Poilievre promises to preserve Canada’s pot legacy-April Fool’s!
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.
Trudeau expected to ask for a marijuana mulligan with legalization-April Fool’s!
The federal government is expected to make several announcements this week on the cannabis file, StratCann has learned through a super-secret inside source.
Week in Weed – March 30, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending March 30, 2024.
$5,000 fine for Winnipeg woman who gave out cannabis edibles on Halloween
A woman who says she accidentally handed out illegal cannabis edibles on Halloween in 2022 has received a $5,000 fine from a provincial court.
Peers Cannabis’ Giggly Bits Sativa recalled due to minor labelling error
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
Week in Weed – March 23, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending March 23, 2024.
Retail cannabis sales declined again in January after holiday spike
Retail cannabis sales in January 2024 dropped to their lowest in nearly a year, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.
Toronto police arrest man connected to cannabis store robberies
Toronto Police Services say they made an arrest in a series of robberies of four cannabis stores in the city that were conducted over the…
Week in Weed – March 16, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending March 16, 2024
High Tide to acquire Queen of Bud
The deal will bring all related IP and trademarks associated with Queen of Bud under High Tide’s umbrella. Queen of Bud’s founder, Ashley Newman, will…
Niagara police investigating armed robbery of cannabis store
Police in Niagara say they are investigating an armed robbery at a cannabis store on March 11.
BC’s Good Buds Company posts notice of intent, path to debt restructuring
BC outdoor cannabis growers Good Buds Company Inc. filed a notice of intention to make a proposal pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Week in Weed – March 9, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending March 9, 2024
Cannabis industry union adds new stores, loses one
Employees at a Vancouver cannabis store that joined the BC Budtenders Union in 2022 quietly voted to decertify the union a few months later.
Cannabis consumption spaces beginning to open in BC
A cannabis store in Penticton hopes to become the first cannabis store in the province with a designated consumption area.
36 kg of cannabis from Toronto intercepted at Dublin Airport
Officers from Irish Revenue and Customs seized 36 kg of cannabis on March 2, arresting a man in his 20s who arrived on a flight…
Week in Weed – March 2, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending March 2, 2024
Cronos shows declining losses, increased cost of sales in 2023
Cronos Group Inc. says it has improved its cash flow in 2023 due to lower operating expenses and increased exposure to international markets.
Avant Brands brings in $30 million in revenue with a $5 million loss
Kelowna-based Avant Brands Inc. announced its audited financial results for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023.
Household spending on legal cannabis increases while illegal decreases
Household spending on cannabis in Canada declined in the last two years, following an increase in the first three years of legalization.
Study raises questions about accuracy of eyelid tremor as evidence of cannabis impairment
A new study is questioning the accuracy of a method used by police to determine cannabis impairment.
Unlicensed cannabis store in New Brunswick fined $20,000
The owners of an unlicensed cannabis store in New Brunswick have been fined $20,000 following a raid in 2022, while charges against two men connected…
Wayne Patrick Consumer Products pursuing a Sale, Refinancing and Investment Solicitation Process due to insolvency
Two Ontario-based cannabis companies are pursuing a Sale, Refinancing and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP) through court due to low cash flow.
Community Savings rolls out pre-approved credit cards for cannabis members
Community Savings, a BC-based credit union, has announced the launch of pre-approved business credit cards for its cannabis membership. This industry-first offer finally gives cannabis…
Canadian Cannabis Exchange facilitates sale of Ogen production facility and equipment
Canadian Cannabis Exchange Ltd., through the court appointed Receiver, Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc., announces the exclusive sale of Ogen Ltd. property, which includes a…
Week in Weed – February 24, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending February 24, 2024
New Brunswick’s eighth private cannabis store opens in Hampton
New Brunswick recently announced the eighth private retail cannabis store in the province, it’s located in Hampton, about a 30-minute drive from Saint John.
Kootenay Cultivar makes the most of micro
Licensed in 2022, micro cultivator and processor, Kootenay Cultivar, has been making a name for itself through hard work, attention to detail, and a unique…
Community Savings Credit Union announces affordable invoice factoring for cannabis licensed producers
A BC-based credit union is launching a new invoice factoring program intended to meet the needs of British Columbia’s federally licensed cannabis producers.
Cannabis Industry Forum finally formally announced
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has finally formally announced its Cannabis Industry Forum.
A Manitoba cannabis brand is taking a former partner to court
TobaGrown, Inc. and TobaRolling, Inc. filed a notice of claim in Manitoba on February 16 against the owners of Kief Cannabis Company, Ltd. and Lucky…
Kelowna cannabis store fined $7,000 for failing to check ID
It was an expensive Valentine’s Day for one cannabis store in Kelowna when a judge ordered the store to pay a $7,000 fine for an…
BC micro files notice of claim alleging non-payment from processing partner
A micro producer in BC has filed a notice of claim in provincial court alleging a third-party processor did not pay him for products they…
ALCannTrace provides streamlined seed-to-sale record keeping for the cannabis industry
ALCannTrace is a web-based seed-to-sale record-keeping software solution with a medical e-commerce option that has been developed specifically for Canadian cannabis license holders.
