The cannabis industry has experienced dramatic highs and lows over the past several years. While legalization efforts have expanded markets across the United States, many cannabis companies have found themselves in severe financial distress, burdened by high operating costs, regulatory complexity, and limited access to traditional financing. One area that has drawn particular attention is the sale-leaseback model—a once-promising financing structure that has become a source of significant stress for both operators and the real estate companies and equipment lessors that serve them. Here’s a breakdown of the top four things to know about the use of sale-leasebacks in the cannabis industry.
1. Understanding the Real Estate Sale-Leaseback Model in Cannabis
A sale-leaseback transaction involves a cannabis operator selling its real property—such as a cultivation facility or dispensary location—to a third party or affiliate real estate investment company, then leasing that same property back under a long-term lease agreement. For the operator, this arrangement frees up capital that would otherwise be locked in real estate, providing much-needed liquidity to fund operations, expansion, or debt repayment. For the buyer, typically a real estate investment trust or similar entity, the arrangement provides a steady stream of rental income backed by a tangible asset.
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