Company Description
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) is a Canada-based global medical cannabis company that also serves the consumer cannabis market. Classified in medicinal and botanical manufacturing within the broader manufacturing sector, the company focuses on cannabis products for medical, wellness and adult recreational use. Aurora’s common shares trade on both the NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol ACB, and the company is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Aurora describes itself as a pioneer in global cannabis, "opening the world to cannabis" by serving medical and consumer markets across Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. According to multiple company disclosures, Aurora places strong emphasis on science, genetics and regulatory expertise, positioning medical cannabis as its core growth area. The company highlights global medical cannabis as a high-margin segment and reports leadership positions in Canada and other key international medical cannabis markets.
Business Model and Key Segments
Aurora’s business model centers on cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and distribution for medical and consumer markets, alongside a plant propagation business. In its financial reporting, Aurora identifies three main revenue contributors:
- Global medical cannabis – the company’s primary focus, supplying medical cannabis products to patients through insurance-covered and self-paying channels in Canada and through international markets such as Australia, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.
- Consumer (adult-use) cannabis – branded cannabis products sold into the adult recreational market in Canada.
- Plant propagation – a separate but related business conducted through Bevo Farms Ltd., in which Aurora holds a controlling interest. Bevo is described as North America’s leading supplier of propagated agricultural plants.
In a recent quarterly update, Aurora reported that medical cannabis generated the majority of its consolidated net revenue and an even larger share of adjusted gross profit before fair value adjustments. Consumer cannabis is maintained but strategically deprioritized relative to higher-margin medical products, while plant propagation contributes additional revenue and diversification.
Geographic Footprint and Markets Served
Aurora operates from a Canadian base with a growing international presence. The company states that it serves both medical and consumer markets across Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Within Europe, Aurora highlights activity in Germany and Poland, and references markets such as the United Kingdom and other European countries in its financial commentary.
In Germany, Aurora operates an EU-GMP manufacturing facility in Leuna. The company notes that Aurora Leuna is one of only three licensed cultivation facilities in the country and supplies locally grown medical cannabis under the IndiMed brand. Aurora has announced multi-year investments to upgrade this facility, including additional grow rooms, new irrigation and lighting systems, and a transition to hang drying and dry trimming, with the stated aim of increasing capacity, enhancing product quality and improving cost efficiency.
In Poland, Aurora has expanded its portfolio of high-potency medical flower products under the Cannabis flos Aurora brand, including proprietary cultivars such as Black Jelly, Farm Gas and Sourdough. In Australia, Aurora participates in the medical cannabis market through its wholly owned subsidiary MedReleaf Australia and has entered a distribution partnership with Leafio, the wholesale distribution arm of Montu Australia, to broaden access to its medical cannabis brands through a network of pharmacies.
Brands and Product Portfolio
Aurora’s business is organized around a portfolio of distinct brands targeting different segments and geographies. The company repeatedly identifies the following:
- Adult-use (consumer) brands in Canada: Drift, San Rafael '71 (also referenced as San Raf), Daily Special, Tasty's, Being and Greybeard.
- Medical cannabis brands: MedReleaf, CanniMed, Aurora and Whistler Medical Marijuana Co. (or Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation), as well as Cannabis flos Aurora in certain European markets.
- International medical brands: Pedanios, IndiMed and CraftPlant, used in markets such as Germany and Poland.
These brands cover a range of medical and adult-use cannabis products. Aurora describes its offering as supported by global GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and, in Europe, by EU-GMP certified facilities. The company also emphasizes its cannabis genetic library, which underpins proprietary cultivars and high-potency medical flower products launched in markets such as Poland and Germany.
Scientific and R&D Focus
Aurora consistently highlights science and innovation as core to its strategy. The company reports operating a research and development facility known as Aurora Coast, which it describes as a world-class R&D site. At Aurora Coast, scientists developed proprietary genetic marker technology associated with a novel source of genetic resistance to powdery mildew (PM2) in cannabis plants.
Following the discovery of PM2, Aurora has conducted multiple rounds of breeding crosses and controlled infection trials under high disease pressure to transfer and validate powdery mildew resistance in elite breeding lines. The company has moved cultivars with verified PM2 resistance into production trials at its Aurora Ridge manufacturing facility, with the goal of integrating disease resistance while maintaining quality traits important to patients and consumers. Aurora indicates that this intellectual property is patent pending in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Israel.
Beyond breeding and genetics, Aurora participates in scientific and industry conferences, such as the Plant & Animal Genome Conference, the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science & Canadian Society of Agronomy Conference, the Cannabis Scientific Symposium at the McGill Research Centre for Cannabis, and the PhotoX Conference, where it shares research findings. This activity supports the company’s positioning as a science-enabled medical cannabis producer.
Medical Education and Physician Support
Aurora also engages in medical education initiatives. In collaboration with German healthcare technology company Copeia, Aurora helped launch an English-language version of the Physician Experience Platform (PEP). PEP is described as a peer-to-peer educational resource for physicians, providing anonymized, real-world case studies from doctors using medical cannabis as part of patient care.
The platform allows healthcare professionals to review case reports that include patient history, treated symptoms, therapeutic outcomes, dosage and product data, and information on other therapies used before and during cannabis treatment. Physicians can search for local product recommendations based on similar cases. Access is gated via DocCheck login to ensure only verified healthcare professionals can view content. The English-language PEP is initially available to physicians in Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, Malta, the Czech Republic, Australia and New Zealand.
