This past week at StratCann, we looked at how the cannabis industry benefits small-town Canada, and the current status of recycling cannabis waste.
New figures from Statistics Canada showed retail cannabis sales bounced back in March following seasonal declines in February, and Apothecare and FIKA Cannabis partnered to deliver pharmacist-led cannabis consultations.
In finance/pubco news, a court rejected Apollo’s call for a third-party chair in the MediPharm shareholder vote, Tilray Brands’ stockholders approved a reverse stock split, and a court granted termination of CCAA for Four20.
In law enforcement news, Hamilton Police shut down an illegal cannabis store.
In other cannabis industry news
AGLC hosted its first Cannabis Symposium in Red Deer, bringing together key stakeholders from the cannabis industry in Alberta.
OCS President and CEO David Lobo spoke at the Retail Cannabis Council of Ontario’s 4th annual AGM conference on June 12, along with representatives from AGCO, OPP, and more.
The PMRA has proposed the re-evaluation of decision PRVD2025-06, Potassium bicarbonate and its associated end-use products. Potassium bicarbonate is registered for control or suppression of powdery mildew on a wide range of greenhouse and field crops, including cannabis grown in greenhouses or other enclosed growing structures, and field-grown cannabis and industrial hemp.
Wholesale sales, price, and volume, by industry, unadjusted and seasonally adjusted, were down in April, compared to the previous month and year-over-year, although the figures are not the highest quality data and are subject to change.
The Tremblant Express spoke with David Bow, founding member of the Québec Hemp and Cannabis Industry Association (AQICC) and founder of Origine Nature.
A new cannabis store, GrassBar, is being considered for North Battleford, Saskatchewan, although another cannabis store owner says allowing a fourth licensed store in the community “paints a horrific image.”
Muskoka Grown Limited announced that as of May 16, 2025, John Fowler has been removed as a member of Muskoka Grown’s Board and ceased to serve as President of Muskoka Grown as of June 11, 2025. The company also announced that Aaron Holtzman was appointed to the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 5, 2025.
HYTN Innovations Inc. announced that it has received its first purchase order and import permit for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) cannabis vape cartridges, following a January 21 news release detailing a collaboration agreement with SNDL. The initial order, received June 6, 2025, calls for 1000 one-gram live resin vape cartridges, which HYTN will manufacture in strict compliance with GMP standards and export under its Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) to the United Kingdom, pending export permit approval, with shipment scheduled to occur before the import permit expiry date of September 6, 2025.
OntarioLearn’s next seven-week course on cannabis legalization in Canada begins July 2.
MTL Cannabis Corp. announced that it has qualified to upgrade from the OTCQB Venture Market to the OTCQX and will commence trading under the symbol MTLNF.
True North Cannabis Co. has opened its first True North Vape Shop.
Apollo Technology Capital Corporation issued a presentation to set forth its plan to take over MediPharm Labs.
Three Chilliwack Fire Department engines in BC were paged for the report of a vehicle crashing into an unlicensed cannabis store, Kwaw-Kwaw-Apilt Cannabis.
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) announced a 45-day moratorium on the retail sale of cannabis in the territory, effective Wednesday, June 11, 2025, until July 25, 2025, due to increased opposition from community members regarding cannabis sales.
Community opposition to a large cannabis operation called Legacy Farms at Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario continues to generate media interest, with CBC reporting that the owner, Aaron Porter, also owns the Gas Gang brand of vapes that are on shelves in unlicensed stores around Canada and online.
A man caught in April at Vancouver International Airport with about 17 kilograms of cannabis was sentenced last week to 365 days in jail. Hiu Kan Lee was arrested at the airport on April 26 while trying to board a flight to England, according to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
International cannabis news
Medical cannabis vaporizer pens are expected to arrive in pharmacies in Israel for the first time as early as 2026. Cannabis Magazine spoke with the head of Cronos Israel, Adam Wagner, about the company’s plans for the market and upcoming clinical trial.
California wants to permanently ban hemp THC from the state, making it illegal to sell hemp drinks, according to a CDPH document shared with SFGATE. It’s now in a 45-day comment period, with a public hearing planned next month.
The Minnesota House is looking to increase the state’s 10% cannabis gross receipts tax to 15% and repeal local government cannabis aid. According to the Revenue Department, this change could enhance the state’s coffers by $76.5 million in the next biennium.
And finally, two men have been found guilty of being part of an organized crime group and smuggling more than 300kg of cannabis labelled as “Yankee Candles” from the US to South Wales using the postal service.
