C3 announces new president, a former Canopy exec with extensive public service experience
The Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) has appointed a new president, a former executive at Canopy Growth with extensive experience working within the public sector…
SNDL agrees to deal for four NOVA-operated Value Buds in BC
SNDL Inc. has agreed to assign its rights to own or operate four Dutch Love stores to Nova Cannabis Inc.
Cannabis Jobs Update – April 2024
Looking to work in Canada’s cannabis industry? There is a wide variety of jobs available, ranging from entry-level positions to highly skilled roles.
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.
New Brunswick says it can’t enforce its cannabis laws on First Nations reserves
New Brunswick says it is unable to enforce its provincial cannabis laws on First Nations land, while other provinces take a different stance.
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.
Rubicon Organics shows increased growth in 2023 annual report
BC-based cannabis producer Rubicon Organics Inc. reported an increase in net revenue and a decrease in net profit in its recent year-end results for 2023.
Nova Cannabis reports first year of net earnings, driven by data licensing program
Cannabis retailer Nova Cannabis Inc. reported its first year of net revenue in 2023, as part of its recently-released annual report.
Toronto wants more money from the province to deal with a growing number of illegal cannabis stores
The head of Toronto’s licensing and standards department says the city needs more money to enforce the law against a growing number of illegal cannabis…
Alberta worker wins appeal to have medical cannabis covered by Worker’s Compensation Board
An Albertan recently won an appeal to have their medical cannabis covered by Workers’ Compensation.
Ontario to add $31 million to budget to deal with increasing number of illegal cannabis stores
Ontario is planning to add $31 million to its budget to address illegal cannabis stores and websites operating in the province.
New Brunswick introducing legislative changes to reduce illicit cannabis sales
New Brunswick government has introduced amendments to its Cannabis Control Act with the goal of increasing compliance with provincial rules, reducing the sale of illegal…
Sales up, losses down for Auxly in 2023
The cannabis producer’s newest annual report also shows a net income of $3.9 million compared to a net loss of $66 million in the previous…
$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.
Government’s expert panel calls for pharmacy access to medical cannabis
As a way to improve access to cannabis for medical purposes, the federal government’s expert review panel is suggesting allowing sales through pharmacies.
Media continues to misreport issues relating to illicit cannabis edibles
Following an incident in Halifax where several students under the age of twelve were taken to hospital after eating cannabis edibles, a new media report…
Peers Cannabis’ Giggly Bits Sativa recalled due to minor labelling error
The Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) has appointed a new president, a former executive at Canopy Growth with extensive experience working within the public sector…
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.
Organigram receives final ruling from Health Canada: Jolts are an edible
The company says it has stopped the production of Jolts in their current format and is currently working with Health Canada on timing to sell…
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.
Federal, provincial governments must address barriers for small cannabis companies
Small-scale, craft cannabis producers may choose to move back into the illicit market if the barriers to the market are not addressed, says a new…
Canada tables final Report of the Legislative Review of the Cannabis Act
The Government of Canada released its final report on its review of the Cannabis Act, identifying 54 recommendations and 11 observations on how to strengthen…
SNDL reports $112 million loss from cannabis operations and $4.9 million in retail cannabis earnings
Alberta-based SNDL reported an operating income loss of $112 million for its cannabis operations and net earnings of $4.9 million for its retail cannabis operations…
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…
Younger Canadians more likely to use cannabis than older Canadians
Over one-third of adults aged 18 to 44 years and one in seven adults aged 45 years and older had used cannabis in 2023, according…
Ontario Chamber of Commerce calls on province to modernize cannabis sector
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has called on the province to modernize the Ontario cannabis market as part of its 2024 provincial budget submission.
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 Inc. reports increased revenue, declining losses, in newest quarterly report
High Tide Inc. is now the second-largest cannabis retailer in North America by store count, according to the company’s newest quarterly report.
Manitoba’s LGCA plans to review Province’s cannabis consumption ban
Manitoba’s LGCA was planning a review of the province’s ban on consuming cannabis in public this year, but paused the process as it awaits direction…
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…
Low-THC products can make brands stand out to niche demand, producers say
Brands can differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering low-THC potency products, but the demand for non-dominant THC cannabis is more complicated, three producers told…
Village Farms’ Canadian cannabis operations report net income of $4 million for 2023
According to parent company Village Farms International’s newest quarterly report, net sales for Pure Sunfarms and Rose LifeScience increased in the last three months of…
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.
Kelowna cannabis store takes one week suspension for failure to ID minor
A cannabis store in Kelowna, BC, will have to close for a week in April after an employee was alleged to have sold cannabis to…
Cannabis sales increased in Nova Scotia to more than $111 million, driven by sales of local products
The figures, shared in the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation‘s annual report for 2022-2023, show a 9.3% increase in sales from the previous year and a…
Cannabis industry wonders when their relief is coming, too
On March 9, the Canadian government said it plans to provide thousands of dollars in alcohol excise duty relief to Canadian businesses, particularly local craft…
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
Ontario bans home grows in (some) child care settings, allows for agreements with First Nations cannabis stores
Ontario passed legislation this week that, among other things, bans growing cannabis in homes where childcare services are provided and further allows the province to…
Cannabis Jobs Update – March 2024
Here’s our March round-up of just a few of the numerous cannabis job opportunities across Canada.
