Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the barcode
The barcode, originally based on Morse Code, was invented and patented in the USA by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1952. However, it was more than 20 years before the invention became commercially successful.
Various organizations and companies played a role in the use of the barcode during those 20 years, but the real success began with a meeting of industry leaders in New York city in March 1971. It took another three years before a barcode that could be both printed easily and scanned easily was finally developed. In April of 1973, an industry-wide agreement on that barcode became the basis for GS1.
GS1, which stands for Global Standards, is a not-for-profit international organization that develops and maintains standards for barcodes and packaging identification.
The first barcode was scanned in the USA on the 26th of June 1974. Canada was the second country to introduce the barcode when a grocery store in Dorval, Quebec scanned the very first Canadian barcode.
The barcode was designed to make it easier for products to be tracked, processed, and stored. Today, these barcodes play a critical part in supply chains across the globe.
Available from 116 GS1 offices around the world, GTIN or Global Trade Item Number provides unique codes for a company and its products that can identified using electronic scanners.
GTIN employs a multi-digit number that is primarily used within barcodes. In North American, the UPC (Universal Product Code) is an existing form of the GTIN. In Europe, EAN-13 is the standard.
Cheers to all who had a hand in creating this useful tool that revolutionized the retail industry 50 years ago today.
For more information on GS1 and GTIN, visit,
https://www.gs1.org/standards/barcodesFor a history of the barcode, visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode
Indigenous History Month and Cannabis News
AirMed would like to acknowledge June as National Indigenous History Month in Canada by providing links to Indigenous news and resources related to our industry.
APTN News recently discussed the 2024 federal budget with its cannabis implications for Indigenous communities in a feature on its website. Read it here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/budget-2024-ottawa-federal-government-ontario-money-first-nations-inuit-metis/
Stratcann, the Canadian cannabis news and events platform for industry professionals, published a feature entitled, “Indigenous History Month focus: Indigenous cannabis news.” The post was a review of StratCann news “spotlighting Indigenous voices in both the successes and disputes, which are being heard loudly and clearly. Regardless of the outcome, the recognition of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian cannabis industry is stronger than ever.” Read it here: https://stratcann.com/news/indigenous-history-month-focus-indigenous-cannabis-news/
The Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia published a post recently titled, “Respecting Indigenous Regulation of Cannabis.” With the subtitle, “Time to turn over a new leaf,” the article discusses jurisdictional issues related to cannabis in Canada. Read it here: https://www.cbabc.org/BarTalk/Articles/2024/April/Features/Respecting-Indigenous-Regulation-of-Cannabis
In related news, a Nova Scotia judge rejected constitutional arguments for Indigenous cannabis shops. CityNews in Halifax posted a story about it here: https://halifax.citynews.ca/2024/06/14/nova-scotia-judge-rejects-constitutional-arguments-for-indigenous-cannabis-shops/
CBC also discussed the issue here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cannabis-emerging-new-battleground-over-mikmaw-rights-1.7151120
Last year MJBiz Daily published “Canadian panel urges bigger role for First Nations in cannabis industry.” This article recapped a Canadian Senate committee’s recommendations for regulations related to cannabis for First Nations. Read it here: https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-panel-urges-bigger-role-for-first-nations-in-cannabis-industry/
The First Nations Health Authority offers a variety of resources on its website designed to help Indigenous youth make informed choices by providing information on the health impacts of using cannabis. View the resources here: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/mental-wellness-and-substance-use/non-medical-cannabis
Thanks for making Growing Relationships Kelowna a success!
As a sponsor, we’d like to thank everyone who made Growing Relationships Kelowna a success.
Hosted by StratCann, your premier cannabis news and events platform for industry professionals, this one-day event was held Monday June 10, 2024 at the Eldorado Manteo Resort.
Growing Relationships brought together British Columbia’s community of small-batch and micro producers, retailers and other cannabis professionals.
StratCann is capturing the notes and providing a summary to the relevant regulators to share what is happening with those who have their feet on the ground.
We hope you enjoyed this event as much as we did. Thanks again to attendees, vendors and organizers for a great day in Kelowna.
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/event/growing-relationships-kelowna-2024/
Growing Relationships Kelowna is next Monday: Jun 10, 2024
We’re just days away from StratCann’s Growing Relationships in Kelowna.
Designed to deliver opportunities to build relationships and socialize with the community, StratCann brings retailers and producers together for a day of networking, brainstorming, discussion and learning.
This event features “Navigating the Green Frontier: AirMed’s Revolutionary Impact on Cannabis Management,” a presentation by Justin Hearn, president & CEO of AirMed.
StratCann delivers timely and relevant news, insights and events for cannabis industry professionals in Canada and around the world, and AirMed is proud to be a sponsor of this event.
Attendees will enjoy networking opportunities, engaging panel discussions, a delicious catered lunch, and access to the beautiful waterfront patio at the Eldorado Manteo Resort. We hope to see you there!
