World’s Largest Tobacco Company Is Investing In Medical Cannabis: Here’s What To Know
As cannabis goes global, some of the world’s largest companies are starting to show their hand. One of them is Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), the world’s biggest tobacco company by market cap and one of the most deliberate players in the cannabis space.
While peers like Altria and British American Tobacco (BAT) have made splashier moves into recreational marijuana markets, PMI has taken a quieter, more clinical approach: targeting medical cannabis, forming R&D alliances and testing products in tightly regulated markets like Canada.
While often overlooked, its cannabis strategy is beginning to take shape, and its latest partnerships suggest this is just the beginning.
A Decade In The Making: PMI’s Measured Cannabis Timeline
PMI’s interest in cannabis began almost a decade ago. In 2016, it made a strategic investment in Syqe Medical, an Israeli company known for its precision-dose cannabis inhaler. That investment eventually culminated in full acquisition in 2023, marking PMI’s first major cannabis takeover.
Fast forward to 2024–2025, and PMI’s footprint has expanded through its pharmaceutical and wellness subsidiary, Vectura Fertin Pharma: