Key Takeaways; Cannabis Sector

• Aurora Cannabis Urged Shareholders to Reject Curaleaf’s Hostile Takeover Bid 
• Tilray Expanded Global Cannabis Production as International Medical Demand Continues to Grow 

Key Takeaways; Psychedelic Sector

• Jupiter Neurosciences Raised $2 Million as the Company Advances its Parkinson’s Drug Program 
• Optimi Health Secured Discretionary Equity Facility as Psychedelic Drug Business Expands
• SciSparc Expanded its AI Strategy and as the Company Advance its Psychedelic-Drug IP

Below is a weekly roundup of what happened this week in the cannabis and psychedelic sectors. In this ever-evolving landscape, we explore the major developments and groundbreaking initiatives happening among companies operating in these industries; from advancements in medical research, therapeutic applications to shifts in legal frameworks and current market trends.

Top Marijuana Companies for the Week

#1: Aurora Cannabis

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) urged shareholders to take no action on Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) unsolicited $272 million takeover offer, as its board and a special committee of independent directors review the proposal. Curaleaf’s offer values Aurora shares at US$4 each, comprising cash and Curaleaf stock.

In its press release, Aurora disputed several claims made by Curaleaf about its business, particularly concerns over Germany’s medical cannabis reimbursement changes. The company said the affected reimbursement segment represented less than 10% of its German sales volume before the changes, while international medical cannabis revenue rose 17% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2027.

Aurora CEO and Executive Chairman Miguel Martin accused Curaleaf of seeking to acquire the company’s European assets at a discount. “They are trying to acquire our world-class EU-GMP global infrastructure at the lowest possible price,” Martin said, arguing that Aurora’s European strategy could deliver greater long-term value to shareholders.

The Canadian cannabis producer has been expanding its European presence, including the recent acquisition of UK companies Internode Pharma and HAP Pharma. Aurora also says it holds the leading market share by revenue in Poland and has increased its EU-GMP-certified production capacity by more than 40% over the past five years.

Curaleaf, however, rejected Aurora’s characterization of their discussions, calling its response “hollow.” The U.S. cannabis company said it remains willing to negotiate and accused Aurora of refusing to engage substantively with its offer.

Curaleaf’s offer remains open for at least 105 days from its August 18 launch. Aurora’s board and special committee have yet to issue a formal recommendation, leaving shareholders waiting for the next major devel

#2: Tilray Brands

Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) announced it is expanding its global cannabis cultivation capacity by nearly one-third as international demand for medical cannabis continues to grow. The company said it had increased annual production capacity from approximately 210 metric tonnes to 275 metric tonnes, with the expansion driven primarily by higher output in Quebec, Canada, and at its EU-GMP-certified facility in Portugal.

At its Quebec facility, Tilray reported it had added 30 metric tonnes of annual cultivation capacity, increasing supply for the domestic market while also supporting exports to Europe, Australia and other regulated markets. Additionally, the company said the facility is expected to achieve EU-GMP certification within the next 12 months, which would further strengthen its ability to supply international medical cannabis markets. 

The company stated it has also increased production at its Portugal facility, which serves as a key part of its European supply chain and supplies markets including Germany and the United Kingdom. In Germany, Tilray said its Aphria RX cultivation facility is fully utilized, while its new ARX brand has launched with a strong early response from patients.

“Tilray is defining what global leadership in cannabis looks like,” said Irwin D. Simon, Chairman and CEO of Tilray Brands. He added that the company is expanding production across Canada and Europe while strengthening the supply infrastructure needed to serve patients and partners in major medical cannabis markets worldwide.

With operations spanning Canada, Europe, Australia and other international markets, Tilray Medical currently supplies medical cannabis to patients, physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, researchers and governments in 20 countries. The latest production expansion further reinforces the company’s strategy of combining large-scale cultivation with international distribution and patient-access platforms.

Top Psychedelic Companies for Week

#1: Jupiter Neurosciences

Jupiter Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: JUNS) saw its shares surge by more than 43% on August 21 after the clinical-stage biotechnology company announced the pricing of a $2.0 million registered direct offering. The company announced it had entered into a securities purchase agreement to sell 307,692 shares of common stock, with the transaction expected to close around August 24, subject to customary conditions.

