Canadian retail cannabis sales passed $420m in June 2023
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season.
Updated: Arsonist sets Canna Cabana locations on fire at around 4:20 am
Two Canna Cabana cannabis stores in Burlington, Ontario were the targets of arson early in the morning on August 22
Canopy Growth enters into an agreement for the sale of Hershey Drive facility in Smiths Falls
Canopy Growth says it has entered into an agreement to sell its Hershey Drive facility in Smiths Falls, Ontario, back to Hershey.
Ontario projects $463 million in revenue from cannabis sales, taxes for 2023-24
The Ontario government expects to bring in $269 million from its portion of the federal cannabis excise duty for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Veterans Affairs Canada paid for more than $167 million worth of cannabis in 2022-2023
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) paid for more than $167 million worth of cannabis in 2022-2023, or the equivalent of more than 21 thousand kg going…
Australian Greens introduce their Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023
The Australian Greens tabled a bill to legalize cannabis on Friday, August 10 – the Greens Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023.
International medical cannabis market driving Aurora’s cannabis sales
The Canadian cannabis producer shared the numbers as part of its most recent fiscal 2024 first quarter results on August 10.
Organigram’s application for judicial review of edible extracts ruling approved
A judge has approved Organigram’s application for judicial review of Health Canada’s decision that Jolt’s “ingestible extracts” were in contravention of the federal Cannabis Regulations.
Cronos closing cannabis fermentation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cronos Group says it will be winding down its cannabinoid “Fermentation facility” in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with intentions to list the facility for sale.
Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs)
Founded in 1987, Actlabs offers analytical testing services for the cannabis industry out of their 200,000 sq ft. headquarters in Ontario.
Week in Weed – August 5, 2023
It’s been yet another very busy week in cannabis news. Here’s your headline summary for the week ending August 5, 2023.
North Vancouver Cannabis Education Expo
The North Vancouver Cannabis Education Expo takes place from 11am-7pm on Saturday, August 26th, at the aptly-named North Vancouver Shipyards “Pipe Shop” venue.
Stats Canada says some cannabis users are one toke over the line
A new study from Statistics Canada has found that 1 in 20 Canadians who had consumed cannabis in the past year were at risk for…
US study calls into question accuracy of field sobriety tests for cannabis
Results of a California study question the accuracy of field sobriety tests from law enforcement officers in detecting THC impairment.
UBC and Aurora Cannabis looking at developing better outdoor cultivars for Canada
A researcher at UBCs Biodiversity Research Centre is teaming up with a geneticist at Aurora Cannabis to adapt cannabis for outdoor production.
Week in Weed – July 29, 2023
This week in weed has been a busy one, including Mastercard in the US telling payment companies to stop allowing US customers to buy cannabis…
Nominations now open for Grow Up’s Awards Gala
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Grow Up Awards Gala, set to take place in Victoria, BC, in early October.
Aurora Cannabis closes sale of Sun facility
Aurora Cannabis has closed the sale of its Medicine Hat, Alberta facility to Bevo Farms, a subsidiary of Bevo Agtech Inc.
Week in Weed – July 22, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 22, 2023.
Week in Weed – July 15, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 15, 2023.
Health Canada to begin testing of legal, illegal cannabis
Health Canada is launching a new data-gathering program on cannabis markets in Canada that will include sampling and testing of both legal and illegal products…
Week in weed – July 8, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 8, 2023.
Manitoba micro cultivator part of criminal investigation, property seizure
A man connected to a recently-licensed micro cultivator in Manitoba is part of an ongoing case relating to the illicit production, sale, and distribution of…
Ontario man pleads guilty to smuggling cannabis into US by helicopter
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York says that 28 year old Raminderjit Assi of Hamilton, Ontario, along with a…
Researchers investigate pre-roll grind bioavailability
A group of researchers in Vancouver are trying to help cannabis pre-roll manufacturers better understand the most effective and efficient particle size for ground cannabis…
Study finds room for improvement in Canadian QA/QC standards
Researchers from the University of Ottawa examined the role that quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) play in both ensuring the safety of cannabis…
Week in weed – July 1, 2023
Your weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 1, 2023.
Toronto Police arrest man in connection with violent cannabis store robbery
Toronto Police have arrested a man in connection with an armed cannabis store robbery that occurred on June 21.
BC’s Tantalus Labs lays off majority of workforce as it files for restructuring
Tantalus Labs, a BC-based cannabis grower first licensed in 2017, has announced it’s closing up shop, filed a Notice of Intent for Restructuring in Canadian…
Cannabis sales continue to grow in Canada, as cannabis flower prices appear to bottom out
A new report from US-based Headset looks at the evolution of the legal cannabis market over the four and a half years of legalization.
Kootenay cannabis and music festival enters its sixth year
The 6th annual Unicorn Music Festival, takes place August 11-14 in the Kootenay, BC region, featuring arts, performance, camping and cannabis.