Recall of BonBon Turkish Delight cannabis edibles in Ontario
Health Canada has issued a recall for two lots of WellCann Intl. Inc.’s BonBon Turkish Delight – Lokum edible cannabis sold in Ontario.
Manitoba announces several new cannabis distributors
On February 9, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries announced five companies that successfully applied to provide cannabis distribution services in the province.
Cannabis Jobs Update – February 2024
Interested in joining the cannabis industry? Numerous cannabis job opportunities await across Canada. Check out just a few of them below in our February roundup
Evidence, charges thrown out after Hamilton police found to violate Charter rights in “no-knock” raid
The case against a woman related to a 2021 raid by police in Ontario has been thrown out of court, along with collected evidence, after…
PPB Analytical brings a decade of experience to the cannabis industry
Accredited analytical testing lab PPB Analytical offers cannabis testing for potency, terpene profiling, pesticides, solvents and more. Improve safety with integrity.
Toronto area cannabis store forced to print out entire script of Shrek on customer receipt
A prankster forced a Toronto cannabis dispensary to print out the entire script of Shrek last month, something the retailer’s e-commerce provider says they quickly…
GrowerIQ completes acquisition of Ample Organics
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
Three month decline in retail cannabis sales in 2023
Cannabis retail sales continued to decline in Canada from a peak in August 2023, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.
Simply Solventless acquires Lamplighter
Simply Solventless Concentrates (SSC), the company behind Frootyhooty and Astro Labs, announced today that it has acquired the Lamplighter recreational cannabis brand for $600,000.
OGEN initiates sale of brand, intellectual property, product line, genetics
OGEN, a cannabis company that recently announced it was shutting down, has initiated the sale of its brand, intellectual property, product line, and genetics.
Safari Flower Group receives CCAA protection
Safari Flower, an Ontario-based cannabis producer, received CCAA protection on January 12, listing over $55 million in liabilities.
Proficiency Testing Canada improves laboratory data quality with real cannabis samples
Proficiency Testing Canada (PTC) is a not-for-profit organization that improves laboratory data quality by providing laboratories with essential quality assurance tools.
Two cannabis stores in BC targeted in early morning burglaries
Two BC cannabis stores have faced break-ins this week, causing significant damage to the stores and a loss of product.
Canadian cannabis company named in lawsuit against federal government
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
Cannabis Jobs Update – January 2024
Explore current job opportunities in the ever-evolving cannabis industry. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newcomer looking to enter the field, our monthly curated…
Trygg Collection variety Pack recalled in BC due to labelling error
Flowerchild Research has recalled one lot of its Trygg Collection Block Party Variety Pack of pre-rolls sold in BC due to a labelling error.
Top seven Canadian cannabis stories of 2023
Explore the pressing issues that surfaced in the Canadian cannabis industry in 2023. Our summary brings together key topics we’ve covered, putting these hot-button issues…
Changes to cannabis rules and regulations in 2023
Exploring the impact of the changes and evolution in Canadian cannabis rules and regulations during 2023.
BC First Nation files lawsuit against group it says is using its land to grow and sell cannabis without licence
A First Nation in British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against individuals it says are, among other activities, using the Nation’s land for growing and…
Auxly recalls one lot of Mandarin Cookies in Manitoba due to minor labelling error
Auxly Ottawa has recalled one lot of its Back Forty Sativa Mandarin Cookies dried cannabis sold in Manitoba, due to a labelling and packaging error.
Alberta announces several changes to retail cannabis regulations through Red Tape Reduction
Alberta has announced several changes to their retail cannabis regulations that will come into force on January 31, 2024, including allowing cannabis retailers to operate…
Health Canada detects four new synthetic cannabinoids in Canada
Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service (DAS) identified 29 new psychoactive substances in 2022, including four cannabinoids.
OCS continues to grow, with nearly $1.5 billion in wholesale sales in 2022-23
The Ontario Cannabis Store helped facilitate $1.43 billion in wholesale cannabis sales through the distribution of 315,000 kilograms of cannabis products across a network of…
Ontario township has spent more than $800,000 fighting legal cannabis producers
An Ontario township has spent close to a million dollars trying to fight legal cannabis, says Mayor Randy Greenlaw.
Health Canada approves a novel EEG-driven research model to study non-therapeutic effects of cannabis
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
North Okanagan micro takes holistic approach to cannabis
Located in BC’s North Okanagan, Living Cannabis takes a high-tech, low-impact approach to its small-batch cannabis grown in living soil.
