Canadian securities regulators publish revised disclosure expectations for issuers with U.S. marijuana-related activities

For Immediate Release CSA

Toronto – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published CSA Staff Notice 51-352 (Revised) Issuers with U.S. Marijuana-Related Activities, which sets out CSA staff’s disclosure expectations for specific risks facing issuers with marijuana-related activities in the U.S.

“In light of political and regulatory uncertainty surrounding the treatment of U.S. marijuana-related activities, CSA staff have updated our disclosure expectations for issuers in this space,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “Today’s notice also follows CSA staff’s consideration of the rescission of the Cole Memorandum and our conclusion that a disclosure-based approach remains appropriate in the current circumstances.”

The revised notice includes additional disclosure expectations that apply to all issuers with U.S. marijuana-related activities, including those with direct and indirect involvement in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, as well as issuers that provide goods and services to third parties involved in the U.S. marijuana industry. Issuers are expected to provide these disclosures in prospectus filings and other required documents, such as their Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

The CSA will continue to monitor developments in the U.S. marijuana industry.

The revised notice can be found on CSA members’ websites and replaces the prior version issued on October 16, 2017.

Additionally, CDS will continue to clear the securities of issuers with U.S. marijuana-related activities.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

 

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For more information:

Kristen Rose
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2336

Hilary McMeekin
Alberta Securities Commission
403-592-8186

Alison Walker
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Jason (Jay) Booth
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-1660

Erin King
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission, New Brunswick
506-643-7045

David Harrison
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Steve Dowling
Government of Prince Edward Island,
Superintendent of Securities
902-368-6288

John O’Brien
Office of the Superintendent of Securities
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-4909

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent
of Securities
867-667-5466

Jeff Mason
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6591

Tom Hall
Northwest Territories Securities Office
867-767-9305

Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs
Authority of Saskatchewan
306-798-4160