SQDC announces new interim president and CEO
The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) will have a new interim President and Chief Executive Officer as of June 26, 2023, as the agency begins…
BC entrepreneur brings an array of experience to local cannabis industry
Michael Forbes brings his experience in medicine, business management, production, and retail to the cannabis market.
More than $100 million of cannabis sold in Nova Scotia last year
Nova Scotia sold $111.1 million of cannabis in fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year.
Newfoundland sold more than $70 million worth of cannabis in the last year
Newfoundland sold more than $70 million worth of cannabis in the last year, according to Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) Q4 and Fiscal Year…
Cannabis NB issues RFP for storage and distribution
Cannabis New Brunswick has posted an RFP for a third-party logistics provider to handle storage and distribution services in the province.
Lost American arrested at Canadian border with 181 kg of cannabis and over half a million in cash
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season. Total retail sales of…
Cannabis consumers in Canada are willing to pay more for quality, but are still focused on high THC
A recent study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs examined cannabis consumer preferences as they relate to choosing where and what to…
Competition Bureau calls for more THC for edibles, more standardization among provinces
Canada’s Competition Bureau is recommending the government make several changes to cannabis regulations to make the industry more viable for legal business.
Updated: OCS recalls mint CBD spray for being an unlicensed prescription drug
The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) has issued a recall for Feather brand’s Dream Mint CBD Rapid Spray from Motif Labs Ltd.
Lift Expo’s evolution in the Canadian cannabis landscape
Lift Expo returns to Toronto on June 1-3, continuing to build momentum with its redesigned event to meet the needs of today’s industry.
Indigenous man sues BC over CSU raids of his cannabis store
The owner of an indigenous-owned cannabis store in BC that was raided by the province in 2020 is now suing the BC government.
Health Canada will again be extending some of its COVID-19 related measures for the cannabis industry
In a memo sent out to licence holders on May 4, 2023, Heath Canada says it will be extending certain administration and enforcement adjustments beyond…
BC needs someone to take pictures of weed
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season. Total retail sales of…
Victoria Cannabis Buyers club files lawsuit against BC government
The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) announced plans to file an injunction and a constitutional challenge against the provincial government in response to several raids…
Inside the world’s largest legal cannabis distribution centre
The Ontario Cannabis store, through a third party, operates the largest legal cannabis warehouse in the world.
New Brunswick’s first privately-owned cannabis stores could open this summer
The New Brunswick government began the vetting process for ten new private cannabis stores following a tender process that ended in October 2022.
OCS launches Social Impact Fund, encourages organizations to apply
The Ontario Cannabis Store has launched its Social Impact Fund to provide funding for organizations working to promote social responsibility in connection with cannabis.
Price of cannabis in Canada continues to decline, except for medical cannabis
Although the price of many consumer goods has been increasing over the past year, the price of cannabis in Canada continues to decline.
Health Canada issues two new cannabis recalls due to inaccurate cannabinoid levels
Health Canada issued two new recalls of dried cannabis on April 18, one sold in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan.
Inflated THC levels undermine cannabis industry
A new study looking in the US argues that inflated THC levels on cannabis products undermine industry credibility.
Cannabis producers, retailer team up to show support for LGBTQ+ communities
A Manitoba cannabis processor and an Ontario cannabis grower are teaming up with a cannabis retailer in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to show their support for…
BC announces cannabis policy changes aimed at helping industry
In a memo to industry stakeholders, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) says it will be implementing several policy changes aimed at supporting the cannabis…
Cannabis use decreasing in Quebec since legalization, but vaping on the rise
Quebec’s annual survey that follows the evolution of cannabis consumption in the province shows no increase in cannabis use in the province from the previous…
Family petitions Nova Scotia to cover costs for children’s CBD oil
Parents of a six-year-old girl in Nova Scotia are lobbying the provincial government to cover the cost of using cannabis oil for the treatment of…
Ontario police uncover illegal cannabis extraction lab
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season. Total retail sales of…
Health Canada issues product recall for Pure Sun Farms BC Sour Kush for inaccurate labelling
Two lots of Pure Sunfarms Corp.’s Original Fraser Valley Weed Co. BC Sour Kush dried cannabis, sold in Ontario, were recalled due to incorrect cannabinoid…
Herbal Dispatch
The team at Herbal Dispatch brings their legacy savvy to the legal market with a suite of services designed to bring craft cannabis to medical…
Cannabis industry disappointed by lack of tax reform in Budget 2023
The Canadian government says it will continue to monitor the evolution of the cannabis industry, but did not include any significant reforms as part of…
Shoppers Drug Mart to exit medical cannabis market
Shoppers Drug Mart, one of the largest medical cannabis platforms in Canada, announced today its plans to transition out of the business, effective May 15,…
Most cannabis is around 18-24% THC, according to one lab’s results
One cannabis testing lab in Canada says most of the cannabis they have analyzed is around 18-24% THC, with only a fraction cracking the 30…
Health Canada seeks feedback on potential amendments to Cannabis Regulations
Health Canada is seeking feedback from industry stakeholders on potential amendments to the Cannabis Regulations.
