ACKRELL 2018 CANNABIS C A P I T A L INVESTMENT REPORT
ACKRELL 2018 CANNABIS C A P I T A L INVESTMENT REPORT
Contents
Foreword
I Executive Summary
II Cannabis Science 101
III Cannabis Industry Segmentation
IV U.S. Legal Landscape
V Global Cannabis Regulation
VI U.S. and International Cannabis Market Estimates
VII Capital Markets for Cannabis Companies
VIII Top 100 Private Cannabis Companies 2018
IX Cannabis Industry Risk Factors
X Glossary of Terms
Disclosures, Disclaimers, Sources and Use
Ackrell Capital Cannabis Team
Inside Back Cover:The Green Field 2018
About Ackrell Capital
Founded in 2003, Ackrell Capital is a leading
independent investment bank focused on
emerging growth companies. Ackrell Capital's
expertise includes:
• Private Equity
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Placements
• Corporate Development
• Cannabis, Consurner, Technology, Digital
and Other Emerging Growth Industries
Ackrell Capital is based in San Francisco, Get.
Ackrell Capital isa member of
FINRA and SIPC. GLOBAL CANNABIS CONSUMERS
• The United Nations recently estimated that more than 180 million people
globally between the ages of 15 and 64, or more than 4% of this age group,
consume cannabis annually.
• At least 20 countries have implemented medical cannabis laws, including
Australia, Canada, Colombia and Germany; countries without such laws
include China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
• Although federally illegal in the United States, 46 states and the District of
Columbia have passed at least one law that permits the manufacture,
distribution, dispensing or polsession of cannabis. While most of these laws
are medical cannabis laws, 8 states have enacted recreational laws.
• Across all medical cannabis laws in the United States, cannabis is legally
recognized asa form of therapy or medicine for more than 50 qualifying
conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, anorexia, arthritis, cancer, chronic
pain, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• California is poised to become the largest recreational cannabis market
in the world with the implementation of its recreational law in Januar)/
2018—a watershed moment for the industry.
• The illegal cannabis market in the United States is estimated to be more
than 545 billion annually. (We estimate that the 2017 U.S. state-legal
cannabis market was 58.0 billion.) If federal legalization occurs, we believe
that the legal market could be more than two times the size of the current
illegal market, ultimately exceeding 5100 billion annually.
• The cannabis industry provides a broad range of investment opportunities
in both the public and private markets for sophisticated investors who are
willing to take significant risks.
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REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Select Countries with Legalized Cannabis Access (January 2018,
'1,44110
- Recreational Law.
- Medical L.
- StatelProWnce Conflict
with Federal L.
Tenstle arrent, has a .0.1 lax. Assumes Canada enacts a pop. .reational law in mid-2018. 046
U.S. State Cannabis Laws (January 2018)
unit-,,,
rrRecreational Law
- Medical L.
CBD/Limbd L.
c. Member
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Progression of U.S. State Cannabis Laws
2008
ail It
%, -mmiar 2004
2012
Ail ¶1
41114rIC
2014
e trig'
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Recreatimal Law CBDILImitad Law Me— Law
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U.S. Legalized Cannabis Market
5140.(00
$120.000
6100.030
$80.000
vo $60.000
$40000
$20,000
so Path to Federal Legalization
FDA Approves Cannabis•Derived Pharmaceuticals
More Stales Adopt Medical Cannabis Laws
More States Adopt Recreational Laws
FDA Routinely Approves CBD
FDA Routinely Approves THC Drugs
Federal Government Legalizes Cannabis
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
IILegalized Cannabis Market Size 2027 2028 2029 2030
Consumers 70 M
60 M
50 M
SO M
30M
20 M
10M
OM
SlaWl1SU30 p laqUiliN
Source: Ackrell Capital. Assumes cannabis \hill be legalized federally by 2027. Cannabis may never be legalized federally in the United States.
Cannabis Industry Segments
Production
Cultivation Production
Equipment and
Supplies Production and
Testing Services
Distribution
Dispensaries E-Commerce Distribution
Services Business Solutions
Business
Software Business
Services
Digital Media
Online Content
and Networking Online
Directories
Consumer Products
Flower
In Involves 'touching the plant' Concentrates _al Infused Products Vaporizers and
Accessories Pharmaceuticals
El Does not involve "touching the plant'
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CAPITA L Cannabis Investment Report I December 28, 2017
Foreword
Ackrell Capital is pleased to present our 2018 Cannabis Investment Report. Much has happened in the
nearly two years since we published our inaugural report: the cannabis industry grew significantly, com-
panies in the industry raised large amounts of capital and their stock prices performed well, and the legal-
ization movement continued worldwide as more countries and U.S. states implemented a framework for
legal cannabis access. There was also a presidential election in the United States; its ultimate impact on
the cannabis industry remains uncertain. What did not happen since we launched our inaugural report?
Federal legalization: "marijuana" continues to be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the
Controlled Substances Act in the United States.