Distribution and Partnerships
In Australia, Aurora’s subsidiary MedReleaf Australia has entered into a distribution partnership with Leafio, the wholesale distribution arm of Montu Australia. Under this arrangement, Leafio distributes Aurora’s medical cannabis products under the MedReleaf, CraftPlant, Aurora, Whistler Cannabis Co. and IndiMed brands through a nationwide supply chain that services thousands of pharmacies. Aurora notes that its products in this market are TGA-GMP certified and that the partnership is intended to expand patient access and support clinician education.
In Germany, Aurora’s investment in the Leuna facility is designed to strengthen domestic EU-GMP manufacturing capabilities and supply high-quality, locally grown medical cannabis to the expanding German patient base. The facility currently grows cultivars under the IndiMed brand and is expected to incorporate additional cultivars from Aurora’s genetics library as capacity increases.
Financial Reporting and Regulatory Status
Aurora files as a foreign private issuer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), using Form 6-K for interim disclosures. Recent 6-K filings have included condensed consolidated interim financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, and related officer certifications. The company references registration statements on Form F-10 and Form S-8 that incorporate certain 6-K filings by reference.
In a recent quarter, Aurora reported consolidated net revenue derived from medical cannabis, consumer cannabis and plant propagation, along with adjusted gross margin and adjusted EBITDA metrics. The company emphasizes that medical cannabis accounts for the majority of its cannabis net revenue and adjusted gross profit, and that plant propagation revenue is wholly comprised of the Bevo business. Aurora also comments on working capital, inventory and biological assets, and notes that its cannabis business is debt-free apart from non-recourse debt associated with Bevo Farms Ltd.
Corporate Positioning
Across its public communications, Aurora repeatedly describes itself as a "leading global medical cannabis company" and a "pioneer in global cannabis." It emphasizes world-class manufacturing standards, advanced breeding and genetics, regulatory knowledge and a strong production network as key elements that enable it to compete in medical cannabis markets. The company states that it has more than a decade of experience in global medical markets and highlights its role in developing markets such as Germany, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.
Aurora’s strategy, as described in its own statements, prioritizes profitable growth in medical cannabis, investment in scientific research and genetics, and expansion of international medical markets. The company also notes its participation in investor conferences and regular investor calls to discuss financial results and strategy.
FAQs about Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB)
- What does Aurora Cannabis Inc. do?
Aurora Cannabis Inc. is a Canada-based global medical cannabis company that also serves the consumer cannabis market. It cultivates, manufactures and distributes cannabis products for medical, wellness and adult recreational use, and operates a plant propagation business through its controlling interest in Bevo Farms Ltd. - Where is Aurora Cannabis headquartered?
Aurora states that it is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Its principal executive office is located in Edmonton, and the company identifies itself as a Canadian-based global medical cannabis company. - On which exchanges does ACB trade?
Aurora’s common shares trade on the NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol ACB, as disclosed in multiple company news releases and SEC filings. - Which markets does Aurora serve?
Aurora reports that it serves medical and consumer cannabis markets across Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Within these regions, it highlights key medical markets such as Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. - What are Aurora’s main business segments?
Aurora’s financial reporting identifies three primary contributors: global medical cannabis, consumer (adult-use) cannabis and plant propagation. Medical cannabis is described as the largest contributor to consolidated net revenue and adjusted gross profit, while plant propagation revenue is generated through Bevo Farms Ltd. - What brands are associated with Aurora’s consumer cannabis business?
Aurora lists several adult-use brands in Canada, including Drift, San Rafael '71 (or San Raf), Daily Special, Tasty's, Being and Greybeard. These brands are used for products in the adult recreational cannabis market. - What brands does Aurora use for medical cannabis?
For medical cannabis, Aurora identifies brands such as MedReleaf, CanniMed, Aurora and Whistler Medical Marijuana Co., along with international brands including Pedanios, IndiMed and CraftPlant. In Europe, it also references Cannabis flos Aurora as part of its medical portfolio. - How is Aurora involved in cannabis research and genetics?
Aurora operates a research and development facility called Aurora Coast, where its scientists developed proprietary genetic marker technology for powdery mildew resistance (PM2). The company conducts breeding programs and controlled infection trials to integrate disease resistance into high-performing cannabis genetics, and reports that related intellectual property is patent pending in multiple jurisdictions. - What is Aurora’s role in physician education?
Aurora collaborated with German healthcare technology company Copeia to launch an English-language version of the Physician Experience Platform (PEP). PEP provides anonymized, peer-reviewed case studies from physicians using medical cannabis, giving healthcare professionals access to real-world clinical information on cannabis-based therapies. - How does Aurora distribute medical cannabis in Australia?
In Australia, Aurora’s wholly owned subsidiary MedReleaf Australia has a distribution partnership with Leafio, the wholesale distribution arm of Montu Australia. Under this partnership, Leafio distributes Aurora’s medical cannabis products under brands such as MedReleaf, CraftPlant, Aurora, Whistler Cannabis Co. and IndiMed through a nationwide pharmacy network. - Does Aurora file reports with the U.S. SEC?
Yes. As a foreign private issuer, Aurora files current reports on Form 6-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Recent 6-Ks have included interim financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, and officer certifications, and some are incorporated by reference into the company’s registration statements.