NEW MEMBERS JOIN DOZENS OF LEADERS WHO WILL ADHERE TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) STANDARDS FOR THE LEGALIZED CANNABIS INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE.
Saint John, NB (May 23, 2019) – The Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP) is pleased to announce the addition of five new Members, bringing its total membership number to 43.
The GCP welcomes Aird & Berlis, Jones Brown, The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc., Velvet Management Inc. and WeedMD Inc. Membership is open to government agencies, private-sector cannabis industry organizations and affiliate organizations that directly or indirectly play a role in the legal cannabis supply chain.
- Aird & Berlis is a Canadian law firm that provides legal advice to clients on business law matters, with experience serving clients from the medicinal and recreational cannabis markets internationally.
- Jones Brown, a Canadian insurance brokerage and risk management consultancy, was one of the first brokers to facilitate insurance solutions to the cannabis business in Canada.
- The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products and brands. Since 2014, the Company has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing, premium plant driven-lifestyle companies by effectively deploying capital, with an emphasis on disciplined growth and high-quality products.
- Velvet Management Inc. is a Canadian cannabis sales and marketing agency that has helped cannabis producers, processors and accessory suppliers bring their products to market by managing all levels of selling and marketing with government buyers and private retailers.
- WeedMD Inc. is a Canadian licensed producer and distributor of cannabis products for both the medical and recreational markets. The company has a multi-channeled distribution strategy that includes selling directly to medical patients, strategic relationships across the seniors’ market, supply agreements with Shoppers Drug Mart and six provincial distribution agencies.
“As this nascent industry continues to grow around the world, more stakeholders recognize the need to work collaboratively and develop CSR initiatives that will make a difference in the legalized cannabis industry,” says Kim Wilson, Executive Director of the GCP. “We’re excited to welcome these five new members who are going to be a part of setting landmark industry standards.”
The GCP is a partnership of organizations who want to raise the bar with respect to social responsibility in the legal cannabis industry. One of its first activities will be to create the Responsible Cannabis Framework (RCF), which will define the corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards to which all Members agree to adhere. The RCF will be released this summer.
A full list of Founding Members and Members can be found at globalcannabispartnership.com.
For information about joining the GCP, contact Kim Wilson, Executive Director, at 506.646.9960 or kim@globalcannabispartnership.com.
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Media Contact:
Sara Driscoll
Communications Coordinator
Global Cannabis Partnership
sara@globalcannabispartnership.com
506.609.2947
About the Global Cannabis Partnership:
Founded by Revolution Strategy, the Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP) is a not-for-profit collaboration of leaders in the government-sanctioned 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 cannabis.
New GCP Member Quotes:
Aird & Berlis:
“Being part of the GCP provides Aird & Berlis with an opportunity to collaborate with other influential cannabis industry leaders, developing ethical standards for this ground-breaking and evolving market worldwide,” says Melanie Cole, Partner of Aird & Berlis. “We owe it to present and future generations to set the right tone for the responsible production, distribution and consumption of legal cannabis.”
Jones Brown:
“Jones Brown joined the GCP to provide cannabis industry leaders with insurance and risk management expertise,” says David Kerr, Vice President of Jones Brown. “We want to help GCP members understand how to identify, transfer and assume risk within their business in an intelligent and cost-effective way.”
The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc.:
“A sustainable and responsible approach to our brands and products is fundamental to our company’s core values,” says Navdeep Dhaliwal, CEO of The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. “By participating in the development and implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility international standards, our partners in existing and emerging markets can have confidence in the products we deliver.”
Velvet Management Inc.:
“Velvet Management Inc would like to extend our expertise as a leading sales and marketing agency in the Canadian cannabis industry,” says Vianney Aubrecht, President of Velvet Management Inc. “We want to contribute a unique voice to the GCP and act as a positive force for licensed producers."
WeedMD Inc.:
“Producing quality brands responsibly with the highest standards is key to our success and GCP members are leading the way on a number of complimentary key initiatives worldwide,” says Keith Merker, CEO of WeedMD. "We're pleased to add WeedMD's name to this growing list of industry thought leaders looking to expand our collective CSR mandates."
Additional New GCP Member Information:
Aird & Berlis is a leading Canadian law firm, serving clients across Canada and globally. With strong national and international expertise, Aird & Berlis provides strategic legal advice to clients on business law matters. The Aird & Berlis Cannabis Group has extensive experience advising domestic and international clients engaged in the medicinal and recreational markets. Aird & Berlis leverages its strong network of industry and business connections to help clients achieve their objectives.
Jones Brown is a Canadian insurance brokerage and risk management consultancy with a national footprint and a focus on service excellence. As one of the first brokers to underwrite cannabis business in Canada, we remain committed to providing, innovative solutions to this industry and community through our dedicated practice team. We understand this business deeply from our work in bringing companies through IPO, managing licensing stages, providing specialized crop coverage, handling facilities from construction through production, and structuring M&A insurance. In January 2019, Jones Brown proudly joined the Gallagher family and we utilize our Gallagher partners across the globe to locate the most efficient, highest quality coverage in the world.
The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. (TSX: FIRE), is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products and brands. Since 2014, the Company has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing, premium plant driven-lifestyle companies by effectively deploying capital, with an emphasis on disciplined growth and high-quality products. Supreme Cannabis’ portfolio includes 7ACRES, its wholly-owned subsidiary and multi-award-winning brand; Cambium Plant Sciences, a plant genetics and cultivation IP company; Medigrow Lesotho, a cannabis oil producer located in southern Africa; and a brand partnership and licensing deal with Khalifa Kush Enterprises Canada. We simply grow better.
Velvet Management Inc is Canada’s premier cannabis sales & marketing agency. Velvet Management Inc helps cannabis producers, processors and accessory suppliers successfully bring their products to market by managing all levels of selling and marketing with government buyers and private retailers across all provinces. With a unique expertise in government regulated markets and an educated sales team, Velvet Management Inc aims at creating added value for both customers and suppliers.
WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD Rx Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of cannabis products for both the medical and adult-use markets. The Company owns and operates two facilities: a 26,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in Aylmer, Ontario and a 158-acre state-of-the-art greenhouse and outdoor facility located in Strathroy, Ontario. The Company currently has 136,000 square feet of licensed production space across its facilities and is expected to have a total footprint of more than 550,000 square feet of indoor and greenhouse production in addition to more than 25 acres of outdoor cultivation space online in the first half of 2019. WeedMD has a multi-channeled distribution strategy that includes selling directly to medical patients, strategic relationships across the seniors’ market and supply agreements with Shoppers Drug Mart as well as six provincial distribution agencies.