In this new edition, we introduce an outlook on global cannabis markets, analyze capital markets for
cannabis companies and present updated market estimates. We also expand on the first edition by providing
more in-depth analyses of the various market segments within—and analyzing the legal issues pertinent
to—the cannabis industry. The Top 100 Private Cannabis Companies list has been updated and our industry
landscape, The Green Fiel4 has been updated and expanded to include more than 500 companies.
Cannabis legalization has accelerated domestically and internationally. In the 2016 U.S. elections, four
states, including California, legalized recreational cannabis (bringing the total number of states with recre-
ational laws to eight) and an additional four states legalized medical cannabis. Cannabis use is now state-
legal in some form in 46 states.
In January 2018, California will implement its recreational law, making it the largest market globally
for the recreational use of cannabis. Similarly, Canada is expected to pass its recreational law in mid-2018.
And in 2017, Germany became the most populous country in the world to pass a medical cannabis law.
Cannabis has mass consumer appeal around the world. (According to the United Nations, more than
180 million people per year use cannabis and it is the most-consumed drug worldwide). While it is clear
that there is significant demand for cannabis, less clear is how quickly illegal markets will transition to
legal markets, as well as the extent to which legalization may increase overall demand.
We continue to believe that it is a question of when—not if—the U.S. federal prohibition on cannabis
will end. We believe that a path toward federal legalization exists and we believe this process has com-
menced. According to Gallup, 64% of Americans today believe that cannabis use should be legal.
Who is the cannabis consumer? It is the 80-year-old cancer patient ingesting cannabis to treat side
effects of chemotherapy. It is the 12-year-old child using cannabis extracts on a doctor's recommendation
to reduce epileptic seizures. It is the 30-something mother or father seeking to relax after a full day. It is
a group of 20-year-olds on a Friday night heading to a concert. It is the millions of people suffering from
anxiety and depression. It is the millions of people treating chronic pain and nausea. It is the millions of
people using cannabis recreationally.
Our team has met with more than 1,000 companies in the cannabis industry. We understand the oppor-
tunities and challenges facing the industry, and we are happy to provide our insights.
Sincerely,
The Ackrell Capital Cannabis Team
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Cannabis Investment Report I December 2017
Table of Contents
CHAPTERI Executive Summary 1
Global Cannabis Consumers ■ To Watch in 2018 0 Investment Outlook
CHAPTER II Cannabis Science 101 15
The Cannabis Plant • The Human Endocannabinoid System
Cannabinoids ■ Terpenes • Cannabis Formulations
CHAPTER III Cannabis Industry Segmentation 31
2 Production u Distribution • Consumer Products
• Business Solutions • Digital Media
CHAPTER IV U.S. Legal Landscape 61
• U.S. State Law U.S. Federal Law • The Path to Federal Legalization
CHAPTER V Global Cannabis Regulation 91
• Global Cannabis Legalization Momentum • United Nations Conventions
• Global Legal Developments Global Outlook
CHAPTER Vi U.S. and International Cannabis Market Estimates 103
• Global Market Overview • U.S. State-Legal Cannabis Market
• U.S. Legalized Cannabis Market Forecast
• International Legal Cannabis Market Forecast
CHAPTER VII Capital Markets for Cannabis Companies 117
47i Capital Markets Overview n Public Capital Markets
• Public Capital Markets: United States Public Capital Markets: Canada
• Private Capital Markets I Final Thoughts
CHAPTER VIII Top 100 Private Cannabis Companies 2018 137
CHAPTER IX Cannabis Industry Risk Factors 165
CHAPTER X Glossary of Terms 169
Disclosures, Disclaimers, Sources and Use 175
Ackrell Capital Cannabis Team 176
FRONT COVER Report Highlights
BACK COVER The Green Field 2018
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CHAPTER
Executive Summary
Global Cannabis Consumers
Cannabis has mass consumer appeal around the world. Millions of people use cannabis recreationally.
Millions more use it medicinally. In aggregate, across all state medical cannabis laws in the United States,
cannabis is legally recognized as a form of therapy or medicine for more than 50 medical conditions,
including Alzheimer's disease, anorexia, arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy and post-traumatic
stress disorder. Similar to the alcohol and pharmaceutical markets, we believe that the total addressable
consumer market for cannabis consists of a significant portion of the global adult population.
Cannabis is the most widely cultivated, produced, trafficked and consumed drug worldwide,
according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In 2003, the UNODC
estimated that the global illegal cannabis market was $113 billion, with 160 million consumers. The
UNODC continues to estimate the number of cannabis users worldwide and recently estimated that
183 million people globally between the ages of 15 and 64, or more than 4% of this age group, con-
sumed cannabis in 2015.
In 2010, the RAND Corporation (RAND) estimated that the U.S. illegal cannabis market was
$40 billion. Adjusting this estimate solely for inflation and population growth, the U.S. illegal market
would now be approximately $48 billion.
Both the UNODC and RAND acknowledge the challenges inherent in studying an illegal con-
sumer market, and both allow significant room for error in their estimates. However approximate,
their estimates make clear that there is significant global demand for cannabis. Less clear is how quickly
illegal markets will transition to legal markets, as well as the extent to which legalization may increase
overall demand.
