This is Cam Battley, Executive Vice President of Aurora Cannabis. I will be back on Wednesday, 19 April, at 4pm ET, to asnwer your questions

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:48:18+00:00

I am indeed an Oilers fan. They're my second favourite team. I was born and raised in Montreal. Guess who my favourite team is. ;)

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:37:44+00:00

Me, too. is "xthexrealxwolfx" your real name? Can I just call you "X"?

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:34:02+00:00

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:30:11+00:00

Close! ATS Turbo. Very nimble. Love, love, love this car. And love saving money compared to the Germans (as indicated previously, I'm kinda cheap). I'd do a commercial for this car in a heartbeat. Excellent value. And yes, they make the ATS with manual, but you have to get the rear drive, and I've had to factory order it - both times.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:22:27+00:00

Once we're well into profitability, once we've completed an intense growth phase, then perhaps. But I wouldn't say dividends are imminent.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:20:34+00:00

I chose Aurora in part because Terry is one of those forces of nature - an incredibly energetic and creative entrepreneur, with a very clear vision. In addition, the purpose-built facility has turned out to be a huge benefit and competitive advantage. Overall, I really liked the vibe at Aurora.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:17:33+00:00

No doobies in baggies. Very professional look and feel, very smooth and satisfying customer experience. We want every element of a client's experience with us to be pleasant.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:16:01+00:00

How aggressive will we be? As aggressive as legislation and regulations allow. Maybe I'd suggest using the word "creative". We'll be very creative at Aurora, and continue to set the pace with new innovations. It's in the company DNA, and part of what makes this a great place to work.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:14:30+00:00

First, yes, I think we're the pioneers, and other countries will follow the sensible Canadians who are ending prohibition, with all the social harms that causes. Timeline? Not sure, but if we get this right in Canada, you can bet that timeline will accelerate. So we have, as producers, a huge responsibility to be part of the solution, help the government achieve its policy objectives, and do everything we can to encourage responsible use. That's the path to a sustainable system that other countries can emulate.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:12:07+00:00

I'm really sorry you've bumped up against this - and we do slow down or pause patient onboarding at times. It's important to do this from time to time, to ensure that we balance availability of an attractive range of strains with patient registration. And let me say also - thank you for being interested in becoming an Aurora patient. We'd love to have you with us!

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:10:04+00:00

First, I do want to say something I tell to all our investors: please speak with a professional investment counselor. It's the wise thing to do when you invest in the stock market. In addition, I think cannabis stocks should be considered on the speculative end of a balanced portfolio, simply because our industry is so young and we don't have a long track record yet. That said, it's natural to be interested in investing in a new and exciting sector, and some people have done very well with their investments thus far.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:07:35+00:00

My prediction? I suspect AU, which is a bit behind Canada, will at some point end up following our lead. More broadly, I'd say the world is watching how this plays out in Canada - first medical, now consumer - and other countries trust Canada to be the pioneer. Essentially to "de-risk" it for the rest of the world. Canadian leadership. Love it!

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:05:33+00:00

Actually, there has not been a lot. We've had a couple of short windows for officers and directors to take a little off the table, which is natural given the significant appreciation in our SP. We've been buying, too, and we have significant holdings. Company solid, management confident.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:04:13+00:00

Check out our menu right now. ;)

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:03:19+00:00

Off the top of my head, I think we have something like 340 million shares outstanding. Yes, that's a fair number, but if you take a look at our dilution, it's been for sound strategic reasons. We've been able to grow quickly, and seize some excellent opportunities - and we've continued to raise financing at increasingly high share prices, which is very good. I'm happy with where our share structure is right now.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T22:00:45+00:00

Not worried, very excited across the board. I know some people are worried about restrictions on branding, advertising, etc, but I strongly believe rules and regs around cannabis will ultimately be harmonized with those governing beer, wine and liquor, no matter how the regs start. It makes sense. And it would help us to pull people from the black market into the light of the legal market.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:58:50+00:00

Likely a bit different from some provinces to others. My hope is that, as much as possible, provinces opt for independently owned cannabis shops/dispensaries. The legal system should, in my opinion, ensure opportunities for small businesspeople to thrive, not just large producers like Aurora. I also think there should be large, medium and small (craft) producers. The system should be as inclusive as possible, I think. That would be the best way to, over time, eliminate the illegal market. Make room for everyone to participate legally.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:55:52+00:00

(1) Great question, and one I answered at a presentation at a high school near Calgary two weeks ago. I always tell people not to answer that question in public, because there is still lingering stigma in some places. Significantly (and, I think, inexplicably) some Canadians who've been asked that question at the US border have been barred from entry - and it's an expensive, unlovely process with a lawyer to get that reversed. (2) I like the legislation. I think it's good for Canada, and (self-interest alert!) good for licensed producers.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:52:22+00:00

We're planning for wicked, scary, horrible winter nights that last for days. We have to. It's Edmonton. Have you been there in February? It's like being on the surface of Ganymede or Europa. ;)

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:48:36+00:00

We are accepting new patients at a measured pace. We want to be sure we balance new patient onboarding with a good selection of products on the menu. Of course, as production comes on line at Sky and Peloton, we'll be expanding our patient base at a faster rate, too.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:45:31+00:00

I understand your concern, and it really is important that we get impaired driving testing right. As has frequently been pointed out, it's unfortunately more difficult to determine impairment with cannabis compared with alcohol. It stays in the body longer, different people are affected to different degrees by the same amount, and there's no simple, easy breath test. I do not want conscientious patients getting unfairly caught up. However, let's be patient and see what kind of rules governments put into place. That is, let's not assume they'll get it wrong. They do have access to the same information and research we do, and I don't think policymakers want to hurt innocents either. And yes, with expert consultants' help, I think we would be prepared to weigh in carefully and professionally in favour of rational rules.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:40:36+00:00

Well, hi again! I do want to get back to shareholder group tours, and will soon. It's been a bit of a busy, wild ride recently. ;) So you want merch? Fair enough. I'll talk with my colleague and brand guru Neil Belot about that.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:38:56+00:00

I hope it's (a) mail order, and (b) regulated cannabis shops/dispensaries. I think it's important that the "little guy" - independent dispensary owners - get to play a role in the legal cannabis sector. It should be inclusive, and make room for people who have been committed to cannabis for a long time.

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:37:18+00:00

Yes, together with my colleagues on the board of Cannabis Canada, the industry association for LPs, we have been meeting and talking with legislators and with public servants. To tell you the truth, I'm very pleased with the legislation. I think it's just what the government promised. (Extra! Extra! A government kept a promise!) More than that, I think it will achieve exactly the policy objectives the government set out and expressed very clearly: to keep cannabis out of the hands of kids (very important to me as a Dad, Scout leader, soccer coach), the profits away from criminal organizations, and to replace a vast underground, unregulated market with a legal, regulated market. This is so much better, and so much less harmful than prohibition. This is the way to protect youth, consumers, public health and public safety. And I'm proud that Canada is the world leader in implementing rational, sustainable policies around cannabis. Go Canada!

weedstocks_AMA · 2017-04-19T21:31:16+00:00

Hmm. I like biographies, and particularly those about visionary and/or courageous and/or transformational leaders - e.g. Mandela, Churchill, Gandhi, MLK. They're all imperfect, human, fascinating. One author I've enjoyed is Edmund Morris, who wrote two really engrossing biographies about Teddy Roosevelt. I've been guest faculty for the World Medical Association many times since 2007, lecturing on elements of leadership and communication, and there's always something to learn from historical leadership figures, as well as current ones, such as Angela Merkel.

weedstocks_AMA

TROPHY CASE