With recreational marijuana usage legalized more than a week ago in Canada, pot companies of all sizes have seen a flurry of activity, from management shakeups to new product launches and the recruitment of new personnel.

After celebrating the end of prohibition with the Cannabis Act, today the Leamington, Ontario-based company Aphria (TSX: APH) announced the recruitment of Dr. Jonathan Simone as the new Director of Research and Clinical Studies.

Dr. Simone completed his PhD in Neurobiology and Physiology at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. During his time at Brock University, Dr. Simone helped develop a multi-disciplinary cannabinoid research program.

His research on the endocannabinoid system’s effect on social behaviour development was recently honoured with the Scientific Achievement Award at the Annual ICRS Symposium on the Cannabinoids.

Vic Neufeld, Chief Executive Officer of Aphria, issued this statement through a press release about recruiting Dr. Simone:

“Jonathan is a rising star in the medical cannabis research community and we are pleased to welcome him to the Aphria family. He is uniquely qualified to accelerate Aphria’s support for and participation in medical cannabis clinical research to further the Company’s continued global leadership in medical cannabis.”

Dr. Simone also added:

“I am thrilled to be part of an organization that is leading the global medical cannabis industry through an uncompromising commitment to quality, integrity, accountability, and above all else, a dedication to the well-being of their patients.”

He went on to say, “Through rigorous, high-quality research collaborations with world-class medical and academic partners, we will work tirelessly to generate new cannabis knowledge, drive new product innovation, and most importantly, validate the use of cannabis as medicine.”

In his new role with the company, Dr. Simone will coordinate between Aphria’s science, technical, and medical division teams and oversee participation in clinical studies.

In related news, Aphria also recently filed a form 40-F with US regulators to officially list on the New York Stock Exchange.

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