In cannabis news that StratCann covered this week, we looked at Lit Research in Toronto, new monthly stats and trends on cannabis sales, how provinces help—or ignore—their local cannabis industry, the news of Tantalus Labs announcing layoffs as it looks at restructuring, and a Yukon man who was found guilty following 2020 recall of cannabis-infused jerky.
In other news, CBC News looked at the AGCO’s consideration of an amendment to remove the requirement for window coverings on cannabis stores, and spoke with Elisa Keay, of K’s Pot Shop on Queen Street East in Toronto, and Omar Khan, chief communications and public affairs officer with High Tide Inc. Khan highlighted the safety concerns retailers have resulting from passers-by being unable to see inside the store, in cases of robberies.
Meanwhile, Toronto Police arrested a man this week for a violent cannabis store robbery on Wednesday, June 21 in the Dundas Street West and Burnhamthorpe Road area. Police allege that the armed man attacked an employee to get access to cash and cannabis.
The Canada Border Services Agency reminded travellers coming to Canada, along with several other pieces of advice, not to bring cannabis into the country. They also reminded travellers not to bring sand to the beach.
Following Canopy’s reported $648-million Q4 loss last week, one BC investor launched a class action lawsuit, saying his shares dropped in value when the company admitted to errors in its financial reporting.
Radio Canada also had a story on a recent study conducted by researchers at Laval University that looks at crash reports relating to cannabis and alcohol consumption.
In other research news, a paper out of Australia looked at the implementation and public health impacts of cannabis legalization in Canada. The authors argue that legalization was successful in reducing arrests and providing a safe, legal supply, but argued for more research.
An arbitrator has upheld the suspension and dismissal of an Ontario gold mine worker who tested positive for cannabis use following a serious workplace incident and a return-to-work test.
The town of The Blue Mountains in Ontario is updating its cannabis policies with a Cannabis Facilities Policies Background Paper.
The organizer of an annual cannabis protest on Canada Day in Vancouver said he’s not holding the event this year due to a lack of interest. VIA reports that the event organizer had been selling vendors non-refundable spaces.
BC retail chain Trees released its annual financial results for the fifteen-month period ended March 31, 2023. The Company currently has 14 Trees branded storefronts in Canada: nine in Ontario and five in BC.
SNDL Inc. and Nova Cannabis Inc. extended the outside date for closing of their strategic partnership, citing an ongoing review by regulators.
Eric Costen was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Health on June 26, 2023. Costen has worked on the cannabis file in Ottawa almost constantly since 2013.
The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a non-partisan, nonprofit association of government officials involved in cannabis regulation from more than 45 US states, opened an international, non-voting membership category this year, and has welcomed Health Canada as its first international member.
In other international news, Kyle Jaeger reported that the president of Ukraine is calling for the legalization of medical cannabis to help Ukrainians cope with trauma amid the ongoing war with Russia.