We believe that the growth of the global legal cannabis industry will be driven by increasing pen-
etration in largely untapped "mainstream" consumer markets, and that the legal industry could grow
to more than two times the estimated size of the current illegal market. We believe that cannabis will
eventually become federally legal in the United States, for recreational enjoyment by adults and for use
in a broad range of safe drugs and therapeutic products. After U.S. federal legalization, we believe that
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the U.S. market will exceed $100 billion annually, with more than 50 million consumers. Globally, we
estimate that the legal cannabis market has the potential to reach $500 billion annually, approaching
one billion consumers.
The Global Legal Cannabis Market
Cannabis legalization is gaining momentum around the world. This momentum is driven primarily by
the increasing recognition that cannabis may have a range of legitimate medicinal benefits and thera-
peutic applications. At least 20 countries now have medical laws that facilitate patient access to can-
nabis or cannabis concentrates for treating specified medical conditions. Notable countries with such
medical laws include Australia, Canada, Colombia and Gcrmany; countries without such laws include
China, Japan, Russia and the United States. (Contrary to U.S. federal law, 29 states, encompassing
62% of the U.S. population, permit the production and possession of cannabis or concentrates for use
in treating a broad range of qualifying medical conditions.) While the merits of medical cannabis are
currently driving legalization, we believe that—like Uruguay and numerous U.S. states—other coun-
tries will ultimately enact legislation permitting the production, sale and use of recreational cannabis.
(Canada is widely expected to do so in mid-2018.)
The following world map illustrates select countries that (i) have enacted medical laws that facilitate
patient access to cannabis or concentrates for treating specified medical conditions, (ii) have enacted
recreational laws that permit the commercial production and sale of cannabis to adults for recreational
and other uses, or (iii) include a state or province that has a cannabis law or policy in conflict with
federal law.
Select Countries with Le! alized Cannabis Access Janua 2018)
Recreational Law'
Medical Law
State/Province Conflict
with Federal Law
'Canada currently has a medical law. Assumes Canada enacts a proposed recreational law in mid•2018.
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The U.S. State-Legal Cannabis Market
The legal landscape for the cannabis industry in the United States continues to be character-
ized by conflict between federal prohibition and the steady advance of state legalization. Accord-
ing to federal policy, Americans can access tobacco, alcohol and prescription drug products that
kill thousands each year, but they cannot access cannabis because it is a dangerous drug with no
currently accepted medical application in the United States (notwithstanding the federal gov-
ernment holds a U.S. patent for methods of treating diseases with cannabinoids). Meanwhile,
46 U.S. states have enacted at least one law that permits the manufacturing, distribution, dispensing or
possession of cannabis or concentrates. These laws fall into three general categories:
• 29 U.S. states (and the District of Columbia) have enacted medical cannabis laws that permit
the production and possession of cannabis or concentrates for use in treating a broad range of
qualifying medical conditions.
• 19 U.S. states have enacted narrow CBD/limited laws that permit possession of small amounts
of low-THC/high-CBD cannabis concentrates for use in treating a few serious medical condi-
tions—in particular, severe forms of childhood epilepsy.
• 8 U.S. states have enacted recreational laws that permit the commercial production and sale of
cannabis to adults for recreational and other uses.
The following map of the United States shows states with medical cannabis laws, CBD/limited laws
or recreational laws (a state with more than one of these laws is represented on the map by its most
permissive law).
U.S. State Cannabis Laws (January 2018)
Recreational Law
Medical Cannabis Law
CBD/Limited Law
4a%
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The U.S cannabis industry has proven adept at navigating this federal-state conflict, and is experi-
encing rapid growth despite it. We estimate that the 2017 U.S. state-legal cannabis market was $8.0
billion, with more than four million consumers. While the overall state-legal market has grown sig-
nificantly, the addressable market has been constrained due to the lack of access to purely recreational
consumers and the sometimes -narrow scope of medical conditions that qualify a patient for access to
medical cannabis. The breakdown of this market estimate by state is shown in the following chart.
2017 U.S. State•Legal Cannabis Market Estimate
Other States
51.96
Oregon Washington
$470M $929M California
$3.26
Colon&
$1.56
Source: Ackrell Capital
U.S. Federal Law
Current federal law effectively prohibits all cannabis use and all commercial cannabis activity in the
United States. Producing, selling and possessing cannabis are federal crimes. No cannabis-derived drug
has ever been federally approved for use in treating any medical condition. Otherwise legitimate busi-
ness transactions conducted by cannabis companies —and their banks, for those who can access bank-
ing services—are legally suspect. Certain intellectual property and bankruptcy protections critical to
many U.S. businesses are not available to cannabis companies. Cannabis companies pay federal income
tax at effective rates significantly higher than other businesses.
Despite official prohibition, however, federal policies and laws recently passed by Congress have
carved out a limited space in which the state-legal cannabis industry has managed to thrive. Enforce-
ment policies published by the U.S. Department of Justice have unofficially invited cannabis business
to proceed if certain conditions are respected. The U.S. Department of the Treasury established report-
ing policies that create room for banks to service the cannabis industry. Federal budget legislation
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has prevented allocated funds from being used to prosecute conduct that complies with state medical
cannabis laws. And recent developments indicate the federal government may be pursuing policies and
practices that create space for cannabis research and approval of cannabis-derived drugs.
