Last week, at StratCann, we covered the news that Toronto’s head of municipal licensing and standards says his agency no longer has the money to enforce the province’s cannabis regulations regarding unlicensed stores. We also shared a half-day cannabis insolvency conference coming to Toronto.
High Tide announced its plan to enter the German medical cannabis market by acquiring Purecan, and we examined the most recent figures for Canada’s domestic and international medical cannabis market. Stigma Grow also announced its first shipment of cannabis product to Portugal. Meanwhile, the CRA is asking the court to hold Delta 9 directors liable for more than $9 million in unpaid taxes.
In our Profile section, we looked at two new high-end Hash Hole products on the market, and in our Insight section, we shared a guest post looking at the potential of cannabis in the care of dementia patients.
In law enforcement news, one man was arrested and $3,000 in cannabis products were recovered following multiple break-and-enters in Windsor, Ontario; an unlicensed cannabis store again faced enforcement action in New Brunswick; and New Brunswick RCMP seized cannabis and equipment following a service call.
Quebec police arrested a man following a robbery at Saint-Georges SQDC, and a cargo van from BC with 1,500 pounds of cannabis stopped in Saskatchewan en route to Quebec.
In other Canadian cannabis news
HYTN Innovations Inc. announced receiving a new set of import permits from the UK’s Home Office and corresponding export permits from Health Canada. These permits enable the fulfilment of international orders totalling over 400 kilograms of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) cannabis products, advancing HYTN’s global reach and operational capabilities.
MediPharm Labs and Kensana Health agreed to extend the outside closing date as provided in the Purchase Agreement to January 31, 2025. The deal was initially expected to close by January 1, 2025.
CannabisNB stores continued to be impacted by an issue with its point-of-sale system and a potential cyber threat but remained open on a cash-only basis. Spokesperson Florence Gouton tells local media that “some anomalies” were found, but she did not disclose details about what went wrong, saying the corporation will not be offering interviews as the investigation continues.
The Yukon Cannabis Licensing Board approved Happy Trails Cannabis Ltd. for a Sub-Class 2 Cannabis Retail License, provided all the relevant requirements are met. Yukon currently lists six cannabis stores in the Territory, not including Happy Trails. Four of those are located in Whitehorse.
Kelowna City Council has approved the rezoning of a property to allow for the sale of cannabis. The retail cannabis subzone will allow for one of the units within the small strip mall to be converted into a retail cannabis outlet to be operated by Flora Cannabis, which operates three other retail stores in the city.
Avicanna announced the creation of a Canadian Scientific and Medical Affairs Committee with Singapore-based Vectura Fertin Pharma, an affiliate of Philip Morris International.
Business of Cannabis asked what Trudeau’s exit means for the cannabis industry.
The Hill Time’s Stuart Benson spoke with C3’s Paul McCarthy and Organigram’s Beena Goldenberg about cannabis excise tax again. Pollster Nik Nanos predicts the Conservatives won’t be interested in burning any political capital on cannabis until well after the election.
Sami Majadla at CertiCraft shared a white paper on the state of the cannabis industry
A new study from researchers in Canada suggests the importance of safer use guidelines tailored for medical cannabis use among veterans. The study says almost 85% of veterans engaged in daily use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Winnipeg police launched a don’t drive high campaign with a focus on cannabis edibles. During last year’s Drug Impaired Driver enforcement project, there were 243 traffic stops and 148 Oral Fluid Tests, which resulted in 64 (43%) positive for cannabis. 36 Provincial Offences Act notices were issued, including for unlawful storage of cannabis in a vehicle and consuming cannabis in a vehicle (passenger).
A Dartmouth, NS parent is upset after she says her 12-year-old son’s junior high school did not respond with enough concern after he consumed cannabis edibles and had to visit the hospital as a result. The description of the edibles (two handfuls of sour apple gummy candies) appears to have been sourced from the illicit market.
Glow LifeTech Corp. announced the expansion of its flagship MOD drops brand into the New Brunswick market.
A New Brunswick man was in for a scary few hours over the weekend when his usually excitable 10-month-old puppy became wobbly, shaky, and lethargic and tested positive for cannabis.
Three teens were charged in connection with several cannabis store robberies in Calgary in 2023.
Radio Canada and La Presse spoke with Geneviève Giroux, the SQDC’s Vice President of Supply and Marketing, to discuss changes coming to the Quebec cannabis retail experience in 2025.
The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) released a scoping study on self-treatment with cannabis for pain, anxiety, or sleep disturbance symptoms.
The 2025 Nugswap Cannabis Festival and Grower’s Competition was held in Wiarton, Ontario last Saturday, January 11. The event is brought together, in part, by Lune Rise Farms, a cannabis grower in Teeswater, and High Society, a cannabis store in Owen Sound. The winners of the 2025 Nugswap will be revealed at the sixth annual Bongspiel set for Feb. 18 at the Wiarton and District Curling Club.
Barrie Today looked at the growing number of people trying to illegally export cannabis via Toronto Pearson Airport.
The Tyee examined the storied history of cannabis activism in Vancouver, especially David Malmo-Levine’s former Vancouver School of Drug War History and Organic Cultivation.
The Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Board (KCCB) announced that Jennifer Paul has been hired as the Operations Manager for the Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Office (KCCO). Ms. Paul began her new position on December 16, 2024, and has been actively participating in an onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition into her role.
International cannabis news
The US DEA’s refusal to comply with direct orders from the administrative law judge overseeing the marijuana rescheduling process is “unprecedented and astonishing,” said the judge.
A new study looks at compliance (and non-compliance) among medical cannabis websites in Australia.
The US FDA is soliciting public comments on the use of cannabis-derived products in Veterinary Medicine. The focus of this RFI is on cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from hemp.
A US Cannabis Roundtable is forming with backing from Cresco Labs, Trulieve, Green Thumb Industries, Verano, and Curaleaf, reports Market Watch.
A data breach notification sent to the e Maine Attorney General’s Office by a Californian cannabis brand called Stiiizy has confirmed it is alerting some 380,000 users potentially impacted by an attack against a vendor.
