Nick Pateras

Vice President, Strategy

Lift & Co.

TOPIC:

Overture to the Industry.

Serving as a foundational prelude to the Summit’s programming, this session will introduce the salient themes that have emerged amidst the industry’s most recent chapter of growth. Particular focus will be devoted to the defining narratives of Canada’s adult-use and medical markets, including an assessment of the domestic sector’s general health. The session will also address consequential developments in international jurisdictions and outline the ramifications for Canadian operators.

Nick Pateras is Vice President, Strategy of Lift & Co., Canada's leading cannabis media, technology and product platform.

With a mission to empower informed cannabis decisions, Lift & Co. collects and disseminates big data with the goal of bridging the informational gap between buyers and sellers. Prior to joining Lift & Co., Nick spent several years in the pharmaceutical sector with Johnson & Johnson Inc., where he led businesses across OTC and Health & Beauty.

His background in healthcare led him to make the professional move into cannabis, having long advocated for recognition of its many medical applications. He holds two degrees, in Business and Philosophy, from Queen's University, Canada.

Abstract:

With a best-in-class medical cannabis program in place and on the cusp of becoming the first G20 nation to legalize adult-use cannabis, Canada is widely regarded as the industry’s global leader. Its regulatory and commercial frameworks set the standard for other jurisdictions, which are determined to challenge a potential monopolization by Canadian companies. This session will explore what steps global markets are taking to follow in our footsteps, regional differences in consumer and product trends, and the unique opportunities they present for the export of Canadian expertise.