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.
BC gov reviewing cannabis sampling rules for producers, retailers
The BC government is reviewing its rules about cannabis sampling between producers and retailer stores, which some provinces already allow.
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.
AGCO, OCS rolling out new POS data platform
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) have developed a new data platform to help simplify retailers’ cannabis…
Conservative Party policy proposal calls to abolish medical cannabis tax
The head of a regional Conservative electoral district association in New Brunswick has put forward a policy proposal to abolish excise tax on medical cannabis.
Alberta to consider white label cannabis products
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), Alberta’s cannabis regulator, is exploring the possibility of allowing white-label cannabis products in the province.
Metro Vancouver rethinking regulation of cannabis VOCs
Metro Vancouver’s Regional Board (MVRD) of Directors says they want to collaborate with other provincial agencies on any potential regulation of cannabis farm emissions rather…
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…
Vancouver’s High Hopes launches cannabis substitution project
High Hopes Foundation in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside exploring cannabis as a substitute for several alcohol dependence.
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.
Surrey city council votes to refer report on cannabis back to city staff
Surrey city council has voted to send a report on cannabis retail stores back to city staff to be retooled before it will be considered.
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.
Surrey City Council to consider framework to approve cannabis stores
City Council in Surrey BC, is developing a plan to potentially consider cannabis retail store applications.
Week in Weed – July 22, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 22, 2023.
Manitoba taking steps to mitigate strike’s impact on cannabis sales
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries says that while it is “severely impacted” by the MGEU strike action, it has developed a contingency plan in advance to…
Alberta government selling off giant donair costume meant to draw attention to cannabis-impaired driving
The Alberta government is auctioning off a donair costume the government purchased in 2015 for use in a traffic safety video campaign.
Team fighting Manitoba’s home grow ban are back in court in September
The group challenging Manitoba’s ban on home-grown cannabis will head back to court in September to make new arguments for why the provincial ban is…
OCS DC now accepting deliveries from smaller vehicles
As of July 17, the OCS Distribution Centre (DC) will accept deliveries from sprinter vans carrying up to 260 master cases per delivery and “alternative…
First Nations community near Regina opens “sovereign” cannabis store
One First Nations community in Saskatchewan recently opened retail store Miyo Askiy Cannabis Co. under their own local regulations.
Pitt Meadows, BC now accepting retail cannabis applications on a case-by-case basis
Pitt Meadows in BC, which had previously banned cannabis stores, has now passed Seed & Stone application at third reading by city council.
BC cannabis producer loses 120 kg of cannabis in early morning burglary
BC producer Pistol and Paris, located in Agassiz, was robbed early this morning with several men in a truck getting away with 120kg of cannabis.
High marks for distribution models in Saskatchewan and Manitoba
In Canada, each province and territory has a unique cannabis distribution model. Though by no means perfect, many retailers and LPs rank Saskatchewan and Manitoba…
Week in Weed – July 15, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 15, 2023.
BC asking for feedback on changes to where people can consume cannabis
The BC Government planning several changes to provincial cannabis rules, aiming to assist the cannabis industry and cannabis tourism in BC.
Organigram blames lower sales on THC inflation and no longer being able to sell “ingestible extracts”
New Brunswick-based cannabis producer Organigram says its net revenue and margins decreased in the third quarter of 2023 due to the declining price of cannabis…
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…
Ontario Cannabis Store launches cannabis awareness campaign
The Cannabis Made Clear campaign is part of the OCS’s mandate to promote responsible consumption of cannabis, and includes marketing campaigns across the province.
Metro Van continues to call for regulation of cannabis farm emissions
The revisions, presented in a staff report on July 6, include allowing for more flexibility for the type of required emission control technology in cannabis…
Australian cannabis legalization bill could be tabled as early as August: Senator
Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge has been leading the charge for legalization Down Under, and hopes to table new legislation in August in federal parliament.
Week in weed – July 8, 2023
The weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 8, 2023.
A BC cannabis producer wants people to know he’s not part of the government
A producer in BC, BC Cannabis Inc., is trying to let retailers know they are not affiliated with the BC government.
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…
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…
Week in weed – July 1, 2023
Your weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending July 1, 2023.
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.
Lit Research provides space for sensory testing of cannabis products in downtown Toronto
Launched in the fall of 2022, Lit Research bills itself as a hub for the cannabis community, helping cannabis producers and brands to provide a…
Court finds Yukon man guilty following 2020 recall of cannabis-infused jerky that led to several hospitalizations
Two and a half years after Yukon issued a recall of jerky due to possible contamination with THC, one man has been found guilty of…
Week in weed – June 24, 2023
Our weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending June 24, 2023.
Ontario, BC, helps drive cannabis sales in April as overall market growth slows
Ontario and British Columbia, along with Alberta and Saskatchewan, helped drive retail cannabis sales up by just over 1 percent in April compared to March.
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.
Ontario looking at cannabis marketing rules and window covering requirements for cannabis stores
Ontario’s cannabis regulator is launching a consultation on the topics of window coverings on cannabis stores and advertising and promotion.
New cannabis licence applications continue to come in, even as revocations increase
Micro cannabis licences continue to grow in popularity in Canada, with almost 42 percent of all licences micros as of March 31, 2023. Just over…
Week in weed – June 17, 2023
Weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending June 17.
Pineapple Express ends deliveries following Fire & Flower filing for creditors’ protection
Pineapple Express Delivery, a cannabis delivery company operating in several provinces, closed up shop in the wake of its parent company, Fire & Flower, filed…
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…
More than 100 budtenders in Manitoba accept their first collective agreement
Employees at a Manitoba chain of stores have signed a collective agreement with UCFW, concerns with safety, rates of pay and unfair penalties.
Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples calls for jurisdiction over cannabis possession, sale, distribution in Canada
It’s been another busy, news-filled week at StratCann, where we ran a piece looking at CannStandard’s Dried Flower Price Outline 2021-2023. We also covered: UBC and…
Canadian cannabis companies increasingly exploring export market
Canadian licensed producers might be enduring an oversupply and price compression challenge domestically, but troubles within the country’s borders aren’t swaying LPs from looking overseas…
Illicit cannabis website in PEI leads to conditional sentences for two
Two Ontario men operating an illegal cannabis website in PEI received conditional sentences from a Supreme Court Justice in PEI.
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.
New Brunswick’s sixth cannabis farmgate set to open soon
New Brunswick’s sixth cannabis farmgate store, Greenherb Farms is opening June 23, located about 45 minutes outside of Moncton.
Cannabis recalled for labelling error, THC higher than on package
The two lots of dried cannabis from Aarons BCBud—Lindsay OG and Island MKU—were recalled due to labelling errors.
New Brunswick’s first private cannabis store to open June 14
Cannabis Xpress, located in Grand Bay-Westfield, a town of about 5,000 located 15 minutes outside of Saint John, is the first of up to ten…
Cannabis sales in Quebec plateauing, as SQDC continues to focus on enhancing consumer experience
Jacques Farcy, President and of CEO the SQDC, the agency needs to continue improving customer experiences in order to expand its reach into the illicit…
Week in Weed – June 10, 2023
Weekly round-up of news headlines in the cannabis industry for the week ending June 10
Dynaleo Inc, Dynaleo Group Services Inc. filed a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal
Dynaleo, a premier cannabis edibles facility located in AB, investment or acquisition opportunity.
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…
SLGA makes several changes to retail cannabis rules
Beginning June 5, all cannabis retail stores in Saskatchewan are no longer required to ask for proof of age on every retail transaction for in-store…
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.
Cannabis sales continue to grow, even as canopy space and number of employees begin to decline
Canada’s cannabis industry sees increase in sales despite decrease in production space and number of employees.
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…
Mississauga’s first cannabis stores beginning to open
Residents of Mississauga no longer need to drive outside of the city to visit a cannabis store.
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.
The Good Weed Board, part four
Part four of the Good Weed Board, showcasing Canada’s best dried flower products.
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.
NB Munis want to know where their share of cannabis tax revenues went
The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB), as well as the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick (AFMNB) say they want to know where their…
BC repealing visibility requirements for cannabis stores
The BC Government announced today that their provincial cannabis regulations will no longer require that cannabis, cannabis accessories, or their packaging and labelling within the…
Manitoba suspends Social Responsibility Fee, expects passage of new legislation soon
In a bulletin sent to cannabis retailers on May 18, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL), the agency that oversees cannabis in the province, says they…
Cannabis sales continue to increase in BC as prices fall
Cannabis sales in BC continued to increase in the first three months of 2023, while the price of cannabis continues to drop in the province.
Manitoba expected to return millions to cannabis retailers
In response to industry concerns, the Manitoba government will be extending a rebate on their Social Responsibility Fee paid by cannabis stores since 2022, according…
New cannabis study shows no significant change in rates of use-disorder post-legalization
Despite fears that legalizing cannabis would lead to troubling increases in problematic cannabis use, a new study is once again showing these concerns were over-hyped.
The week in weed – May 13, 2023
Highlights from the cannabis industry for the May 13 issue of week in weed.
Manitoba cannabis stores say they need their money back
Several cannabis retailers are telling the Manitoba provincial government that they support its efforts to repeal a six percent fee charged to stores, but say…
Canadian cannabis producers say the process to vet new products needs an overhaul
Cannabis producers in Canada say the process to notify Health Canada of new products needs a significant overhaul.
The Week in Weed – May 6, 2023
Another busy week for industry weed news here at StratCann and across Canada. Here’s your recap for the week ending May 6, 2023.
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…
Manitoba NDP wants to know where the cannabis revenues went
The Manitoba NDP’s Finance Critic wants to know where the province has spent the money received from legalization. The province says it intends to sign…
BC needs someone to take pictures of weed
It’s been another busy, news-filled week at StratCann, where we ran a piece looking at CannStandard’s Dried Flower Price Outline 2021-2023. We also covered: UBC and…
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…
The Week in Weed – April 29, 2023
It was another busy week in weed news here at StratCann and across Canada. Here’s your recap for the week ending April 29.
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.
BC announces more changes for cannabis retailers
The provincial government says they will be looking into lifting the cap on how many stores one company can own, currently limited to eight locations,…