AGLC reports its first cannabis profits
Alberta’s cannabis distribution agency posted its first year of profits for fiscal year 2022-2023, bringing in over $18 million from over $600 million in sales…
Cannabis sales continued to increase in 2022-2023, with extracts leading the charge
Stats Canada reports that cannabis sales and related activities brought in $1.9 billion for the provincial and federal governments in the year ending March 31,…
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.
Celebrating trailblazing women in cannabis
Celebrating the significant contribution of women leaders who are helping to share the trajectory of the Canadian cannabis industry.
5 ways retailers can grow their sales
The Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) has appointed a new president, a former executive at Canopy Growth with extensive experience working within the public sector…
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
Manitoba group files appeal against cannabis home grow ban
The group challenging Manitoba’s ban on growing cannabis at home filed an appeal on March 1, 2024, against a recent court decision to uphold the…
Nextleaf Solutions reports record revenue
Bucking industry trends, BC-based cannabis company Nextleaf Solutions reported their third profitable quarter this week.
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.
BZAM granted CCAA protection due to ongoing financial challenges
BZAM announced today that it has been granted Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) protection to restructure its business and financial affairs.
Increased cost of production adds to growing concerns for Greenway
Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation’s nearly $1.4 million in revenue in the last three months of 2023 still saw the Ontario cannabis producer in the red…
BC cannabis company is bringing infused poutine to the Quebec market
A British Columbia-based cannabis producer is adding a new twist on a distinctly Canadian dish, a cannabis-infused poutine sauce that will be available for sale…
UBC researchers launch clinical trial exploring CBD for bipolar depression
Researchers at UBC’s faculty of medicine are launching a new, unique clinical trial to investigate the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment for bipolar…
Ontario cannabis store finds creative way to get around social media restrictions
Ontario cannabis retailer Stok’d Cannabis has released a series of ads it says circumvent social media platforms’ restrictions on cannabis advertisements by promoting neighbouring brands.
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…
House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance calling for changes to cannabis tax
The Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) has appointed a new president, a former executive at Canopy Growth with extensive experience working within the public sector…
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.
Burb opens store near UBC after long wait
Following a nearly three-year wait, Burb Cannabis was finally able to open its new location near the University of British Columbia on February 23.
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.
The SQDC pulls back on operating hours of twelve branches
The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) says it will be adjusting the closing time of a dozen locations across the province.
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…
Cannabis stores in Canada evenly distributed across different neighbourhood types
A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto says retail cannabis stores in Canada are evenly distributed across…
Week in Weed – February 17, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending February 17, 2024
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…
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.
BC allows smoking, vaping cannabis on public patios, cannabis stores can now promote places to consume
BC has announced changes to its cannabis regulations that allow retail cannabis stores to promote a place to consume cannabis or to spend time after…
BC CSU raids cannabis stores on K’ómoks First Nation
BC’s Community Safety Unit (CSU) conducted several raids of cannabis stores operating in K’ómoks First Nation on Wednesday, February 14.
SQDC sold more than $200 million worth of cannabis in Q3 2023
Quebec’s Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) brought in $33 million for its third quarter of the 2023-2024 financial year, which ended December 30.
Ontario’s independent cannabis retailers band together to tackle predatory pricing
Independent cannabis retailers in Ontario are fighting back against LPs selling products at what they say are predatory prices in discount chain stores.
Organigram reports $15 million loss due to lower international revenue and medical sale
Organigram reported a net loss of $15.8 million in Q1 2024 and a 16% decrease in net revenue compared to the same period last year.
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.
Christina Lake Cannabis completes acquisition of Midway farm
Christina Lake Cannabis (CLC) first announced the deal on February 5, which included the acquisition of outdoor cultivation facilities in Southern British Columbia, related harvesting…
Health Canada confirms cannabis samples are allowed
Despite some concerns posted online recently, Heath Canada has confirmed that cannabis producers can provide samples to provincially licensed cannabis retailers and their employees.
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
Week in Weed – February 10, 2024
StratCann’s weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending February 10, 2024
314 Pure Cannabis engaged in a Sales Process
314 Pure Cannabis, a cultivation and hydroponic growing cannabis facility located in Alberta, is engaged in a Sales Process.
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…
Canopy Growth reports $216 million loss in most recent quarterly report
Canopy Growth Corporation, the company behind brands like Tweed, reported another loss this quarter of 216.8 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Beaumont, Alberta passes new rules for medical cannabis production
The city of Beaumont, Alberta recently passed new rules to restrict the production of medical cannabis to agricultural land or light industrial areas.
Net loss of $25 million for Aurora Cannabis in most recent quarterly report
Aurora Cannabis Inc. saw a net revenue of $64.4 million and a net loss of $25.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.