This week from StratCann, the Manitoba NDP have tabled a bill to repeal the ban on growing cannabis at home and are “pausing” controlled-access retail licences for at least six months (there could be more on this next week).
We also shared a Canadian study looking at genetic markers for cannabis breeding, spoke with the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance about the Farm Products Council of Canada seeking industry feedback on the Industrial Hemp Promotion-Research Agency, and reported on Indiva’s 2023 annual report.
The OCS released its Social Impact Report, and Health Canada issued a recall for an ounce sold in BC discovered through HC’s Cannabis Data Gathering Program.
The BC government says they have inspected 20 of their government-run BC Cannabis Stores to ensure they check IDs, with two subsequent enforcement actions.
US-based Curaleaf Holdings closed on the acquisition of Ontario’s Northern Green Canada, and a judge has postponed the BZAM/Final Bell trial.
In other cannabis news
A new study involving a McGill University researcher looks at how a mixed policy approach can control increases in cannabis consumption and combat the illegal market.
A budtender in Ontario is calling on the OCS and AGCO to adopt a sustainable packaging and container return program similar to Ontario’s The Beer Store.
Hill Times ran an article on taxes and regulations with extensive quotes from Paul McCarthy from C3 and Beena Goldberg from Organigram. There’s nothing new here we haven’t heard for years now.
On 4/20, CHCH News spoke with Romaine Francis at Sessions Cannabis, Oliver Coppolino from Cabbage Brothers, Aaron Lomax with Noods, and Daniel Bear from Humber College.
The same day, Prince George shut down a street in the downtown core for a street party and farmers market style cannabis event that was by all accounts a huge success. MyPGNow spoke with Alannah Davis from Dabble Cannabis Co. Liberal MP Patrick Weiler and others were in attendance, as well.
Canadian Running ran a piece on how cannabis may benefit runners.
Canadian Cannabis sales declined (not seasonally adjusted) in every province except Nova Scotia in February. Sales figures for Canada in February 2024 were lower than they have been since February 2023.
Radio Canada spoke with Adam Greenblatt about the recent expert panel report on the Cannabis Act.
Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation announced that its cultivation facility in Leamington, Ontario, received CUMS-GAP and GACP certification.
In law enforcement news, the OPP arrested six and seized 15,000 cannabis plants in a raid of a facility in Niagara.
A paper published in the journal ACS Omega has found that some cannabis rolling papers contain high levels of heavy metals.
US-based Grön edibles, which sells in Canada through Indiva, told Benzinga that Canada is a much easier country to operate in than the US, given the national nature of legalization here compared to the state-legal only approach in the US. (archived link because of all the awful pop-ups on Benzinga. Sheesh).
In international cannabis news
US-based MedMen Enterprises Inc. announced that it made an assignment into bankruptcy pursuant to Canada’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act on April 24, 2024. The company lists several Canadian creditors owed nearly $1 million.
New York just licensed a formerly illicit cannabis shop, contradicting several past warnings from the state government.
In an evolving story, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized the US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ response to cannabis seizures by border patrol agents in the state.
And finally, a new study challenged the stereotype that chronic cannabis users are lazy and unmotivated. The research surveyed 260 frequent users and found no significant drop in their motivation or effort levels while high compared to when sober.
