The maker of Marlboro cigarettes is reportedly in talks to buy a stake in Canadian cannabis producer Aphria

Shares of Aphria, a Canadian-based cannabis producer, rallied more than 16% Wednesday after a report said that Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, was in talks to buy a minority stake in the company, the Globe & Mail reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Officials at both Altria and Aphria didn’t immediately respond to a request for comments.

Wednesday’s report is the latest in a series of moves the tobacco industry is making in an effort to enter the cannabis space.

In June, Imperial Brands, one of the world’s largest tobacco giants teamed up with the rapper Snoop Dogg’s cannabis-focused venture firm, Casa Verde Capital, to invest in medical cannabis research.

But its not just tobacco companies that are getting into the cannabis game. Beverage makers have also been entering the industry.

In August, Constellation Brands, the beverage maker behind Corona beer and Svedka vodka, announced a $4 billion investment in the Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth, giving it a 38% stake once the deal is complete.

The story is developing..