BC raids Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club at their new location
BC’s Community Safety Unit, along with Victoria Police were seen raiding the new location of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club today.
Vancouver Island police seize more than $100,000 in cannabis and nicotine vapes
Police on Vancouver Island seized over $100,000 worth of illicit cannabis and nicotine vape products they say were being distributed to minors.
Free market for retailers, but not consumption spaces, says Ford
Doug Ford doesn’t like the idea of cannabis smoking lounges, and also says the market should decide the fate of cannabis stores, not the government.
OPP seize more than $1.8 million worth of cannabis plants, cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin
Ontario Provincial Police say they have seized more than 1,800 cannabis plants, packaged dried cannabis, along with cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin, ketamine, and a large quantity…
Trudeau says it’s time for government to “catch up” and support cannabis industry
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the need for the government to “catch up” with the cannabis industry’s concerns with issues like high taxation in a…
Sea Dog Farm becomes first Sun+Earth certified cannabis grower in Canada
A Vancouver Island outdoor cannabis farmer is the first in Canada to have their cannabis certified through Sun+Earth Certified, a US-based nonprofit third-party certification for…
Cannabis production licenses continue to come in, as licence revocations increase
There were 175 applications to grow or process cannabis commercially in Canada in 2022, the majority of them micros.
More “edible extracts” companies say they will be pausing production
Two more producers of cannabis-infused lozenges have released comments noting they will be adhering to a Health Canada notice to cease sale and distribution of…
Global Cannabis Partnership launches Global Cannabis Trade Association
A Canadian group is launching what they hope will be a global trade organization for the cannabis industry.
Edible extracts, direct delivery make a big splash in BC
The price of cannabis continues to decline in BC, while the number of cannabis stores increases.
Jamaica’s Cannabis Licensing Authority pushes back against concerns with imported Canadian cannabis
Jamaica’s cannabis licensing agency is firing back after a controversy following several articles raised concerns about recent imports of cannabis from Canada.
BC company clarifies that they are not authorized to sell cocaine, psilocybin to the general public
BC-based cannabis company Adastra has issued a press release clarifying that they are not going to be selling coca leaf, psilocybin or cocaine to the…
Surrey Board of Trade says its time for cannabis stores in the city
The Surrey Board of Trade released a report today calling on the local government to begin allowing cannabis retailers to operate in Surrey.
A BC-based cannabis company approved to produce and sell cocaine, psilocybin
BC-based cannabis company Adastra Labs recently announced it has received Health Canada approval to include cocaine under its controlled substances dealer’s license.
Canadians purchased $4 billion worth of cannabis in 2021-2022
Federal and provincial governments have earned $1.6 billion from legal cannabis sales in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.
Police in BC seize 52 kg of cannabis during traffic stop
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season. Total retail sales of…
Few if any harms associated with moderate cannabis use and lung function
Researchers in Australia say they have found no consistent association between cannabis use and measures of lung function.
Italian police seize more than 100 kg of cannabis from Canada
Police in Italy say they have seized more than 100 kg of cannabis in a shipment from Canada.
Cannabis businesses rally behind banking lawsuit
The Canadian cannabis industry is reacting to a recent lawsuit filed against several Canadian lending institutions.
Nova Scotia sold $27 million worth of cannabis in Q3 as local product sales increase
The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) says cannabis sales were $27.6 million for the third quarter of 2022/23, an increase of 9.2 percent from the…
Ghost Drops closes Toronto store after purchasing production facility
Following the acquisition of a processing facility in 2022, popular cannabis brand Ghost Drops says they have closed their flagship Toronto retail location.
SQDC in Q3: Net income of $32.2 million from $187.3 million in sales
During its third reporter quarter of 2022, the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) recorded an overall net income of $32.2 million from $187.3 million in…
Canada assessed more than $500 million in excise taxes for fiscal year 2020-2021
Cannabis sales in Canada passed the 420 million mark again in June, following a slight decline after the Christmas shopping season. Total retail sales of…
Two break-ins at Quebec cannabis stores in one week
Quebec police are investigating a break-in to a cannabis store over the weekend, according to several media reports.
Sundial Cannabis announces layoffs as part of “rightsizing” efforts
Alberta-based cannabis producer Sundial announced today that it will be laying off about 85 people as part of a financial “rightsizing”.
Canopy Growth closing Tweed’s Smiths Falls facility, laying off 800 workers
Canopy Growth has announced they are laying off 800 workers and will be closing its flagship facility at the former Hershey factory in Smiths Falls.
Peace Naturals recalls Spinach GMO Cookies pre-rolls from Ontario, Alberta due to inaccurate labels
Peace Naturals Project Inc. has recalled two lots of Spinach GMO Cookies pre-rolls, sold in Ontario and Alberta.
Survey illustrates highs and lows of emerging cannabis market
A recent survey of Canadian cannabis licence holders gives some insight into the changing dynamics of the industry and the differences in perspectives and approaches…