The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Jan. 23, edition that investors are betting Canada's smaller financial firms could see a jump in revenues after they helped finance marijuana companies ahead of the country's planned legalization of the drug this year. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that equity offerings by Canadian weed companies tripled to a record high of nearly $1-billion (U.S.) in 2017, with nearly two-thirds of that in the final quarter. Much of the issuance for pot producers has been led by small independent brokers, such as Canaccord Genuity Group. In addition to being paid underwriting fees, the brokers can sometimes receive warrants, which could have become significantly more valuable after a surge in the marijuana companies' stock, market players said. BMO Nesbitt Burns's move last week to help Canopy Growth raise $200.7-million (Canadian) was a sign that established brokers were likely to take some market share away from the smaller brokers. Smaller players,, however, have an early lead in financing research and banking relationships with marijuana companies after bigger, bank-owned rivals saw the industry as too risky or bad for their reputations, market players said.