What does cannabis grown in modern industrial facilities in Canada and hemp fibre used for making yarn and paper since ancient China have in common?

In China, hemp has been cultivated for use as fibre, food, and medicine for more than 2,000 years. China has a long history of natural-based medicines referred to as tradition Chinese medicine or TCM, of which hemp is an important ingredient. Provinces such as Yunnan and Heilongjiang have well-established regulations and incentive programs for hemp cultivation and cannabidiol (CBD) extraction.

Canada has made a big step in the hemp market.

In the wake of Canada’s recent initial legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use in October 2018, a number of global regulatory changes and discussions have followed. Epidiolex, the first cannabis-based medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is now available by prescription in the US. 

This interactive luncheon seminar will allow entrepreneurs who are new to the hemp industry, interested in starting a hemp business, looking for hemp partners or investors in Canada or China, or looking for the next hemp story, to acquaint insights on current developments of hemp, future trends, and opportunities in medicinal hemp.

Speakers will discuss:

• Modern technologies for CBD extraction and their applications in engaging hemp businesses
• Prospective industrial change and future opportunities for Canadian cannabis companies
• China’s prominent role in the global hemp market
• Joint venture opportunities between Canadian and Chinese companies in the hemp sector
• Opportunities for more Cannabis-based medicine to be approved and promoted globally

About the speakers

Allan Cleiren
Chief Operating Officer, Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Allan is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of executive and financial management experience in private and public companies. His experience includes both operations and finance roles, including being a CFO for publicly traded and privately owned multi-divisional companies. His responsibilities have included managing support services groups including Human Resource, Safety, Risk Management, Warehouse, Fleet, and Mechanical departments.

Preet Marwaha
Founder and CEO, Blue Sky Biologicals

Preet is a health and wellness expert having previously participated in the UN Environment Program and the Safe Planet Campaign. As the CEO and founder of Blue Sky Biologicals, he leads the company to capitalize on its proprietary cannabinoid blends while utilizing its access to extraction technologies inside of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical-grade, GMP-compliant, state-of-the-art cannabinoid production facilities.

James Munro
Partner and Co-Chair, Cannabis Practice Group, McMillan LLP

As part of James' medical cannabis practice, James advises both Canadian private and public clients with respect to a broad range of licensing, transaction, and corporate compliance matters. James co-founded the firm's Cannabis Practice Group in 2016. With a long track record in the Asia-Pacific Region for over 20 years, and with one of the largest China-based client lists in Canada, McMillan offers an in-depth understanding of the Chinese marketplace. 

Wang Yufu
Researcher and Academic Supervisor, Institute of Bast Fibre Crops (IBFC), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)

As an elitist expert of CAAS and flax and industrial hemp breeder, Yufu is engaged in germplasm, cultivation, and the study on gene transformation, molecular markers, gene cloning, and the identification of gene function and cultivation techniques. He is the coordinator of National Key R&D Program of China: Integrated research and demonstration technology about chemical fertilizer and pesticide reduction applications for bast fibre crops. 

Peter Tan
Chairman, China Hanma Investment Group

Peter founded Hanma Investment Group in 2015 and has been deeply involved in the hemp value chain from cultivation to bio-pharmaceuticals in China and globally. Peter oversaw the launch and operation of the Yunnan Hansu Hemp Bio-extraction Plant in Kunming in 2016. Also, he previously worked as the CEO of Kunhua Industry and Trade Corporation. 

About the moderators

Adam Janikowski
Executive Director, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

At CIBC, Adam is responsible for Agriculture, Energy, and Technology Investment Banking in the Asia Pacific region. Adam received an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD in France,  a Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemical Engineering) and a Bachelor of Arts (Classics) from Queen's University, Canada, and a Professional Engineer designation from APEGA. Adam sits on the Board of Directors of the Canada China Business Council. 

Venue Sponsor

Food & Beverage Sponsor

Contact: events1@cancham.org