Linton back in cannabis business as chair, investor and adviser

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Ousted Canopy Growth co-CEO Bruce Linton is getting back into the marijuana business in a big way, resurfacing as a senior executive, investor and adviser in three separate companies in the U.S. and Canada.

Linton is joining Michigan-based Gage Cannabis Co. as executive chair, parent company Wolverine Partners said Tuesday.

Gage said in a news release it plans to change its corporate name from Wolverine Partners to Gage Growth Corp. and appoint Linton to his new post.

The changes are expected to become effective with the closing of Gage’s proposed acquisition of Rivers Innovations, the company said.

Rivers Innovations is a private U.S.-focused growth capital and strategic support platform founded and advised by the seed investment and strategic advisory group behind cannabis venture capital investor Canopy Rivers.

Meanwhile, Canadian-based Slang Worldwide (CSE: SLNG), a manufacturer of cannabis packaged goods, announced Tuesday that Linton has invested almost $185,000 (249,000 Canadian dollars) in the Toronto-based company.

And a Florida company that makes CBD products – Better Choice Co. – announced Linton would become an adviser.

Better Choice said Linton would consult on expanding the company and cannabinoid animal research and intellectual property protection.

Terms of the Better Choice arrangement were not released.

The company is based in Oldsmar, Florida, and trades on over-the-counter markets as BTTR.

Linton was fired from Canopy Growth in July but has since bought shares in the Canadian giant. Canopy said Tuesday it plans to appoint a new CEO by the end of the year.

As the CEO who helped engineer Canopy’s blockbuster $3.4 billion purchase of Acreage Holdings and a multibillion-dollar investment stake by U.S. alcohol giant Constellation Brands, Linton eventually took the heat for not making money quickly enough.

For more on Linton’s investment in Slang, click here.

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