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It’s also likely the easier and quicker option for patients, said Henderson.

What they've done creates uncertainty and distrust not just for the company, but for the industry itself. Having said that, indeed it's an opportunity. Malay Panchal, CEO, PureSinse Inc.

OrganiGram Holdings Inc. CEO Greg Engel said CannTrust patients and their doctors have been calling his company to inquire about transfers since the sales freeze was first announced.

“We’ve had clinics or physicians’ offices contacting our client services team asking almost immediately as the news went out they were halting shipments,” said Engel, who added that OrganiGram has been able to get former CannTrust patients access to their products within 48 hours.

The Moncton-based LP, which Engel said treats 17,000 patients, has placed phone calls to cannabis clinics to tell them that they’re able to take on new clients if needed, but is not aggressively pursuing CannTrust patients.

Engel also noted the opportunity to grow is significant, but has limits because of supply.

“We’re not in a position today to take on tens of thousands of patients, but we can certainly add thousands of patients just in terms of (our) product supply forecast,” Engel said.

Other licensed producers who said they’ve brought on former CannTrust patients include Beleave Inc., WeedMD Inc., and Canopy Growth Corp.’s Spectrum Therapeutics. In a statement, Canopy said it has transferred product from its recreational portfolio to its medical store to help deal with the added demand. A WeedMD spokesperson said the company has seen a record week-over-week increase in new patient registrations since July 8.

One concern for those courting CannTrust’s clients, however, is the question of loyalty. It’s entirely possible that the new registrations may only be rentals because nothing would stop the patients from returning to the company should it go back online without significant repercussions from Health Canada.

The goal, the LPs suggested, is to use the time they have with these new patients as a honeymoon period where they can convince them to stay.