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David Brown

David Brown writes about cannabis policy and industry stuff and lives in British Columbia. He likes plants.

Alberta finds doctor guilty of professional misconduct over medical cannabis authorizations

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Shoppers changing its compassionate care program for medical cannabis

| David Brown |
Shoppers Drug Mart has confirmed that it is pausing its Compassionate Care Program for medical cannabis clients. 

BC seeking feedback on cannabis consumption spaces for cafes, festivals, spas, and more

| David Brown |
The BC Government is asking for feedback from the public on their future plans for cannabis consumption spaces.

Ontario study shows illicit edibles have significantly less THC than advertised, high levels of pesticides

| David Brown |
The Ontario Cannabis Store has released a study looking at testing results of legal and illegal cannabis edibles.

Active medical registrations with LPs continue to decline, while personal and designated increase

| David Brown |
The number of Canadians registering to purchase cannabis for medical purposes from licensed producers has been declining since legalization, while the number registered to grow…

Winnipeg moves one step closer to regulating designated medical cannabis grows

| David Brown |
A bylaw preventing designated medical cannabis grows from operating in residential areas in Winnipeg has now moved one step closer to becoming law. 

Updated: RFP process for new private CannabisNB stores to begin summer or fall

| David Brown |
New Brunswick has now passed legislation to allow for new privately run cannabis stores in the province.

Two cannabis retailers share stories of strange scam calls, concerns with connections to robberies

| David Brown |
Two cannabis retailers are sounding the alarm about a scam that appears to be targeting cannabis stores in Canada.

Health Canada to begin granting Dried/Fresh sales licences to all processors

| David Brown |
Health Canada will soon begin granting sales licences to all micro and standard processing during the initial licensing process, without the need to submit a…

Growers left with questions about Shelter Market closure

| David Brown |
Some cannabis growers who sold through the Shelter Market brand say they’ve been left unpaid after the company announced they were closing earlier this year. 

AGCO reverses course, will allow retailers, LPs to white label products

| David Brown |
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has announced that they will allow cannabis retailers in the province to enter into agreements with cannabis…

Cannabis NB pays off $37 million startup loan

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Vancouver budtenders join United Food and Commercial Workers Union

| David Brown |
The BC Budtenders Union says they have recently unionized the first retail cannabis store in BC outside of Vancouver Island.

Increase in cannabis beverage possession limits among several proposed Health Canada reg changes

| David Brown |
Health Canada has opened a public consultation period for proposed changes to the cannabis regulations concerning cannabis research and testing, and cannabis beverages.

Supreme Court of Canada to hear appeal in Quebec home grow case

| David Brown |
The Supreme Court of Canada has said they will hear an appeal to a lower court ruling on Quebec’s home-grown cannabis ban. 

BC to begin stakeholder engagement on cannabis consumption spaces

| David Brown |
The BC government expects to begin stakeholder engagement this spring for potential consumption activities and locations, including special events, lounges, and retail experiences

Philadelphia border agents seize MDMA hidden in soup cans, Tramadol hidden inside cakes

| David Brown |
Philadelphia U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently had a surprise when they found liquid MDMA in soup cans and Tramadol pills concealed inside cakes. 

Some Alberta cannabis retailers ready for online sales and delivery, others are holding off

| David Brown |
Several cannabis retailers in Alberta say they are getting ready to begin cannabis deliveries on March 8, or soon after, as the province shuts down…

Ontario Chamber of Commerce concerned with province’s plan to ban in-house cannabis brands and products

| David Brown |
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce says they are urging Ontario’s cannabis regulator to reconsider new changes to the province’s rules meant to prevent inducements between…

Cannabis producers say new 6% markup on sales in Alberta will be hard to handle

| David Brown |
Alberta cannabis producers say the new added markup to cannabis sold in Alberta will hit producers, already struggling to stay afloat, hard.

