safe, reliable, medical grade products to consumers," says Ben Ward, CEO of Maricann. "Joining the Global Cannabis Partnership allows us to connect with other like-minded industry professionals to ensure the longevity and integrity of this burgeoning industry. This partnership is emblematic of our ongoing commitment to global initiatives that hold the wellbeing of our consumers, our patients and the environment as a top priority."

Organigram:
"We're thrilled to contribute to this vibrant partnership, as the goals of the GCP perfectly align with our own," says Ray Gracewood, Chief Commercial Officer at Organigram. "Setting global standards for safe, responsible production, distribution and consumption will even the playing field for producers, help facilitate easier conversations among nations and help share learnings on harm reduction. It's a win-win."

Sundial:
"Sundial is excited to join the Global Cannabis Partnership at the development stage of the adult-use cannabis market and we look forward to contributing positively to a safe and responsible industry that Canadians can trust," says Claire Buffone-Blair, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Sundial.

Zenabis:
"Our product, people and community are the focus behind everything we do at Zenabis," says Karen Parent, Chief Quality and Compliance Officer at Zenabis. "Because we actively engage in patient education, physician counselling and building public awareness about cannabis and cannabis derivatives, Corporate Social Responsibility is integrated into our business model. Being part of the GCP is a logical extension of our social responsibility efforts and we're thrilled this initiative is being led out of New Brunswick. The Responsible Cannabis Framework will be a vital consideration in our operating procedures moving forward."

Additional New GCP Member Information:

Cannabis OneFive (C15) is a Canadian-based technology partner of Veeva Systems Inc., a U.S. $14B leader in cloud-based software for the global life-sciences industry. C15 has configured the Veeva QualityOne cloud application for the Canadian cannabis sector, which is globally compliant with FDA CFR Part 11, EU GMP Annex 11 and Health Canada. 

Emblem, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Emblem Cannabis Corporation, is a fully integrated licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis and cannabis derivatives in Canada under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). Emblem's state-of-the-art indoor cannabis cultivation facility and research and development laboratory is located in Paris, Ontario. Led by an experienced management team of healthcare executives, accomplished marketing professionals and cannabis experts, Emblem is focused on driving shareholder value through product innovation, brand relevance and access to patient and consumer channels. Emblem is also the parent company of GrowWise Health Limited, one of Canada's leading cannabis education services.

Grant Thornton LLP Canada is a leading Canadian accounting and advisory firm providing audit, tax and advisory services to private and public organizations. It helps dynamic organizations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, actionable advice through a broad range of services. Together with the Quebec firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton in Canada has approximately 4,000 people in offices across the country. Grant Thornton LLP is a Canadian member of Grant Thornton International Ltd, whose member and correspondent firms operate in over 100 countries worldwide.

HEXO creates and distributes innovative, easy-to-use and easy-to-understand products to serve the Canadian cannabis market. One of the country's lowest-cost producers, HEXO is rapidly increasing its production capacity in the lead up to the adult-use cannabis market. The Company currently operates with over 310,000 sq. ft. of production capacity with construction on another 1,000,000 sq. ft. expansion set to be complete by year end. HEXO will serve the adult-use market under the HEXO brand, while continuing to serve its medical cannabis clients through the well-known Hydropothecary brand.

Maricann was founded in 2013 in Langton, Ontario and is a federally licensed cannabis producer serving thousands of patients. It is currently expanding its cultivation, extraction, analytics and production facilities to elevate offerings and prepare for growth into the adult-use cannabis market in Canada, and ultimately into mature and developing cannabis markets worldwide. With dedication to quality, integrity, authenticity, approachability and innovation, it strives to exceed expectations and industry standards.

Organigram is a licensed producer of cannabis and cannabis-derived products in Canada. Organigram is focused on producing the highest-quality, indoor-grown cannabis for patients and adult recreational consumers in Canada, as well as developing international business partnerships to extend the company's global footprint. In anticipation of the legal adult-use recreational cannabis in Canada, Organigram has developed a portfolio of brands including The Edison Cannabis Company, Ankr Organics and Trailer Park Buds.

Sundial is a privately held, Alberta-based licensed cannabis producer. Sundial believes in health, happiness and personal well-being, cultivating cannabis for modern consumers – people who want a natural alternative that fits seamlessly into today's active, healthy lifestyles. Its focus is on producing consistent, quality cannabis that customers can trust. Sundial currently operates a 31,000 square foot production facility in Rocky View, AB, and has two purpose-built production facilities in various stages of completion and licensing. By 2019, it expects to be one of the leading cannabis companies in Canada with a projected production of over 120 million grams of dry cannabis and the ability to process over 30 million grams of cannabis extracts.

Zenabis is a privately-held, cannabis company with one of the largest, federally licensed indoor medical cultivation footprints in Canada. Zenabis currently operates two licensed production facilities in Surrey, British Columbia and Atholville, New Brunswick, with a third coming shortly in Nova Scotia. These facilities encompass 660,000 square feet of indoor pharmaceutical grade cannabis production space across Canada. Zenabis' operations are strategically positioned on Canada's coasts, facilitating national distribution and access to international markets. Zenabis is currently working towards globally recognized EU GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certifications.

SOURCE Global Cannabis Partnership

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