TORONTO, Feb. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - Members of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today released CSA Staff Notice 51-342 Staff Review of Issuers Entering Into Medical Marijuana Business Opportunities, which summarizes the CSA's findings and disclosure expectations for reporting issuers contemplating involvement inCanada's medical marijuana industry.

The CSA's review aimed to determine if reporting issuers were meeting the requirements of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations, in providing sufficient and balanced disclosure on their intent to enter the medical marijuana field.

"Overall, the review found unbalanced and promotional disclosure that often promoted the benefits, but failed to outline the risks involved," said Bill Rice, Chair of the CSA and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "The level of deficiency in issuers' disclosure is unacceptable as investors need comprehensive, balanced information to understand the business changes being proposed by these issuers." 

While the review found that the benefits associated with involvement in the medical marijuana industry...