Jupiter reported that D. Boral Capital LLC would serve as an exclusive placement agent. The shares were issued under Jupiter’s existing Form S-3 shelf registration, which was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in April 2026. Additionally, the company announced that a prospectus supplement containing the full terms of the offering was expected to be filed with the SEC.

Jupiter said the proceeds will support its ongoing operations and clinical-stage development, although the company did not specify a detailed allocation of the funds. The financing comes as Jupiter advances its pipeline targeting central nervous system disorders and neuroinflammation.

At the center of that pipeline is JOTROL, the company’s proprietary enhanced-bioavailability formulation of resveratrol. Jupiter is evaluating JOTROL in a Phase IIa clinical trial, known as RESET, for Parkinson’s disease. The program is designed to investigate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, cerebrospinal-fluid penetration and inflammatory biomarkers, with the broader goal of exploring whether targeting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction could contribute to disease modification.

Moreover, an August 19 analysis highlighted Jupiter’s approach as distinct from therapies primarily focused on dopamine replacement or alpha-synuclein. The analysis argued that neuroinflammation and related cellular processes could represent important mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease, while emphasizing that the company still faces substantial clinical and financial risks.

Ultimately, Jupiter is attempting to establish whether an enhanced resveratrol formulation can translate promising biological and pharmacokinetic characteristics into meaningful therapeutic benefits for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Until clinical efficacy is demonstrated, however, the investment case remains speculative. 

#2: Optimi Health

Optimi Health Corp. (NASDAQ: OPTH) strengthened its financial flexibility as it aims to expand its commercial psychedelic pharmaceutical business, establishing a discretionary equity line of credit with Seven Knots, LLC that could provide access to up to US$100 million.

Under the agreement, Optimi has the right, but not the obligation, to sell common shares to Seven Knots over the term of the facility. Each draw is capped at US$2 million, with the purchase price generally set at 97% of the lower of the applicable market price or volume-weighted average price. The facility is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approval and the effectiveness of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company emphasized that the facility gives it control over when and how much capital it raises. “Sales under the ELOC are at the Company’s discretion,” Optimi said, allowing it to access funding progressively rather than raising the full US$100 million upfront.

As part of the arrangement, Optimi issued Seven Knots a US$1.5 million unsecured, non-interest-bearing convertible promissory note. A further US$500,000 note could be issued if proceeds from the equity facility reach at least US$7 million. The notes mature after 24 months and are subject to specific conversion terms and ownership limitations.

The financing comes as Optimi transitions from primarily developing psychedelic products toward scaling commercial operations. The company manufactures GMP-grade MDMA and botanical psilocybin at its licensed facilities in British Columbia and supplies active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products to regulated programs internationally. Its products are currently prescribed to patients in Australia under the country’s Authorized Prescriber Scheme and are accessible in Canada through the Special Access Program. 

#3: SciSparc

SciSparc Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPRC) strengthened two areas of its business this week, announcing a new addition to its artificial intelligence advisory board while reporting progress in its intellectual-property collaboration involving MDMA-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

On August 26, the company announced that Prof. Carmel Domshlak, a leading artificial intelligence researcher and professor at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, will join SciSparc’s newly established Scientific Advisory Board for AI and Cybersecurity, effective September 1. His appointment follows SciSparc’s July decision to explore opportunities in the rapidly developing Agentic AI market.

Separately, on August 24, SciSparc announced that its subsidiary NeuroThera Labs had advanced its collaboration with Clearmind Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ: CMND) through the U.S. publication of a patent application covering a combination of MDMA and N-acylethanolamines such as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). The proposed combination is being explored for potential applications in treating PTSD, anxiety and eating disorders.

According to SciSparc, the newly published patent application expands the joint intellectual-property portfolio generated through the NeuroThera-Clearmind collaboration, which SciSparc said now includes 13 published patent applications worldwide. The application addressed potential effects of combining PEA with MDMA, including therapeutic potency, dosing, side effects and the drug’s therapeutic window.

The announcement also comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased its focus on psychedelic-drug development. In July, the FDA finalized guidance covering clinical investigations of psychedelic drugs, explicitly including MDMA. The guidance outlines considerations for clinical-trial design, patient safety, data collection and regulatory requirements, providing a framework for companies developing psychedelic-based therapies.