The following chart shows three general areas of federal law that impact the cannabis indus-
try—food and drug regulation, banking and finance, and intellectual property—as well as specific
laws and federal policies related to each area. (We expand on these laws, regulations and policies in
Chapter IV, U.S. Legal Landscape.)
Federal Laws and Policies Impacting the Cannabis Industry
Rohrabacher-
Blumenauer
Amendment
Agricultural
Act
of 2014 Controlled
Substances
Act
DRUG
AND FOOD
REGULATION
Food. Drug,
and
Cosmetic Act
0 Justice
Department
Cole Memo
Federal Laws
and Policies
Impacting the
Cannabis
Industry
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY Bank Secrecy Act
and Financial
Transaction
Laws
Treasury
Department
FinCEN Memo
BANKING
AND
FINANCE Securities
Law
Bankruptcy
Law
Internal
Revenue
Code
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The Path to Federal Legalization
We believe that the variable which will most impact the future size of the U.S. legal cannabis mar-
ket is the federal legalization process. How and when federal legalization occurs will impact other
primary drivers of the market, including the number of eligible consumers, penetration rates and
consumer spending. We predict six developments relating to federal legalization: (1) the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin approving individual pharmaceutical -grade drugs derived
from cannabis; (2) more states will adopt medical cannabis laws; (3) more states will adopt recre-
ational laws; (4) the FDA will adopt routine approval procedures for drugs with extracts of low-THC/
high-CBD cannabis varieties; (5) the FDA will adopt routine approval procedures for drugs with
extracts of high-THC cannabis varieties; and (6) cannabis parts and derivatives will be removed from
the CSA schedules (either incrementally, starting with CBD, or all at once) and will be fully legal
for medical and recreational purposes. (We expand on these predicted developments in Chapter IV,
U.S. Legal Landscape.)
We do not predict that these developments necessarily will occur in the order presented. We do
expect some of them to develop in parallel, and none of them depends fundamentally on any other.
For example, Congress could cause development
Path to Federal Legalization
1. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will
begin approving individual pharmaceutical -
grade drugs derived from cannabis.
2. More states will adopt medical cannabis
laws.
3. More states will adopt recreational laws.
4. The FDA will adopt routine approval
procedures for drugs with extracts of
low-THC/high-CBD cannabis varieties.
5. The FDA will adopt routine approval
procedures for drugs with extracts of
high-THC cannabis varieties.
6. Cannabis parts and derivatives will be
removed from the CSA schedules and will
be fully legal for medical and recreational
purposes. (6) at any time by passing legislation that removes
cannabis from the CSA schedules and establishes
a national framework for recreational and medical
cannabis regulation. Developments (1) through (3)
largely reflect incremental developments within
the existing legal environment. We do not expect
developments (4), (5) or (6) to occur during the
current presidential term, but we believe that there
is a reasonable chance development (4) could begin
within the next five years and development (5)
could occur within two years thereafter. In total, we
believe it could rake up to 10 years or more before
the federal legalization process reaches development
(6) and cannabis becomes fully legal under federal
law. For our market estimates, we assume (i) devel-
opment (4) begins in 2023, (ii) development (5)
follows two years thereafter and (iii) development
(6) occurs by 2027 and cannabis becomes fully
legal in the United States.
We believe that federal legalization will trigger
rapid growth in the U.S. market, propelled by interstate commerce, access to the federal banking sys-
tem and acceleration of the cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals market. A change in the federal status of
cannabis in the United States will not only drive U.S. market growth, but should provide a significant
catalyst to the market worldwide.
The following graph illustrates the timeline of our predicted developments and the estimated
impact on the U.S. legalized cannabis market. As discussed on page 175, readers are cautioned to not
place undue reliance on our predictions or estimates. Almost certainly, our predictions and estimates
will prove inaccurate in some respects.
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U.S. Legalized Cannabis Market
S140.000
$szo.000
sloo.000
sao.000
E
550.000
540.030
520000 Path to Federal Legalization
FDA Approves Can nabis•Derived Pharmaceuticals
More Stales Adopt Medical Cannabis Laws
More States Adopt Recreational Laws
FDA Routinely Approves CBD
FDA Routinely Approves THC Drugs
Federal Government Legalizes Cannabis
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
ILegalized Cannabis Market Size Consumers 70M
60M
50M z
40M F
a 30M
20M
10M
OM
Source: Ackrell Capital. Assumes cannabis w7 be legalized federally by 2027. Cannabis may never be legalized federally in the United States.
To Watch in 2018
We believe that the following events will impact the legalized
cannabis industry in 2018.
Increasing Recreational Legalization
We expect 2018 will be a watershed year for recreational
markets, both in the United States and internationally. Cal-
ifornia will begin implementing its new recreational law in
January 2018, and Canada's proposed recreational law is
widely expected to be approved in some form by mid-2018.
