Global Cannabis Industry Round-Up
August 2026 Edition
Global Cannabis Industry Round-Up
August reinforced just how interconnected the global cannabis industry is becoming.
Canadian producers are expanding deeper into European medical markets. Australia is increasing domestic production while new international suppliers challenge Canada's dominance. U.S. states continue experimenting with new sales channels, cultivation models, and regulatory requirements.
At the same time, mature markets are taking a closer look at how their cannabis systems are functioning.
Ontario is reviewing two of its most important cannabis agencies. Québec is creating new opportunities for producers to connect directly with the SQDC. And the federal government is investing millions into cannabis research.
The industry continues to evolve market by market.
And increasingly, understanding what's happening outside your own jurisdiction is becoming essential to understanding where the next opportunities — and challenges — may emerge.
Canada
International Growth Meets Domestic Evolution
Canada remains one of the world's most established cannabis markets, but August highlighted two very different sides of the industry.
At home, governments and regulators are examining how existing systems can evolve. Abroad, Canadian producers continue using their regulatory experience and production infrastructure to establish stronger positions in growing medical markets.
Across the country, businesses continue focusing on:
International expansion
Medical cannabis opportunities
Operational efficiency
Regulatory evolution
Research and product development
Strategic partnerships
Provincial Updates
Ontario – The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) are among nine provincial agencies undergoing government reviews this summer. The reviews will examine areas including mandates, governance, financial sustainability, and operational effectiveness.
Québec – The SQDC announced plans to host its first networking event for cannabis producers, creating an opportunity for current and prospective suppliers to connect directly with the provincial retailer and learn more about the Québec market.
Federal Research – The Government of Canada announced a $24 million investment to establish a national research initiative focused on cannabis use and brain health. The initiative will support research into the effects of cannabis across different stages of life and populations.
International Expansion – Canadian producers continue looking abroad for growth. Aurora Cannabis strengthened its UK presence through new acquisitions designed to expand its medical cannabis supply chain, while other Canadian LPs continue investing in European cultivation, distribution, and market access.
International Trade – Canada remains Australia's largest international cannabis supplier, accounting for 61% of the country's cannabis imports in 2025. However, imports from Canada declined while shipments from Thailand increased significantly, signalling growing competition within the global medical cannabis supply chain.
White Ash Perspective
Canada's cannabis story is increasingly becoming two stories.
Domestically, the focus is on improving and refining a mature regulated market.
Internationally, Canadian companies are still pursuing significant growth.
The opportunity for Canadian operators will be maintaining the experience and credibility that created their early global advantage while adapting to a market where international competition is quickly increasing.
United States
State Markets Continue Writing Their Own Rules
The U.S. cannabis industry continues evolving state by state, with August bringing new approaches to retail, cultivation, taxation, and licensing.
While federal policy remains an important backdrop, some of the industry's most meaningful changes continue happening at the state level.
State Updates
New York – New York legalized cannabis sales at farmers' markets, festivals, concerts, and other pop-up events through an expansion of its Cannabis Showcase program. The move creates new sales opportunities for licensed microbusinesses while giving consumers additional ways to access the legal market.
Ohio – Cannabis sales continued climbing, putting the state on pace to establish a new annual sales record. The continued growth demonstrates the strength of consumer demand following the launch of adult-use sales.
Illinois – Lawmakers are considering allowing outdoor cannabis cultivation, a change that could significantly reduce production costs and create new opportunities for craft growers competing against larger operators.
Connecticut – Cannabis sales remained relatively flat, but the state collected significantly more cannabis tax revenue, highlighting the impact of Connecticut's potency-based tax structure.
New Jersey – Another major multistate operator filed a lawsuit challenging the state's labour-friendly cannabis licensing requirements, adding to an ongoing debate around labour peace agreements and their role in licensing.
Virginia – New cannabis and hemp regulations took effect in August as the state continues preparing for regulated adult-use retail sales. Virginia's legal retail market is currently scheduled to launch in 2027.
Federal Reform Watch – Cannabis rescheduling and broader federal policy developments continue influencing business planning across the country, but state-level differences remain a defining feature of the U.S. market.
