Fancy toking on some Hawke's Bay bud, or a nug of Nelson's Blue? Better book some flights to Canada.

A Canadian cannabis company is using New Zealand place names and branding to sell its products.

Maricann​ Inc. is a publicly-traded medicinal cannabis company based in Ontario, about to launch Kiwi Cannabis, their recreational cannabis brand. Founded in 2013, they provide medicinal cannabis products to thousands of customers.

From October 17 recreational cannabis smoking will be legal in Canada for those over the age of 18. On the same day, Kiwi Cannabis will sell four strains of cannabis, under the names White Feather, Hawke's Bay, Nelson's Blue, and Flightless Bird.

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MARICANN Kiwi Cannabis' strains are called White Feather, Hawke's Bay, Nelson's Blue, and Flightless Bird. (Screenshot from company website)

In a statement, Geoff Kosar, Maricann's vice president of sales and marketing, said the strain names are "a playful take on Kiwi's New Zealand-inspired name". Each had different "highs", depending on the ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance responsible for cannabis' physical effects.

Kosar said the cannabis industry is "rapidly growing" around the world, with a spike expected in Canadian users following legalisation. He said Kiwi Cannabis is a clean-look company marketing cannabis products in a simple way.

"We've built Kiwi to streamline the information and clutter of products - so that cannabis is accessible to a wider public and Canadians can make smart, informed decisions on where we fit in their wellness routine and lifestyle," Kosar said.

Manu Caddie from Hikurangi Cannabis Company, which received a medical cannabis license in August, said he brought it to the attention of the NZ Medical Cannabis Council, of which it is a member.

"I raised it out of interest to let others know it was happening."

Caddie said it offered validation of the global potential for NZ cannabis products and Hikurangi had "reached out" to offer to supply Kiwi Cannabis with "authentic" New Zealand medicinal cannabis.

"Seeing the Kiwi brand being used by an overseas company into another market was a great validation for us of the value of the NZ brand that has been a cornerstone of our proposition to potential investors and customers since we created the company."

MARICANN Kiwi Cannabis launches on October 17, the same day Canada legalises the smoking of recreational cannabis for those over the age of 18. (Screenshot from company website)

Maricann has production facilities in Canada, Germany and Switzerland, and has plans to expand further into Europe as its production capabilities increase. It plans to build a 87,000 square metre facility in Ontario.

Chlöe Swarbrick, Green Party MP and champion of more liberal cannabis legislation, said the launch of the Canadian company showed New Zealand was "falling behind".

"It feels pretty odd to see an overseas company capitalising on our reputation to sell their product," Swarbrick said.

She said New Zealand has an "incredible reputation for being clean, green, and producing high quality produce", and it makes sense companies "want to take advantage of that".

"It's demonstrative of the fact that we're missing a trick, and a substantial slice of a growing market, without having a legal licensing regime, regulatory system and legal market domestically.

"Aotearoa New Zealand isn't just missing out when it comes to common sense cannabis regulation, we're falling behind."

The Government is waiting for the second reading of the Medicinal Cannabis Bill, and a referendum on the legalisation of recreational cannabis is expected within its term.