California, which has a population of 38 million people
and receives 250 million visitors annually, is poised to tran-
sition from the world's largest medical cannabis market to
the largest recreational market with the implementation of
its recreational law in January 2018.
In each of the three largest U.S. states to implement rec-
reational laws—Colorado, Oregon and Washington —the
size of the legalized cannabis market expanded significantly, doubling the size of the overall market in
each of these states in the first full calendar year after implementation. The world has yet to experience
a legalized recreational cannabis market in a jurisdiction as large as California, and how the supply
chain, consumer response and regulatory framework will coalesce in such a market remains to be seen. To Watch in 2018
• Increasing Recreational
Legalization
• Cannabis Consumer Experience
goeslitainstream"
• FDA Approval of Cannabis-
Derived Pharmaceuticals
• Commoditization of
Cannabis Flower
• Access to Banking Services for
U.S. Cannabis Companies
• Increasing Strategic Investor
Activity; Continuing Funding
Gap
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Nonetheless, we believe that California's state-legal market may double from an estimated $3.2 billion
in 2017 to approximately $6.5 billion in 2018.
Canada has assumed the role of a global leader of cannabis legalization. Although Canada's legal
cannabis market is presently limited to medical cannabis, it is currently the largest federally legal can-
nabis market in the world, estimated at $1.5 billion in 2017. In April 2017, a proposed recreational
law was introduced in the Canadian parliament; the proposed Cannabis Act would allow adults to pur-
chase cannabis from federally licensed producers and to possess and share cannabis with other adults.
The Cannabis Act is widely expected to be approved in some form by the Canadian parliament by mid-
2018. If approved, Canada would be the largest country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis
on a national level, and we believe that the implementation of the Cannabis Act would significantly
expand the size of Canada's overall market. Canada has demonstrated that by providing a national
legal framework for cannabis, companies operating legally within the industry have had a clear "first to
market" advantage, allowing them to raise significant amounts of capital and to pursue domestic and
international expansion opportunities.
If these recreational laws stimulate demand, as expected, and are otherwise viewed as successful, we
expect more U.S. states and additional countries to follow suit with similar laws. In the United States,
legislatures in eight states (Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island and
Vermont) are expected to introduce ballot measures or explore regulatory frameworks for recreational
cannabis in 2018.
Cannabis Consumer Experience Goes"Mainstream"
Cannabis consumer product companies and retailers are rapidly evolving to meet the needs of the
"mainstream" cannabis consumer. Cannabis consumers are no longer limited to smoking flower with
joints, pipes or bongs, but have their choice of an increasing variety of products, including concen-
trates, infused products and topicals. Products coming to market increasingly address the attributes
demanded by the modem consumer—greater discretion, ease of use, product safety and accurate
dosing. To attract more mainstream customers, companies have responded to these demands with
increasingly sophisticated packaging and advertising.
Where a consumer purchases a product can be as important as the product itself. In the United
States, cannabis dispensaries play a critical role by providing consumers with access to a wide variety
of products and "high-touch" education and sales services. Merchandising and branding have become
more prominent as dispensaries increasingly seek to provide consumers with an experience similar to
other mainstream retail shopping experiences. In 2018, we see an opportunity for cannabis dispensaries
to drive consumer penetration and mainstream acceptance of cannabis by establishing storefronts in
malls and other high-profile retail locations.
In 2018, we believe that product innovation and advancements in cannabis varieties, concentrates,
infused products, vaporizing technology and cannabis-derived pharmaceutical products will drive
consumer adoption and spending. However, because numerous product categories have low barriers
to entry, we expect a significant influx of cannabis brands that will aggressively compete for limited
display space in dispensaries. We also believe product differentiation and availability will be more
prevalent in legalized cannabis markets and will drive consumer transition from illegal to legal markets.
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"Mainstream" Consumer Experience
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FDA Approval of Cannabis -Derived Pharmaceuticals
The FDA's first-ever approval of a cannabis-derived pharmaceutical may occur in 2018. The FDA
has previously approved several drugs with chemically synthesized cannabinoids or cannabinoid-like
compounds, but has never approved a drug derived from the cannabis plant. In October 2017,
U.K.-based GW Pharmaceuticals submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for Epidio-
lex, an oral formulation of cannabis-derived cannabidiol, or CBD, intended to treat severe forms of
childhood epilepsy. (GW Pharmaceuticals also manufactures Sativex, a mouth spray used for treatment
of spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis; it includes THC and CBD derived from cannabis. Sativex
was first approved for use in the United Kingdom in 2010, and has been approved for use in at least
30 countries, but not in the United States.) If the FDA approves Epidiolex, such a precedent could
be followed by similar approvals in the United States for other cannabis-derived drugs and result in a
significant increase in the medical use of cannabis by consumers.
Commoditization of Cannabis Flower
The supply of cannabis in the United States has increased considerably with expanded state legaliza-
tion. This increase has started to dampen retail and wholesale prices in various markets. While retail
prices vary across the country, an examination of the price per gram of cannabis flower, or "bud," in
the three largest states to implement recreational laws—Colorado, Oregon and Washington —reveals
a downward trend. The following graph shows the average price per gram of cannabis flower in these
three states since the beginning of 2016.
