This past week at StratCann, we looked at a new report about cannabis in the Yukon that highlighted, among other things, the need for cannabis consumption spaces for tourists. At the same time, Manitoba extended its pause of “controlled access” licensing for another 18 months.
The AGLC released a memo last week on cannabis sampling that they quickly walked back this week.
A new study out of New Brunswick shows high levels of pesticides found in illegal cannabis vapes.
Weed Me recalled one lot of its Ripped cannabis pre-rolls from Alberta, a BC pot shop was fined for selling cannabis at too low of a price, Radicle Femmes celebrates Canadian women in weed this November, and Trichome Consulting Services was excited to be named 2024 Cannabis Consulting Compliance Company.
Our most recent in-depth Insight piece from Jon Hiltz looks at how Ontario cannabis retailers are frustrated by the increasing number of unlicensed stores.
In other Cannabis news
Retail cannabis sales were up month-over-month in every province in August except BC, which saw a slight decline from July. (“c” data quality: good)
Winnipeg cannabis retailers are increasingly suffering from smash-and-grab style break-ins, writes the Winnipeg Free Press. Author Tyler Searle speaks with Dawn Le Sage, inventory manager at Star Buds Cannabis Co., who says the store has been hit seven times in the last 18 months.
The Regional Municipality of Grand Falls, New Brunswick is calling for more measures to be taken to prevent the establishment of illegal cannabis stores on its territory and elsewhere in New Brunswick, reports the Acadie Nouvelle.
CTV News in Edmonton spoke with local retailer Doug Zimmerman, owner of the Cannabis Cellar, as well as others about the state of cannabis in Edmonton 6 years after legalization.
An unlicensed cannabis shop in London, Ontario, Spirit River Cannabis, which was raided by police this summer, has reopened in a new trailer just metres away from one that previously housed the business, reports the London Free Press’ Dale Carruthers.
About a 90-minute drive north, Ontario cannabis retailer The Cannabis Guys shared a press release about its store in Goderich, Ontario.
A cannabis store rezoning application in Chilliwack, BC, was referred back to staff after some councillors felt local veterans needed to be consulted beforehand. One councillor said they had no problem with the location, noting that the building used to be a beer-and-wine store.
Campaign Canada looked at the OCS’ Buzz Kill pop-up store in Toronto that included video footage from the store. LBB Online carried a similar write-up on the public education initiative.
The OCS ran a feature on Waterloo’s Uptown Herb.
An Ontario Superior Court Justice approved another stay extension relating to the BZAM/Final Bell case through to and including December 2, 2024, and approved the Share Purchase Agreement dated August 23, 2024, among BZAM Holdings Inc. as vendor, BZAM Management Inc. as target, 1000912353 Ontario Inc. as Purchaser and Wyld Canada Inc. as an interested third-party.
SNDL Inc. and Nova Cannabis Inc. announced the successful completion of the privatization of Nova. The arrangement was approved by at least two-thirds of the holders of Nova shares.
High Tide Inc. announced a new Canna Cabana in Kingston, Ontario, as of 4:20 PM on October 31st, 2024. This opening will mark High Tide’s 186th Canna Cabana branded retail cannabis location in Canada, the 72nd in the province of Ontario, and the first in Kingston.
Quebec cannabis company The Good Shroom Co Inc. announced the launch of DYP’s, a THC-infused pouch product, into the Alberta market. Resembling nicotine pouches like Zyn and Zonnic, the DYP pouches contain 10 mg THC and come 10 to a pack.
Herbal Dispatch Inc. announced the expansion of its direct delivery service to Saskatchewan.
A new poll from Research Co. says that most Canadians still regard cannabis legalization in a favourable light, and just over half of cannabis users they surveyed (51%) are acquiring “all” of their product at licensed retailers.
UCalgary will host a “Cannabis Cafe” on November 4 and 7. The Cannabis Cafe is a space for people to learn more about recreational and medicinal use in an informed way. The event will include trivia and discussion about cannabis, harm reduction, and challenging cannabis-related stigma.
A new video from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) presents the details of the Quebec cannabis control regime and its impacts compared to the rest of Canada.
The McGill Research Centre for Cannabis and the QAQCC will host the 4th Cannabis Scientific Symposium: From Plants to People from May 5-6, 2025, at the RI-MUHC in Montreal, QC. More info available here soon.
And, as always, don’t give out your expensive cannabis edibles to kids on Halloween, and make sure to check your kids’ candy for some sweet scores.
A suspended Saskatoon pharmacist accused in the trafficking of Oxycodone, cannabis, and meth was committed to stand trial on seven drug and weapon-related charges. The investigation began in January 2023 after pills seized at three locations were traced back to Ternan and the pharmacy. Officers found 20,285 grams of methamphetamine, 8,040 grams of cannabis, and hundreds of Oxycodone pills. Three men were charged.
International news
Uruguay’s cannabis regulator, the IRCCA, is calling for construction companies interested in building a plant nursery on the property owned by IRCCA in Libertad, San José. The opening of bids will take place on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Some cannabis companies in Australia are airing grievances about the amount of Canadian cannabis making it into Australia’s medical market. The author speaks with Nan-Maree Schoerie of ECS Botanics and Peter Koetsier, chair of Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia—more on this from StratCann next week.
The New York Attorney General secured a US$9.5 million judgment against an unlicensed cannabis store owner: a combination of $1 million from the profit of sales and more than $8.4 million in administrative fines and penalties. The owner had been previously warned.
A proposal has been tabled in France aimed at further extending the country’s long-running medical cannabis ‘experiment’ to ensure patients can keep receiving their medication amid government inaction, reports Ben Stevens at Business of Cannabis.
A sixty-year-old woman from Lozère, in the southwest of France, is in trouble after filing a complaint for the repeated theft of her cannabis plants.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, to 11 years imprisonment for importing 35.20 kilogrammes of “Canadian Loud” (Cannabis) into Nigeria. Referencing several recent seizures of cannabis from Canada totalling 341.025 kg, the country’s Deputy Narcotics Commander, Tin Can NDLEA, Adanu Edoh, said, “What you are seeing now, they are all coming from Canada, which we never expected that drugs will come from there.”