The Micro Collective on getting their first two licences, and plans for more

The Micro Collective, seeking to develop several dozen cannabis production licences across Canada has reached a significant milestone in January with their first micro cultivation…

Third cannabis farmgate store coming to New Brunswick

| David Brown |
New Brunswickers in the Miramichi area will soon be able to buy cannabis directly from the grower at a new cannabis farmgate store in Chatham. 

Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club has website taken down due to provincial investigation

| David Brown |
A Victoria cannabis dispensary had their website taken down today due to an ongoing investigation by the province. 

Aurora Cannabis says to expect legal action to protect their genetic library

| David Brown |
In a conference call today discussing their most recent quarterly reports, Aurora Cannabis’ CEO Miguel Martin told shareholders to expect litigation in the future against…

Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club hit with $6.5 million in fines

| David Brown |
The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, along with its founder Ted Smith, have been issued fines totalling $6.5 million by the BC government for selling cannabis…

Two thirds of micro sales applications have been licensed

| David Brown |
Health Canada has received 32 sales amendment applications from 31 different micro producers since the beginning of legalization. 

AGCO to update rules to prevent inducements between LPs and retailers

| David Brown |
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has released information on new provincial rules preventing inducements between licensed producers and cannabis retailers.

Cannabis clones coming to Newfoundland

| David Brown |
Newfoundlanders who want to grow their own cannabis will soon have access to one of Canada’s first legal, over-the-counter sources of cannabis clones. 

Inspection and Enforcement data for April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 now available

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC MLA questions BC’s lack of consistent enforcement of cannabis laws

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC MLA questions BC’s lack of consistent enforcement of cannabis laws

| David Brown |
Mike Morris, the BC MLA for Prince George/Mackenzie, and official opposition critic for Public Safety and Solicitor General is again asking the BC government for…

Sugar Cane Cannabis on their new micro cultivation licence

The Williams Lake First Nation passed a significant milestone last week with the issuance of a micro cultivation licence to their Sugar Cane Cannabis production…

First Nations cannabis retailer says her community flooded with outsiders taking advantage of lax enforcement

| David Brown |
A cannabis retailer operating on First Nations land near Enderby, BC, says she will soon have to close her doors for good due to competition…

Hop latent viroid continues to infect cannabis across Canada

| David Brown |
A disease that severely damages cannabis plants is rapidly spreading across Canada. 

US border agents seize more than 2,000 pounds of cannabis in shipment from Canada

| David Brown |
US Customs and Border Protection Officers seized more than 2,000 pounds of cannabis coming in from Canada on Thursday. 

Life Cycle Botanics ready to supply genetics to growers

Life Cycle Botanics is a cannabis nursery operating on BC’s Vancouver Island getting ready to begin supplying new genetics to commercial cultivators, especially those in…

BC Chamber of Commerce calls on province to address municipal “cannabis deserts”

| David Brown |
BC’s Chamber of Commerce criticizes province for allowing municipalities to create “cannabis deserts” that hold back the industry. 

BC Chamber of Commerce calls on major changes to BC cannabis laws, policy

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC’s outdoor growers make their way from field to shelf

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC to launch Indigenous cannabis shelf space program January 18

| David Brown |
The BC government says they plan to launch their Indigenous Shelf Space Program on January 18.  

BC cannabis producers prepare for farmgate, but questions remain

| David Brown |
Cannabis producers in BC are looking forward to more details about the province’s farmgate program, to be announced sometime this year. 

Injunction prevents Ontario town from shutting down medical cannabis growers

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Study jumps to several conclusions, blames legalization on an increase in hospital visits among young Ontarians

| David Brown |
A new study showing emergency room visits for young Ontarians has increased since cannabis was legalized in 2018 is making the rounds in the media. 

Micro processor Uniik Organica brings topicals and creams to market

| David Brown | , ,
Uniik Organica is a micro processor in Quebec with a line of body care products being launched in provinces in 2022. 

