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Booth said Edmonton-based Aurora had lived up to its obligations but suggested that problems with the rollout were holding the company back.

“We have contractual commitments with the provinces and we have met them,” Booth said, adding that, “we would be ready right now if the government had let us.”

Booth appeared alongside Hamish Sutherland, CEO of cannabis investment firm White Sheep Corp., and Michael Elkin, a consultant with Cannabis Compliance Inc.

The chief executive of Aurora was scheduled to appear for the session at 10:30 a.m. local time but arrived late, and was initially replaced by his chief corporate officer, Cam Battley. About 10 minutes into the discussion, Booth appeared, chuckling, as he removed a clip-on microphone from Battley and proceeded to take his seat on the podium.

When asked what surprised him the most about cannabis legalization in Canada, Booth said it was the eight purses that his wife purchased post-Oct. 17.

“We knew it was going to be a shit show,” he said. “The government sold us tax stamps that didn’t have glue and so our Plan B was getting a bunch of people with very wet tongues to start licking these stamps.”

Aurora’s home province, however, was singled out for praise.

“Alberta had their shit together,” Booth said.

We spent a lot of money on branding, we sponsored concerts, events. We can’t do that right now Terry Booth, Aurora CEO

Booth, who at times appeared mildly irritated with his fellow panelists, dominated the conversation, moderated by Marijuana Business Daily reporter Matt Lamers.

“As a Canadian, you’re quite abrasive,” Booth said, in response to a comment from Elkin, who questioned whether Aurora’s priority as a company lay more in supplying medical marijuana to Germany than serving their Canadian patients.