By unlocking the once-obscure medical marijuana market, Canada has created a fast-growing, profitable and federally regulated industry with a distinct appeal to the more daring global investor.
About a dozen producers of the drug will find themselves in the spotlight this year as they consider going public or prepare to do so through share sales or reverse takeovers to capitalize on recent regulatory changes, investment bankers said.
The Canadian companies are in a race to raise money to build facilities, attract patients and grab shares in a market projected to grow to 1.3 billion Canadian dollars ($1.2 billion) over the next 10 years.