White Ash Perspective
There is still no single U.S. cannabis market.
New York is experimenting with new ways to reach consumers. Illinois is reconsidering how cannabis can be grown. Ohio is demonstrating strong demand. New Jersey operators are challenging licensing requirements.
Each market presents a different combination of opportunity, regulation, and risk.
For operators looking to expand, understanding those differences remains just as important as identifying where consumer demand exists.
Europe
Canadian Producers Strengthen Their Position
Europe continues becoming one of the most important international growth opportunities for established cannabis companies.
August brought further investment from Canadian producers as medical markets mature and companies move beyond simply exporting product toward building stronger supply chains and infrastructure within Europe.
Country Updates
Germany – Germany continues strengthening its position as Europe's largest regulated cannabis market, with growing medical demand creating opportunities for international producers. At the same time, evolving prescribing and reimbursement requirements demonstrate that the regulatory environment remains highly dynamic.
United Kingdom – Aurora Cannabis expanded its UK presence through two acquisitions designed to strengthen its medical cannabis supply chain and distribution capabilities.
Portugal – Canadian LPs continue investing in Portuguese cultivation and production infrastructure as the country maintains its position as an important European export hub.
European Expansion – Canadian producers are increasingly investing in European infrastructure, distribution, and market access rather than relying exclusively on exports from Canada.
International Supply – As medical markets expand, competition among supplying countries is also increasing. Canada's experience remains a significant advantage, but emerging exporters and increased domestic production in international markets are creating a more competitive global landscape.
White Ash Perspective
Europe's opportunity continues to grow — but so does the competition.
Establishing long-term positions in these markets will increasingly require more than access to Canadian supply.
Companies will need strong local partnerships, reliable distribution, regulatory expertise, and infrastructure capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated medical markets.
International Markets
Global Supply Chains Continue to Shift
Beyond Europe, August highlighted how quickly the international cannabis supply chain is changing.
Australia – Canada remains Australia's largest international supplier, but the market is becoming increasingly competitive. Canada accounted for 61% of imports in 2025, while Australian domestic production increased and imports from Thailand grew significantly.
Thailand – Thailand is emerging as a more meaningful cannabis exporter, with shipments to Australia increasing sharply and creating new competition for established international suppliers.
Australia's Domestic Market – Australian cannabis production surpassed the amount imported from Canada for the first time since 2022, signalling growing domestic capacity within one of the world's largest medical cannabis markets.
Global Trade – The growth of new cultivation hubs and domestic production is beginning to reshape international cannabis trade. Markets that once relied heavily on Canadian supply are gradually developing more diverse sourcing options.
Talent Implications
International Experience Continues to Gain Value
As cannabis companies expand into new markets and global supply chains become more complex, hiring priorities are evolving alongside them.
We're continuing to see demand for:
International business development professionals
Regulatory and compliance specialists
Quality assurance leaders
Supply chain and logistics professionals
Commercial leaders with international market experience
Government and regulatory affairs professionals
Operations executives capable of managing multi-market businesses
At the same time, employers are increasingly placing value on:
Cross-border experience
Pharmaceutical and medical cannabis expertise
Market-entry strategy
International partnerships
Regulatory adaptability
Proven operational execution
Closing Thought
August reinforced just how global the cannabis industry has become.
Canada remains an important producer and exporter, but competition is increasing.
European medical markets continue creating new opportunities, but companies are investing more heavily in local infrastructure to capture them.
And across the United States, individual states continue developing entirely different approaches to cultivation, retail, taxation, and licensing.
The result is an industry where opportunity is increasingly spread across markets — and success requires understanding how each one works.
The companies gaining momentum aren't simply entering more markets.
They're:
Building stronger international supply chains
Investing in local infrastructure and partnerships
Adapting to changing regulatory environments
Identifying opportunities before markets become crowded
Hiring leaders who understand how to operate across jurisdictions
The cannabis industry is becoming more global.
And the companies that understand how those markets connect will be best positioned for what comes next.
