The Canadian cannabis industry continues to be one of the hottest places to invest as the country prepares to become the first G-7 nation to legalize recreational cannabis.

The government’s stance on cannabis is one of the primary reasons behind our bullish view on this sub-sector of the cannabis industry. This political environment has led to an increase in the amount of money focused on the industry, the number of companies trying to capitalize on it, and the number of company developments.

This has been a busy week for Canadian cannabis stocks and we want to highlight seven important company developments.

Canopy Make Another Acquisition

Canopy Growth Corporation (WEED.TO) (TWMJF) announced the closing of the previously announced acquisition of rTrees Producers Limited Inc., a late-stage applicant in Health Canada's ACMPR. If licensed, the site will operate as Tweed Grasslands and become the newest facility to join Canada's largest network of legal, licensed cannabis producers owned and operated by Canopy Growth.

Tweed Grasslands will operate a 90,000 sq. ft. facility in Yorkton and can expand to over 300,000 sq. ft. The company will supply medical markets in Canada and abroad as they emerge in a federally legal environment, as well as that for recreational cannabis market upon opening.

Tweed Grasslands is looking to hire several key positions in anticipation of commencing operations. It plans to create 40-50 new permanent jobs at the Yorkton facility with substantial economic input also coming from a multi-million-dollar investment to build out the full 90k square feet of initial production space.

Lexaria Announces $1 Million Budget to Purse R&D Initiatives

Lexaria Bioscience Corp (LXRP) (LXX.CN: CSE) made a major announcement this week after it reported to have a $1 million combined research and development and intellectual property budget. The program is expected to start in June and is comprised of studies both inclusive of and complementary to its collaborative R&D with Canada's National Research Council.

Lexaria's R&D budget is fully funded from existing capital, applying existing funds. Highlights include:  

• The company’s patent applications name the following groups of molecules, all of which will be studied within this budget, Cannabinoids, Vitamins, NSAIDs, and Nicotine.
• The R&D will include in vitro absorption studies utilizing Lexaria's technology to examine improvements in absorption across human intestinal tissue.
• For the first time, Lexaria will conduct in vivo (animal) studies, designed to provide more detailed information on whole-body reactions to efficient and rapid delivery of these various payload molecules. The in vivo studies are expected to advance its IP.
• Initial in vitro human intestinal cell absorption studies conducted in 2015 for non-psychoactive cannabinoids reported increases in cannabinoid absorption at that time in the range of 325% to 499%.
• Lexaria expects new opportunities to arise because of successful R&D results.
• Included within this budget is intellectual property pursued in the North America and abroad. Lexaria currently has a total of 18 patents pending and patent applications filed in more than 40 countries around the world. Lexaria's existing financial resources are sufficient to aggressively pursue positive outcomes within this large IP portfolio.
• Additional information on planned R&D programs will be released soon.

Canadian Cannabis Firm Increase Leverage to the U.S.

Earlier this week, Future Farm Technologies Inc. (FFT.CN: CSE) (FFRMF) completed a milestone after it announced that its Florida partner received a bank term sheet to acquire the previously announced 10-acre property near Orlando.

Last year, Future Farm signed a LOI to acquire a 10-acre operating greenhouse in Florida, which is in a designated zone to legally cultivate, process and dispense cannabis. The company expects this deal to close within the next 45 days.

The greenhouse is fully operational and in full production with the property has been family operated since 1959. It currently grows ornamental plants sold in large box stores throughout North America. In the past 12 months, it has generated over $2,600,000 in revenue with EBITDA of over $400,000.

Aurora Cannabis Completes $75 Million Raise

Yesterday, Aurora Cannabis (ACB.V) (ACBFF) completed its $75 million bought deal private placement of 7.0% unsecured convertible debentures with a syndicate of investment dealers, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp.

Aurora Cannabis CEO Terry Booth said, “With a cash position exceeding $160 million, we are exceptionally well positioned to execute on our expansion strategy, both nationally and internationally. The acquisition of Peloton in Quebec and our investment in Cann Group in Australia are the first steps in growing our footprint, and we will continue to pursue aggressively other opportunities we have identified to transform Aurora from one of the largest Canadian cannabis companies into a global leader.”

Tilray is Going Global  

Tilray completed its first import of medical cannabis products into Australia under the country’s new import regulations. The products were produced at Tilray’s Canada-based GMP facility and can be dispensed to any registered patient.

Currently, Tilray also supplies medical cannabis products to patients in every Australian state and territory. Tilray also serves patients in New Zealand, North America, Latin America, and the European Union.

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