Consumer Pricing Trends: Cannabis Flower Price per Gram
$8.00
$7.50
$7.00
$6.50
$6.00
$5.50
$5.00
Jan 16 Mar 16 May 16 Julie Sep 16 Nov 16 Jan 17 Mar 17 May 17 Jul 17 Sep 17
Source: BDS Analyfics
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As prices decline, we are starting to see closer price parity between state-legal and illegal markets
(in the United States, cannabis is generally priced lower in illegal markets than in state-legal markets).
We believe that lower retail prices in state-legal markets will accelerate consumer transition from illegal
to state-legal markets and drive increased overall penetration rates. However, state and local taxes will
continue to impact pricing for cannabis products in state-legal cannabis markets, which will impede
the transition to legal markets.
In international markets, cannabis cultivators in South America, particularly in Colombia and
Uruguay, are expected to proceed with large-scale operations in 2018, with the anticipated supply of
cannabis entering the market in late 2018 or early 2019. These operations are designed to produce out-
put that exceeds local demand, and South American countries are expected to export products to other
legal markets, such as Canada and Germany. As legal markets increasingly import cannabis products,
we anticipate downward -pricing pressure for cannabis in both the wholesale and retail markets. Canna-
bis cultivators in domestic markets that permit imports may be challenged by large, low-cost cannabis
producers in South America and elsewhere. While these dynamics are expected to impact international
cannabis markets, they should not materially affect prices in the United States until the importation of
cannabis products becomes legal under federal law.
Access to Banking Services for U.S. Cannabis Companies
Because most cannabis-related businesses in the United States violate federal law, most domestic finan-
cial institutions do not provide services to participants in the cannabis industry. Companies in the
cannabis industry may not be able to open or maintain bank accounts or access other products and
services—such as credit facilities, payment processing and insurance coverage—typically provided by
traditional financial institutions. A lack of access to banking and other traditional financial products
and services continues to impede the growth of the industry; it increases the time, effort and expense
related to ongoing operations and increases risks associated with cash transactions and the use of alter-
native products and services.
The California State Treasurer's Cannabis Banking Working Group—a panel convened by Califor-
nia State Treasurer John Chiang that includes representatives from the cannabis industry and financial
institutions, and government tax collection, law enforcement and regulatory agencies—issued a report
in November 2017 on the cannabis industry's banking challenges. In the report, the State Treasurer's
Office stated that the cannabis industry's lack of access to banking services is one of the biggest threats
to the success of the state's recreational cannabis law, which is scheduled for implementation starting
in January 2018.
The U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requires financial institutions to file "suspicious activity reports"
(SARs) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regarding customers engaged in
"marijuana -related business." From February 2014 through June 2017, FinCEN received a total of
33,692 marijuana -related SAR filings from a total of 390 banks and credit unions (out of approxi-
mately 11,500 depository institutions). The following graph based on FinCEN data shows the number
of banks and credit unions making such filings. While the percentage of the total number of depository
institutions serving the cannabis industry remains small, the growing number of depository institu-
tions making SAR filings indicates that cannabis businesses increasingly are accessing the federal bank-
ing system despite federal law.
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Depository Institutions Making Marijuana•Related SAR Filings
350
XO
250
200
150
100
50
0
022014 04 2014 02 2015 042015 022016 Q42016 Q22017
Banks mmi Credt Unions
Source: Financial Crimes Enfatemeot Network
FinCEN has published guidance outlining how financial institutions can, consistent with their BSA
obligations, provide services to marijuana -related businesses. However, this guidance does not provide
financial institutions with a legal defense for any violation of federal law. Consequently, financial insti-
tutions willing to serve the cannabis industry tend to be smaller institutions, such as credit unions and
state-chartered banks. "Big" banks generally do not serve, or are not willing to state publicly that they
serve, the cannabis industry. For example, according to American Banker, a spokeswoman for Wells
Fargo Bank recently said the bank's policy worldwide is to not bank marijuana businesses.
However, as cannabis-related companies increasingly participate in the formal U.S. economy, the
notion of what constitutes a "marijuana -related business" is being blurred, and banks are finding it
more difficult to institute and follow their own policies. For example, it may be straightforward for a
bank to identify and refuse to transact with a cannabis cultivator, but the bank may be unsure whether
it can provide services to (or whether it is providing services to) the cultivator's accountant, landlord or
investors. For example, Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a large beverage company, recently
invested approximately $190 million in Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED), a Canadian
cannabis company. According to public filings, Constellation Brands has credit agreements with a
number of large financial institutions, including Bank of America, Bank of the West, Fifth Third Bank,
Goldman Sachs Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank. How
these institutions respond to the investment by Constellation Brands and other similar transactions
may indicate how large financial institutions will interact with the industry in the foreseeable future.