Three years of legalization brings shift in Canadian attitudes about cannabis and its use

| David Brown |
Canadians seem to be treating cannabis more responsibly since legalization, according to the newest cannabis survey from the Government of Canada. 

Cannabis compliance and enforcement report coming in January

| David Brown |
Health Canada intends to publish its Compliance and Enforcement Report: Cannabis Inspection Data Summary for the fiscal year 2019-2020 in January 2022.

Sweetgrass Cannabis

Kootenay-based Sweetgrass Cannabis recently became the first micro cannabis cultivator in BC to get a sales licence. They hope to have products on shelves in…

Cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd to assist in Manitoba home grow challenge

| David Brown |
An organization challenging Manitoba’s ban on homegrown cannabis announced a new lead counsel for their fight, Jack Lloyd. 

New rules for Alberta cannabis stores to deliver take effect in March 2022

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Legacy era retailer Weeds celebrates their new Vancouver location

| David Brown |
One of Canada’s oldest retail cannabis chains has recently opened its second location. After more than two years of working through the licensing process, Weed’s…

Alberta one step closer to private retailers taking over online sales

| David Brown |
Alberta’s Bill 80, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2021, includes potential changes to the province’s cannabis regulations. The legislation passed second reading this week…

Auditor General report: What Ontario is doing well, where it needs improvement on cannabis

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Behind the scenes at BC’s Organnicraft

The owner of micro cultivator BC Organnicraft has been making waves with consumers with their small-batch, high-quality craft cannabis product for all of 2021, with…

S. Australian legalization bill follows Canada’s lead

| David Brown |
The Australian Green Party has released a bill that proposes to legalize and regulate cannabis in South Australia. 

New Brunswick’s second farmgate store prepares to open its doors

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Metro Van wants all cannabis VOC feedback by December 15

| David Brown |
Metro Vancouver has extended their feedback timeline on their updated proposals for an emission regulation for cannabis production and processing in the region. 

Richmond cannabis applicant delayed again pending site review, says BC Court of Appeal

| David Brown |
The BC Court of Appeals says the city of Richmond does not need to issue a building permit to a cannabis greenhouse seeking to operate…

BC’s distribution system causing challenges for cannabis retailers, producers in wake of road closures

| David Brown |
BC producers trapped behind closed and washed out roads following a major storm that passed through the region on Nov 15 are looking to find…

New Brunswick producer announces province’s first cannabis farmgate store

| David Brown |
Consumers in New Brunswick can now buy cannabis directly from the producer.

Cannabis stores in BC’s Interior expecting delays in product deliveries

| David Brown |
Cannabis retailers in BC’s interior are expecting delays in product deliveries following major road closures from a large storm on Monday.

Alberta sold $470 million worth of cannabis last year, securing 61% of provincial market

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Private cannabis retailers in BC say it’s hard to compete with government-run stores

| David Brown |
A number of private retailers say the BC Cannabis Store, the retail chain managed by the BC government, is making it hard for them to…

The highs and lows of outdoor cannabis production in Canada

| David Brown |
Finding a buyer for outdoor cannabis can be a hard sell, say some gowers, but shifting consumer perceptions and getting creative with what you do…

Nearly half of the new licences this year have been micros

| David Brown |
October was a busy month for small scale cannabis growers, with 12 of the 20 licenses issued being micro cultivators and/or micro processors.

Charges filed against two BC residents for cannabis production & sale

| David Brown |
Police in Delta BC have formally filed charges against two individuals for cannabis processing and distribution. 

Cannabis industry hopeful with new health ministers

| David Brown |
Two cannabis industry leaders say they are hopeful that new appointments to the health ministry could bode well for their efforts at lobbying for changes…

Nova Scotia’s Jazz Cabbage brings their first product to local market

Nova Scotia’s first-ever “seed-to-sale” cannabis micro-producer is hitting shelves at retail locations in November.