Calgary Police: 12 cannabis store robberies in past month
Calgary Police are asking the public for help in identifying multiple suspects believed to be connected to a series of violent armed robberies at several…
BZAM enters into agreement to acquire Final Bell’s Canadian operation
BZAM announced today it has entered into a definitive share exchange agreement to acquire Final Bell Canada Inc. a hardware, packaging and brand development company…
Total unpackaged cannabis inventory, production space continue to decline
The amount of unpackaged inventory cannabis producers are sitting on has continued to decline from a peak in late 2022, while approved indoor grow space…
BC Supreme Court puts pause on province’s efforts to seize $12 million in properties connected to illegal cannabis, psilocybin dispensaries
BC’s Director of Civil Forfeiture wants to seize a number of properties, a vehicle, and money they say are connected to a group illegally selling…
FAAFO Cannabis says micro is the way to go
Paul Pruessmann and Vincent Lanci recently launched FAAFO Cannabis, a micro cultivator located in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, after purchasing the facility from another grower…
Ontario to allow retailers to own up to 150 cannabis stores, proposing to ban cannabis cultivation in home-based child care facilities
New legislation in Ontario will, if passed, double the number of cannabis stores a retailer can operate from 75 to 150 and will ban the…
BZAM brought in $1.6 million in gross profit in Q3 2023
BZAM Ltd. reported its third-quarter financial results for 2023 posting $21 million in revenue, with $1.6 million in direct gross profit.
OCS announces first round of Social Impact Fund partnerships
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
Cronos enters into deal to sell, leaseback Peace Naturals Campus
Cronos Group Inc. says it has entered into an agreement to sell and lease back its Stayner, Ontario facility known as the “Peace Naturals Campus.”
CBSA seize second shipment of Canadian cannabis heading to Caribbean
Canada Border Services Agents in Nova Scotia have again seized a large quantity of suspected cannabis on its way to the Caribbean in October.
Cannabis sales declined in September
Retail cannabis sales in Canada declined 4.9% in September, from a high of $589 million to $560 million, although sales continue to increase annually.
Cannabis company working to preserve Lasqueti Island’s unique cannabis culture
A micro cultivator and processor is working to keep the cannabis culture alive on BC’s Lasqueti Island.
New study suggests cannabis users may have greater “emotional comprehension”
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience earlier this month found that cannabis users have greater emotional comprehension, a form of cognitive empathy.
PEI sold nearly $23 million worth of cannabis in 2022-23
PEI sold nearly $23 million worth of cannabis, the equivalent of 4,094 kg, in the 2022-23 fiscal year period from April 1, 2022, to March…
Toronto city councillor asking Ontario where additional promised cannabis tax revenue went
A Toronto city councillor wants to know why Ontario has not shared the additional promised tax revenue from cannabis sales with the city.
SQDC sold more than $150 million worth of cannabis this summer
Quebec brought in $61.4 million from cannabis sales and taxes in the second quarter of this year from $151.7 million in sales.
Health Canada collected $60 million in cannabis fees in past year
Pierre Poilievre announced today that he plans to improve the cannabis industry once he becomes President of Canada.“For too long Canada’s hard-working weed-growers have toiled…
Strike at dozens of SQDC stores now coming to an end
A strike that had impacted dozens of cannabis stores in Quebec for more than a year is coming to an end.
Canopy Growth operating at less of a loss than a year ago
Canopy Growth brought in $39 million from its Canadian cannabis businesses in the past three months, down from $52 million in the same quarter in…
Strike at SQDC locations could be ending soon
A strike that has been affecting 24 SQDC cannabis retail outlets across Quebec could be ending soon, says the union behind the action.
Aurora Cannabis’ growth buoyed by increased medical exports, cut flower business
Aurora Cannabis is seeing an increase in sales of cannabis for medical purposes, buoyed by export markets, as well as a decline in sales in…
Nova Cannabis sees increasing revenue from data licensing, private label partnerships
Nova Cannabis Inc., a retail chain with 92 locations in three provinces, says it’s beginning to see consistent green on its spreadsheet through market stabilization,…
Global tobacco giant ups investment in Canadian cannabis producer Organigram
British American Tobacco (BAT) announced today that it will invest nearly $125 million into New Brunswick’s Organigram and more than doubling its equity position in…
Cannabis sales continue to grow across Canada
Cannabis sales continue to climb in Canada, with more than $460 million sold by the 3,600+ cannabis retailers nationwide.
University of Alberta researchers exploring cannabis use for relief of menopause discomfort
A study released earlier this year by researchers from the University of Alberta examined cannabis use for relief from discomfort associated with menopause.
Canadian producers still sitting on more than 1 million kg of dried cannabis
Cannabis producers in Canada are sitting on more than one million kilograms of unsold cannabis, a number that has remained relatively stable since September 2020.
Data presented by Health Canada indicate cannabis exports may continue growing
Health Canada expects cannabis exports to continue to increase significantly, with more than a thousand applications already submitted as of September 12, 2023.
Cannabis sales continue to increase in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia saw an 8.7 percent increase in cannabis sales in its second quarter of 2023, to $31.4 million.
Health Canada announces changes to sale authorization of cannabis products to processing licences
Health Canada announced changes to the process of adding sale authorization of cannabis products to processing licences.
Five years into legalization, cannabis industry reaches saturation point as legal weed takes more than 70% market share
Five years into legalizing cannabis in Canada, the industry appears to be beginning to reach a saturation point.