In the current environment, we believe more financial institutions will start to provide some level of
service to the cannabis industry. We also agree with the view of the California State Treasurer's Office,
as expressed in the working group's report, that it is only a matter of time until cannabis businesses
have normal access to banking services. However, if the U.S. federal government were to change its
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current practice and aggressively enforce existing federal cannabis laws, including penalizing financial
institutions for serving the cannabis industry, it would have a dampening effect on the industry both
in the United States and abroad.
Increasing Strategic Investor Activity; Continuing Funding Gap
We share the belief held by many that, ultimately, established companies from analogous indus-
tries—alcohol, pharmaceutical, tobacco and consumer products—will enter the cannabis industry
through minority investment, by acquisition or otherwise. We have already seen examples: Constella-
tion Brands' investment in Canopy Growth referenced above and the more than $400 million spent by
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) to acquire soil, fertilizer, hydroponic equipment and
lighting companies that supply the cannabis industry. These types of transactions help validate investor
enthusiasm for and valuations in the cannabis industry, and we expect similar transactions to occur
with increasing frequency during 2018 and beyond.
Retail investors and an increasing number of family office and strategic investors are providing most
of the investment capital to the cannabis industry. Cannabis-related companies raised more than $2.0
billion in the public and private markets in 2017, but many of the financings were small—less than $5
million. We expect that many institutional investors (most notably, the traditional venture capital and
private equity communities) will not invest in the industry until it matures and the legal environment
becomes more favorable.
Without institutional support for the cannabis industry, a funding gap exists—companies are seek-
ing more capital than investors are willing or able to provide. We believe that this is especially true in
the private markets, where many companies struggle to raise necessary financing. Although capital may
be available for select issuers in both public and private markets, we believe that without participation
from institutional investors, the cannabis industry will continue to face a significant funding gap for
the foreseeable future.
■ Investment Outlook
Hundreds, if not thousands, of cannabis-related companies are seeking to raise capital—thus pre-
senting investment opportunities for sophisticated investors who want to participate in the cannabis
industry. Investors have their choice of investing in the more than 300 publicly traded cannabis-related
companies, or in the significant number of private companies raising capital. Investors may also choose
among stock markets (both within the United States and internationally), type of security (equity
versus debt) and type of company (companies across all segments of the industry are raising capital).
Most of the cannabis-related companies raising capital—even publicly traded companies —are in
early stages of development, have de minimis revenue and are not profitable. More than 85% of pub-
licly traded cannabis-related companies have annual revenue less than $5 million, and less than 5%
have annual revenue greater than $25 million.
To help investors better evaluate investment opportunities in the cannabis industry, we currently
define five primary segments: production, distribution, consumer products, business solutions and
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digital media. We further divide each segment into multiple subsegments. Each segment has unique
opportunities and risks. For example, companies that possess, manufacture or distribute cannabis
(commonly known as "touching the plant") face risks related to violating federal law—and state-law
compliance obligations —not generally faced by providers of business software or digital media con-
tent. Many businesses operate in multiple segments, and we expect industry leaders to emerge in each
segment. The five primary segments and their subsegments are illustrated in the following chart.
Cannabis Indust S !ments
Production
Production
Equipment and
Supplies rProduction and
Testing Services
Distribution
&Commerce Distribution
Services Business Solutions
Business
Software Business
Services
Digital Media
Online Content
and Networking Online
Directories
Consumer Products
Flower
IsConcentrates
invcives 'touching the plants Infused Products Vaporizers and
Accessories Pharmaceuticals
Does not involve "touching the plant"
In our view, valuations and stock price fluctuations in the cannabis industry continue to be driven
more by expectations fur the cannabis industry in general than by individual company fundamentals.
Today, in the public markets for cannabis-related companies, trading volumes are too low, trading
prices are too volatile and operating histories are too limited to place any reliance on current valuation
levels. We believe that this dynamic will continue until cannabis-related companies have matured and
start to realize meaningful revenue, profitability and other financial metrics that will allow investors to
evaluate companies within the industry by more traditional methodology.
It is still too early to know how the cannabis industry or its sectors will be valued in the future. It
may come to pass that companies in the cannabis industry are valued comparably to public companies
in industries with similar characteristics, such as the alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceutical and consumer
products industries, especially as companies from those industries look to enter the cannabis industry,
through acquisition or by other means. What is clear now, however, is that investors will continue
to have a range of investment opportunities from which to choose in this rapidly growing, dynamic
industry.
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CHAPTER II
Cannabis Science 101
■ The Cannabis Plant
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plant indigenous to Eurasia. For millennia, humans have consumed
cannabis for therapeutic, medicinal, social or spiritual purposes and have used the seeds and fibrous
stalks of the cannabis plant to produce goods such as rope, paper, clothing and soap.
There are at least three principal cannabis species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis
ruderalis.' These three species can be distinguished by their plant structures and leaves. Sativa plants are
generally tall, thin and wispy; indica plants tend to be shorter and bushier than sativa plants; and rud-
eralis plants are shaggy and the shortest of all three species. The following pictures depict the Cannabis
sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis rztderalis plants and their leaves.
