Tokyo Smoke
Tokyo Smoke is a Canadian recreational cannabis retail brand owned by OEG Inc.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Tokyo Smoke is a Canadian recreational cannabis retail brand founded in 2015 by father and son Lorne Gertner and Alan Gertner. The business developed as a consumer-facing cannabis concept combining regulated cannabis retail, cannabis accessories, design-led stores and, during an earlier phase, coffee shops. Its first location, Tokyo Smoke Found, opened in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood in April 2015, before the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. The brand was created during the emergence of Canada’s regulated cannabis economy and sought to present cannabis through a polished retail environment rather than a purely medical or countercultural format. Lorne Gertner brought experience from the medical-cannabis sector. He had founded Cannasat Therapeutics in 2004, described in the reference material as Canada’s first legal medical-marijuana grower. Alan Gertner previously held executive roles at Google in North America and Asia. After leaving Google, he joined his father in building Tokyo Smoke and became a prominent operator in Canada’s early legal cannabis industry. Tokyo Smoke expanded through both organic development and corporate transactions. In early 2017, it acquired Van der Pop, a Seattle-based cannabis company positioned toward women. Later that year, Tokyo Smoke announced a merger with DOJA Cannabis. The transaction created Hiku Brands Company Ltd., a cannabis platform that brought together Tokyo Smoke, DOJA and Van der Pop. Canopy Growth acquired Hiku in July 2018 and absorbed its portfolio of brands. Tokyo Smoke subsequently operated within a broader cannabis ecosystem that included branded retail arrangements and licensed retail partners. The brand received the 2017 Canadian Cannabis Award for Brand of the Year. It also pursued retail development in several Canadian provinces. In Manitoba, Tokyo Smoke announced approval in 2018 to build as many as 10 cannabis stores. Its stores operated in Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan. In Ontario, the regulatory structure limited licensed producers’ direct ownership of cannabis stores, so Tokyo Smoke’s name was used through branding arrangements with retail-license owners. The business also experimented with hospitality-oriented locations. Its coffee shops in Toronto and Calgary sold coffee, café food and cannabis accessories, but did not sell cannabis itself; those locations were later discontinued. Tokyo Smoke explored additional distribution and market opportunities as cannabis legalization developed. In 2019, Acreage announced an intention to open United States stores under the Tokyo Smoke name. In Canada, the brand entered a November 2021 arrangement with Uber Eats that allowed users to place cannabis pickup orders through the app, subject to the applicable legal and operational framework. OEG Inc. acquired the Tokyo Smoke brand in 2022. The company later faced financial pressure during a difficult period for Canadian cannabis retail, characterized in the source material by rising interest costs and rapid expansion. In August 2024, Tokyo Smoke sought creditor protection under Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and immediately closed 29 Canadian locations. The brand exited creditor protection in December 2024. Tokyo Smoke therefore remains an active Canadian cannabis retail name, but its scale and ownership structure have changed substantially from the expansion period associated with Hiku and Canopy Growth.
History
Tokyo Smoke emerged in Toronto in 2015, before Canada legalized recreational cannabis nationally. It was founded by Lorne Gertner and his son Alan Gertner. Lorne had previously founded Cannasat Therapeutics, an early legal medical-cannabis producer, while Alan brought experience from executive and strategy roles at Google. Together they developed Tokyo Smoke as a branded cannabis and accessories concept intended to make cannabis retail more approachable, contemporary and lifestyle-oriented. The first Tokyo Smoke location, Tokyo Smoke Found, opened in April 2015 in Toronto’s West Queen West district. The company’s early retail identity emphasized store design, consumer education, accessories and a broader cultural setting. It also operated coffee shops in Toronto and Calgary. These cafés did not sell cannabis; they offered coffee, food and cannabis-related accessories. The coffee-shop experiment was later discontinued. In early 2017, Tokyo Smoke acquired Van der Pop, a Seattle cannabis company whose proposition was directed toward women. The transaction broadened Tokyo Smoke’s brand portfolio and gave it an association with a more targeted cannabis consumer segment. Tokyo Smoke was also recognized at the 2017 Canadian Cannabis Awards, where it received the Brand of the Year award. On December 21, 2017, Tokyo Smoke announced a merger with DOJA Cannabis. The combined business became Hiku Brands Company Ltd., a platform containing Tokyo Smoke, DOJA and Van der Pop. The transaction reflected the consolidation taking place among Canadian cannabis companies ahead of and around the legalization of recreational cannabis. On July 10, 2018, Canopy Growth acquired Hiku Brands and incorporated its portfolio into Canopy’s broader cannabis business. Tokyo Smoke continued to develop as a retail name through provincial opportunities and licensing arrangements. In September 2018, it announced approval to build up to 10 cannabis stores in Manitoba. The brand later operated stores in Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan. Ontario’s ownership rules restricted licensed producers from owning more than 9.9 percent of a cannabis store, so Tokyo Smoke stores in that province were developed through branding agreements with independent retail-license owners rather than through unrestricted producer ownership. The brand also attracted interest outside Canada. In August 2019, Acreage announced plans to open United States cannabis stores under the Tokyo Smoke name. The proposed expansion was connected to the possibility of future changes in the United States cannabis market and did not replace Tokyo Smoke’s Canadian operating base. In November 2021, Tokyo Smoke and Uber Eats announced a cannabis pickup arrangement, allowing customers to use the app to place orders for pickup in accordance with applicable regulations. OEG Inc. acquired the Tokyo Smoke brand in 2022. Under OEG ownership, the brand remained associated with Canadian recreational cannabis retail. By 2024, however, the business faced significant financial strain. Tokyo Smoke entered creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in August, citing rising interest costs and the consequences of rapid expansion. It closed 29 locations immediately as part of the restructuring. The company exited creditor protection in December 2024. The brand is therefore best understood as an active but restructured Canadian cannabis retailer whose history includes early-format innovation, cannabis-industry consolidation, provincial retail expansion and a later contraction.
