This week at StratCann, we looked at several updated data sets from the federal government, like unpackaged inventory of dried cannabis continuing to decline in the first four months of 2024, and Health Canada cannabis inspection figures for 2023-2024, while personal and designated medical registrations increased in early 2024 following years of decline. Medical registrations with LPs continued to decline.
Aurora Cannabis announced that they received a patent earlier this year related to their research on autoflower cannabis; a Canadian federal arbitrator ruled that cannabis detection was not impairment in a case involving a locomotive engineer; and researchers in the US said medical cannabis could save billions on US healthcare coverage.
E-commerce platform Breadstack shared how they can help retailers stand out against the numerous illicit offerings online, and the Cannabis Council of Canada is holding their Canadian Cannabis Leadership Summit 2024 in Ottawa on TUESDAY October 1.
In financial news, High Tide reported its second consecutive quarter of net income, and Tokyo Smoke began its Stalking Horse sale process.
In other cannabis news…(there’s a lot this week)
Cannabis retail sales in July in terms of dollars were down 1.8% month-over-month and 3.8% year-over-year (seasonally adjusted), likely reflecting continued price compression as well as a potential leveling-off of the market after 5 years of year-over-year growth. More on this from StratCann next week.
Avant was recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of the fastest-growing companies in British Columbia.
Origine Nature, a cannabis production company based in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, was ranked the 22nd best workplace in Canada in the category of manufacturing companies with 50 to 99 employees.
Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. announced that its US subsidiary, Final Bell Holdings, Inc., entered into an agreement to sell all the shares of Final Bell Corp., along with its subsidiary Westside Caregivers Club LLC, to Vassar Wellness Enterprises LLC. The sale marks Final Bell’s exit from its plant-touching manufacturing business segment, comprising operations in Canada and the US.
The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) welcomed two new vice presidents to its management team. Yves Lokossou is now Vice-President, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, and Jean-François Dulac-Lemelin is now Senior Vice-President, Customer Experience.
Retailer Rocky Mountain Roots in Barrhead, Alberta, was the target of a break-and-enter on Sunday, September 15. Mike Wilson, co-owner and manager, says he had asked RCMP to increase their presence in the area due to an increase of crime.
A Redditor posted what they said is a email response from Saskatchewan MLA Nathaniel Teed in regard to concerns about the province’s current zero-tolerance approach to THC detection in drivers, regardless of indications of impairment, that has led to an increase in roadside suspensions. The Saskatchewan NDP did not provide a response to several requests for confirmation and comment. Teed is the Saskatchewan NDP’s Official Opposition Critic for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). The province has an election in October.
Powell River, BC, is considering changes to its annual licensing fee for cannabis stores from a flat rate of $2,000 per year to just a few hundred, based on a store’s operational footprint and number of employees.
Trading of Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. was halted by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CRIO).
Simply Solventless Concentrates provided some figures from their upcoming Q3 2024 projected annualized gross revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and normalized net income.
MediPharm Labs Corp. announced that it has paid off its entire remaining convertible debt amount of $2.1 million, leaving the company materially debt-free.
A radio station in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, spoke with Organigram CEO Beena Goldenberg. She says that the top 10 LPs in Canada represent less than 40% of the overall market and says OGI has about a 7.5% market share.
Local media spoke with the owners of retailer Kasa Kana Cannabis and Accessories in Ontario on the opening of their fourth cannabis store, located in Gravenhurst.
A new research paper looking at the relationship between rates of cannabis use and Covid-19 infection rates says that models show that those residing where infection rates were higher were more likely to use cannabis and use it more often.
Tilray launched their Redecan brand into the Australian medical cannabis market with two 15-gram dried flower SKUs.
In mid-November, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) will update the back-end of its e-commerce Shopify platforms. Minimal to no disruption to service is anticipated. More detail on the updates will be provided the week of October 21.
A property near Mission, BC, has unpaid fines of over $6,000 for an unpermitted cannabis building. The building appears abandoned.
Aurora Cannabis Inc. says chief executive imperator Miguel Martin is adding the title of executive chairman.
The Journal of Forensic Sciences looked at the emergence of semi-synthetic cannabinoids in cannabis products seized in Eastern Denmark over a 6-year period.
The Agenda’s Steve Paikin spoke with James MacKillop of McMaster University and Ranjeev Dhillon, a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, about the state of the cannabis industry, highlighting some of the same cooling sales figures StratCann has covered in recent months.
UK’s Akanda Corp received a license for hemp cultivation in Canada in connection with Akanda’s recently announced agreement with 1107385 B.C. LTD.
Edmonton Grow Up will be from Sunday, September 29–Wednesday, October 1 this year, and StratCann will be there helping to curate topics for the main stage!
RCMP and Sûreté du Québec raided at least two outdoor cannabis operations. More info to come.
International cannabis news
A hemp farmer in Maine is offering a u-pick option this fall. Sheepscot Farm sells whole plants for $30 and is growing five cultivars this year.
Thailand has proposed a new bill to regulate its cannabis industry and restrict marijuana use to primarily health and medical purposes—the latest effort to rein in recreational smoking after several policy U-turns, reports the Bangkok Times.
And finally, the LA Times again looked at the issue of pesticides in cannabis products in California.