Bill tabled in Yukon to allow cannabis retailers to deliver cannabis

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

How can the cannabis industry more effectively lobby for their interests?

| David Brown |
As legalization in Canada reaches the three year mark and the government begins a mandated review of the legislation, the cannabis industry finds itself beset…

Reported cannabis use in Quebec continues to decrease among those under 18 since legalization

| David Brown |
Quebec cannabis survey shows cannabis use increased among Quebecers over the age of 25, but declined among 15- to 17-year-olds.

Some BC cannabis retailers want to accuse province of mismanaging cannabis file

| David Brown |
A group of BC cannabis retailers is calling for the resignation of the province’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth for mismanagement…

BC’s Bud Coast issues voluntary product recall

| David Brown |
Bud Coast, a BC craft cannabis processor, announced to BC retailers today a voluntary recall on their 3.5 gram Salt Spring OG Shark.

Vancouver to lower annual retail cannabis licensing fee, raise one time licensing fee

| David Brown |
Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a measure to cut licensing fees for cannabis stores in half, beginning in 2022.

OPP shifting enforcement focus to suppliers of more than 1,000 illicit online cannabis stores

| David Brown | ,
The Ontario Provincial Police say they have shifted their enforcement against illegal cannabis from storefronts to online platforms—by going after their suppliers. 

Ontario’s third cannabis farmgate store opens its doors to public

| David Brown |
The third cannabis farmgate store in Ontario, Station House Cannabis, had their grand opening today in St. Thomas.

Kootenay cannabis collective hoping to find path to market

A collection of outdoor cannabis growers in BC’s Kootenay region are pooling resources to get their crop to market this fall.

Pineapple Buds head to market

Pineapple Buds is a micro cultivator located on Osoyoos Indian Band land near Oliver, BC, with a focus on what the owner Kyra Horvath says…

Once a prominent topic, cannabis has taken a back seat in this year’s federal election

| David Brown |
As Canada prepares for an election on September 20, politicians’ focus is not on cannabis, a stark contrast from the federal election in 2015, and…

Newest cannabis store robbery reignites calls to change opaque window rules

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC provides more details on direct sales model for fall 2022

| David Brown |
The BC government is finalizing their plans for a direct-delivery program for cannabis nurseries and small scale cultivators, with a target date for implementation of…

Smoker Farms brings legacy experience to the micro market

Smoker Farms is an indoor micro cultivator, licensed in June 2020, located just outside Kelowna, BC.

Court of Appeal sides with Quebec on home grow ban, next step is Supreme Court

| David Brown |
Quebec’s Court of Appeal has sided with the Quebec government this week on the province’s ban on home grown cannabis. The opposition says they plan…

Ontario’s new flow-through model and product call timeline comes with pros and cons, say producers and retailers

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Could Nova Scotia’s new conservative government seek to privatize cannabis retail?

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

BC CSU lists 4 dispensary fines worth $1.2 million, another 29 outstanding

| David Brown |
British Columbia’s cannabis enforcement agency has collected more than $1.2 million in administrative penalties from unlicensed dispensaries since it began enforcement activities in July 2019.

New Brunswick announces plans for cannabis farmgate

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

New Brunswick’s Wildwood Flowr focussing on regenerative cannabis production

Wildwood Flowr Inc. is an outdoor micro cultivation in Westcock, New Brunswick, with a focus on regenerative, organic agriculture.

AtlantiCann’s Msiku takes top prize in first annual Cannabis NB Cup

| David Brown |
Cannabis NB announced the winners of their Cannabis NB cup today, with the top prize going to First Nation’s owned AtlantiCann in Nova Scotia.

Micro producer hopes to change the game with new medical platform

| David Brown |
A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing…

Survey: Canadians supportive of cannabis retail stores in their community

| David Brown |
New research from US-based Weedmaps into the Canadian cannabis market shows that Canadians are now more likely to support the presence of cannabis retail stores…