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
Several interesting, unique stories came from StratCann this past week. David Brown published an in-depth look at the current state of the hemp industry in…
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
Several interesting, unique stories came from StratCann this past week. David Brown published an in-depth look at the current state of the hemp industry in…
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
Several interesting, unique stories came from StratCann this past week. David Brown published an in-depth look at the current state of the hemp industry in…
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
Several interesting, unique stories came from StratCann this past week. David Brown published an in-depth look at the current state of the hemp industry in…
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
Several interesting, unique stories came from StratCann this past week. David Brown published an in-depth look at the current state of the hemp industry in…
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.
The long road to crafting the perfect crop, with Alberta’s Wildwood Weed
Licensed in late 2022, Alberta’s Wildwood Weed is finally ready to bring its first crop to market, launching in Saskatchewan in November.
Canada releases What We Heard Report on the Cannabis Act review
Health Canada has released their What We Heard Report on the ongoing legislative review of the Cannabis Act.
Growing Relationships – Manitoba Agenda
Event details for our Growing Relationships Manitoba attendees.
Cannabis farm leads Kitchener RCMP to large drug bust, six arrests
The RCMP in Kitchener, Ontario say the discovery of thousands of cannabis plants led to the seizure of several other controlled substances and guns, and…
Emblem recalls CBD vape pen for inaccurately labelled CBD
The recall is for one lot of Emblem Cannabis’ Divvy Nebula II CBD 510 Vape Cartridge, sold through authorized retailers in Ontario and Manitoba.
CertiCraft
Launched in 2020, CertiCraft is a seed-to-sale solution for licensed cannabis producers who want to streamline operations and save hours on monthly reporting.
Unlicensed cannabis store in Saint John raided, one arrested
Officers with New Brunswick’s Department of Justice and Public Safety seized contraband cannabis and various illegal products from a storefront in Saint John on September…
BC’s Life Cycle Botanics on what it means to be a full-service cannabis nursery
Utilizing a big picture, “holistic” approach to genetic selection and supply, Life Cycle launched in October 2021 and has quickly established itself as one of…
Updated: OCS issues recall for two cannabis products for incorrect THC
The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) has issued a recall for two cannabis products this week for incorrect THC values.
2023 Vancouver Island Farm Tour – itinerary
Details and updates for attendees of the September 30, 2023 Vancouver Island Farm Tour.
Cities in BC still asking for their share of cannabis tax
In a resolution to be considered at this week’s annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention, the government of Port Moody, with support from the…
BZAM cuts more than 90 personnel as company refocusses to two production sites
The company also says it is “focusing the scope of activities” at its facility in Pitt Meadows, BC facility and “concentrating other activities at its…
High Tide announces new consumer-facing digital magazine
High Tide, owner of a chain of cannabis stores across Canada, is launching a new consumer-facing digital magazine.
Manitoba Liberal Party wants to target black market cannabis
The Manitoba Liberal Party is including cracking down on illicit online cannabis sales as part of its platform in the lead-up to the provincial election…
Listening to legacy experts and understanding cannabis consumers the key to company’s success
One of Canada’s leading cannabis producers, Adastra Holdings, attributes its success to identifying and addressing gaps within the industry.
Hidden Harvest Inc. and Remix Genetics collaborate to introduce seedless cannabis genetics to the Maritimes
Hidden Harvest Inc. and Remix Genetics are teaming up to bring “seedless” cannabis cultivars to the Maritime provinces.
Two cannabis stores in New Brunswick raided, three arrested
Department of Justice and Public Safety peace officers in New Brunswick recently seized cannabis products, psilocybin, contraband cigarettes, and cash from two locations in the…
RCMP considering changes to cannabis policy for some employees
The RCMP is considering changing its policy that currently requires many employees, including front-line officers, to refrain from consuming cannabis for four weeks prior to…
Substance Law
Substance Law began in June 2018, offers services for cannabis clients across Canada with a focus on the Ontario retail cannabis market.
Large shipment of Canadian cannabis seized in the Netherlands
More than 1,000 kilograms of cannabis shipped from Canada was recently seized in the Netherlands.
Reminder: Some of Health Canada’s COVID-19-related “flexibilities” expire Sept 30
Health Canada is reminding federal cannabis licence holders that some covid-related “flexibilities” will end September 30, while others will continue.
Cannabis sales continue to increase in Nova Scotia, with local products now more than 30% of sales
Nova Scotia sold $29.1 million worth of cannabis in its first quarter of 2023, from April 1, 2023-July 2, 2023.
Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo is in Toronto, September 12-15
Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo is the first cannabis conference brought to you by Canadian retailers, delivering four full days of immersive training and education, a…
UBC opens new Biology of Cannabis course
The University of British Columbia Vancouver campus is launching a new Biology of Cannabis course this year, starting in January 2024.
BC cannabis sales increase as prices continue to drop
Cannabis sales continue to increase as prices continue to drop in BC, according to a new wholesale quarterly report for April to June, 2023.