FRONT STORY NORTH AMERICAN MARKET
Lenders pass on marijuana, for now
Banks wary of financing cannabis firms over regulation and reputation
As US states take steps towards legalisation, sector’s financing needs will increase
Wall Street is warming up to the idea of
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Jonathan Schwarzberg
“We’re starting to see that
banks are really eager to
[finance these companies],
but a lot of times a deal is
going through and someone
in the general counsel’s office
will pump the brakes”
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“You have to be concerned
with the reputational risk.
We haven’t been approached
yet by any [marijuana]
companies, but why would
we do that?”