Cannabis Sativa Plant Cannabis Indica Plant Cannabis Ruderalis Plant
I Botanists disagree about whether sativa, indica and ruderalis are distinct species or are instead distinct subspecies of a single plant
species. Some botanists propose renaming these three species co reflect their geographic origins. This report takes no position on
these botanical debates; it merely adopts one set of commonly used nomenclature.
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Cannabis Sativa Leaf Cannabis Indica Leaf Cannabis Ruderalis Leaf
Many hybrid varieties ofcannabis—sometimes referred to as strains—have developed from these three
species, both through selective breeding and in the wild. Most cannabis varieties grown today are hybrids
that exhibit features of two or more of these principal species. Cannabis varieties consumed for physio-
logical effects generally are hybrids of sativa and indica that produce relatively large and dense flowers.
Certain cannabis varieties—known as hemp—that are grown to produce industrial goods generally
are sativa-dominant varieties or hybrids of sativa and ruderalis that produce relatively small and sparse
flowers.
Cannabis yields more than 100 different compounds known as "cannabinoids," which, when con-
sumed, act on cannabinoid receptors in cells in the human nervous and immune systems. The primary
cannabinoid in most cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound respon-
sible for the "high" or euphoric feeling commonly associated with cannabis consumption. The next
most abundant cannabinoid is cannabidiol, or CBD, which produces a physical effect without the
psychoactive effects associated with THC.
Cannabis also includes a variety of compounds known as "serpents," which are understood to
interact with cannabinoids to produce some of the physiological effects sought by cannabis consumers.
Terpenes are present in cannabis and many other types of plants and are responsible for a plant's aroma
and flavor. Examples of terpenes found in cannabis include limonene, which is known for its citrus
smell and is also present in citrus fruit rinds, and pinene, which is known for its pine and fir aromas
and is also found in pine resin.
The highest concentrations of cannabinoids and serpents are found in the "trichomes" on the
flowers of unpollinated female cannabis plants. Trichomes are crystalline or hairlike components that
secrete cannabinoids, serpents and other compounds; they generally occur all over the cannabis plant
but are found in highest concentration on the flower. The following illustration shows the basic anat-
omy of a cannabis plant, and the images to the right show a female cannabis plant flower and a close-up
view of trichomes.
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Stem
fan leaves
MALE FLOWERS
Cannabis Plant Anatomy CHAPTER II Cannabis Science 101
TRICIIOMES
FEMALE FLOWERS Cannabis Flower
Trichomes
Cannabis can be consumed in a variety of ways that introduce its active compounds into the body:
smoking cannabis flower or its extracts, vaporizing cannabis flower or its extracts, ingesting cannabis
extracts or food products prepared with cannabis and topical application of cannabis products. Human
consumption of cannabinoids and terpenes is widely believed to have numerous medicinal benefits and
therapeutic applications. Depending on the types and relative concentrations of the cannabinoids and
terpenes consumed, these benefits may include pain relief, reduction of inflammation, and promotion
of an energetic, uplifting mood or a calm, relaxed mood.
Although humans have used cannabis therapeutically for thousands of years, only recently have
scientists begun to research and understand at the chemical and biological levels how cannabis works
with the human body. In the 194Os, the American organic chemist Roger Adams performed numerous
studies on cannabis and identified and isolated the cannabinoids THC, CBD and cannabinol, or
CBN. In the 196Os, a team of scientists led by Raphael Mechoulam at the Weizmann Institute of
Science in Israel more completely determined the chemical composition of THC, CBD and certain
other cannabinoids. This research on cannabinoi
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AI-generated factual descriptions of embedded images (llava:13b). These are searchable across the corpus.
[Image 1] The image shows a page from a document, which appears to be a directory or a list of companies or organizations. The page is divided into sections with various logos and names of entities, each accompanied by a brief description or category. The logos are colorful and represent a variety of industries or services. The text is too small to read in detail, but the layout suggests it is a structured
[Image 2] The image is a photograph of a printed document, specifically a page from a publication or report. The page is divided into sections with headings such as "PRODUCTION," "STAFF," "DISTRIBUTION," and "E-COMMERCE." Each section contains a list of logos or names, which appear to be related to companies or organizations. The logos are accompanied by text that likely provides information about each enti
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[Image 4] The image appears to be a page from a document or a presentation, possibly a brochure or a report. The page contains a series of photographs with accompanying text. The photographs depict various indoor spaces, likely showcasing different areas of a facility or a business. The text is too small to read clearly, but it seems to be providing information about the spaces shown in the images. The imag
[Image 5] The image shows a document with text and accompanying photographs. The document appears to be a professional or academic paper, possibly related to agriculture or horticulture, given the content and images. The text discusses topics such as "Collaboration Opportunities" and "Environmental Benefits," mentioning the use of LED lighting, water conservation, and the growth of plants in controlled envi
[Image 6] The image appears to be a page from a document or presentation, possibly a report or a brochure. The page contains text and two photographs. The text discusses the topic of "Cannabis Cultivation" and mentions "ACCELER" as a company or organization. The photographs depict outdoor scenes, one showing a greenhouse with plants inside and the other showing a field with rows of plants that resemble cann