- 2024
Creditor protection and store closures
[1]Tokyo Smoke entered creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and closed 29 locations.
- 2024
Exited creditor protection
[1]Tokyo Smoke exited creditor protection in December.
- 2022
OEG Inc. acquired Tokyo Smoke
[1]OEG Inc. acquired the Tokyo Smoke brand.
- 2021
Uber Eats pickup arrangement announced
[1]Tokyo Smoke and Uber Eats enabled app-based cannabis ordering for pickup.
- 2019
Potential United States expansion announced
[1]Acreage announced an intention to open cannabis stores under the Tokyo Smoke name in the United States.
- 2018
Hiku Brands acquired by Canopy Growth
[1]Canopy Growth acquired Hiku Brands and absorbed the Tokyo Smoke portfolio.
- 2018
Manitoba retail expansion approved
[1]Tokyo Smoke announced approval to build up to 10 cannabis stores in Manitoba.
- 2017
Van der Pop acquired
[1]Tokyo Smoke acquired Seattle-based Van der Pop, a cannabis company positioned toward women.
- 2017
Canadian Cannabis Award received
[1]Tokyo Smoke won the Brand of the Year award at the Canadian Cannabis Awards.
- 2017
Hiku Brands merger announced
[1]Tokyo Smoke announced its merger with DOJA Cannabis, forming Hiku Brands Company Ltd.
Products and positioning
A design-led, consumer-oriented cannabis retail brand combining regulated recreational cannabis with accessories and an approachable lifestyle presentation.
Cannabis retail · 2018
Regulated recreational cannabis
Tokyo Smoke’s core offering is branded retail access to regulated recreational cannabis in Canada. The brand operates through provincial retail markets and, in Ontario, through arrangements with retail-license owners because of ownership restrictions affecting licensed producers. Specific product SKUs and supplier portfolios are not identified in the available reference material.
Cannabis lifestyle retail · 2015
Cannabis accessories
Accessories have been part of Tokyo Smoke’s retail proposition since its early stores and former cafés. They support the brand’s design-led, lifestyle-oriented positioning and distinguish the concept from a narrowly pharmaceutical or commodity-focused cannabis outlet. The reference material does not specify individual accessory products.
Café
Tokyo Smoke coffee shops
Tokyo Smoke previously operated two coffee shops in Toronto and one in Calgary. These locations sold coffee, café food and cannabis accessories but did not sell cannabis. The coffee-shop format was an early brand-extension experiment and is no longer operated according to the available reference material.
Brand decisions
2024
Restructure through creditor protectionStrategyBackground
The company reported pressure from rising interest costs and rapid expansion.
Action taken
Tokyo Smoke filed for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and closed 29 locations.
Aftermath
The brand exited creditor protection in December 2024 with a materially reduced retail footprint.
2021
Introduce app-based cannabis pickup orderingProduct launchBackground
Cannabis retailers were seeking digital ordering and convenient customer-pickup channels.
Action taken
Tokyo Smoke entered an arrangement with Uber Eats that allowed users to place cannabis pickup orders through the app.
Aftermath
The arrangement extended Tokyo Smoke’s customer access through a third-party digital platform.
2018
Develop Manitoba cannabis storesStrategyBackground
Canada’s recreational cannabis legalization created opportunities for provincial retail expansion.
Action taken
Tokyo Smoke announced approval to build up to 10 cannabis stores in Manitoba.
Aftermath
The brand subsequently operated in Manitoba and other Canadian provinces.
2017
Merge with DOJA CannabisM&ABackground
Tokyo Smoke was expanding its brand portfolio during the consolidation of Canada’s emerging cannabis industry.
Action taken
The company announced a merger with DOJA Cannabis, creating Hiku Brands Company Ltd. and combining the Tokyo Smoke, DOJA and Van der Pop brands.
Aftermath
Canopy Growth acquired Hiku Brands in 2018 and absorbed the combined portfolio.
Recent events
Tokyo Smoke set to join Uber Eats marketplace in Ontario[2]
Reported:
Uber Eats announced that it would list cannabis retailer Tokyo Smoke on its marketplace in Ontario, after which customers could place orders through the Uber Eats app.
Tokyo Smoke opens Stratford store[3]
Reported:
Tokyo Smoke opened a cannabis retail outlet in Stratford, Ontario, providing access to legal recreational cannabis products and accessories.
Canopy Growth announces planned Tokyo Smoke store openings[4]
Reported:
Canopy Growth announced plans to work with 10 Ontario retail license holders to open new Tokyo Smoke-branded cannabis stores across Ontario.
Sources4 sources
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