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/growing-relationships/
Selling internationally? You need GS1 and GTIN!
GTIN or Global Trade Item Number is a standard from the GS1 (Global Standards) organization. GTIN consists of unique codes that identify manufacturers and their products using barcodes. When scanned by an electronic reader, the GTIN barcode provides a code that is related to a specific manufacturer and a specific product from that manufacturer.
In North American, the UPC (Universal Product Code) is an existing form of the GTIN. In Europe, EAN-13 is the GTIN standard.
The GTIN system lets you and your products be identified across the globe. If you hope to sell in certain parts of the world, such as Europe, you will need to use GS1 standards and GTIN codes. Once you have signed up with your regional GS1 office, you will be issued a series of unique codes to use on your product packaging.
Fully supporting GS1, AirMed prints your GTIN barcodes directly from the database. Our master case processing lets you use multi-level barcoding for several layers of packaging or stock-keeping units (SKU). For example, one case could contain a dozen smaller cartons. Each of those cartons could contain a dozen retail-ready individual packages. All of those packaging layers can have its own barcode to meet the retail standards of the region where it will eventually be sold.
AirMed helps you meet your barcoding and packaging standards whether selling to a provincial warehouse or shipping internationally. AirMed even lets you apply pricing at the package or the master case SKU, and custom pricing can be set for specific SKUs by customer.
For more information on GS1 standards and GTIN barcoding, visit: https://gs1ca.org/
If you’d like to discuss your specific needs, please give us a call at 1-877-313-2442 or click the Request Demo button at the top of the page to start the ball rolling.
Cannabis Europa 2024: Jun 25-26 in London
The Cannabis Europa conference & expo is being held at The Barbican in London this June.
Cannabis Europa is proud to consistently deliver the highest quality content – presented by leading authorities in their field – tackling the topics and themes that are pivotal to the global growth of the cannabis industry.
Join 1,500+ policy makers, entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to shape the future of the maturing European cannabis market — a market that is set to be worth £3.2 billion by 2025.
Over 50 exhibitors and 1200 visitors are expected at next year’s Cannabis Europa expo.
For more information visit: https://www.cannabis-europa.com/
AirMed to Sponsor Growing Relationships Kelowna: Jun 10, 2024
We are excited to announce that AirMed is a proud sponsor of StratCann’s Growing Relationships event in Kelowna on June 10!
This event is designed to provide a platform for building relationships and engaging with the community through networking, brainstorming, discussions, and learning sessions.
Justin Hearn, President & CEO of AirMed, will be among the featured speakers, presenting “Navigating the Green Frontier: AirMed’s Revolutionary Impact on Cannabis Management.”
StratCann is dedicated to bringing together growers, processors, and retailers to foster connections, share insights, and discuss industry challenges.
Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, informative panel discussions, a catered lunch, and access to the beautiful waterfront patio at the Eldorado Manteo Resort.
After the success of our sponsorship at the Calgary event, we are excited to support Growing Relationships once again in Kelowna. We would love to see you there!
We look forward to connecting with you at Growing Relationships Kelowna!
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/growing-relationships/
Canadian Cannabis Conference 2024: Jun 12-13 in Quebec City
One of the leading hemp and cannabis conferences in North America!
Each year, this event brings together hemp and cannabis industry players from Canada, the U.S., Europe and elsewhere in the world, from fields as diverse as science, R&D, politics and medicine.
Take advantage of this learning opportunity to network and exchange knowledge and ideas to foster innovation and sustainable growth in Canada’s hemp and cannabis industry, and secure its position at the forefront of the international scene.
Discuss with participants of exceptional quality: political staff and elected officials, university professors and researchers, members of the largest companies, ministerial employees or supervisory bodies, etc. It’s the perfect opportunity to facilitate communications between industry players and expand your professional network!
Being held June 12 and 13 at the Hotel Pur in Quebec City, the conference will be held in French and English. Simultaneous translation services will be available on site. For more information visit: https://www.conferencecannabis.ca/en/
Report: European Cannabis 2024
The 9th Edition of the longest-standing annual report dedicated to Europe’s evolving and dynamic legal cannabis market is now available.
The European Cannabis Report: 9th Edition offers the most up-to-date insights and analysis on the evolution of key cannabis markets across Europe, including: Germany, the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
Published by Prohibition Partners, a free-to-download version of the report is available that excludes market sizing analysis. For market sizing data and analysis, please see the paid-for packages.
For more information, including how to download a free copy of the report, visit:
https://prohibitionpartners.com/reports/the-european-cannabis-report-9th-edition/
Thanks for making Growing Relationships Calgary a success!
As a sponsor, we’d like to thank everyone who made Growing Relationships Calgary a success.
Hosted by Stratcann, your premier cannabis news and events platform for industry professionals, this one-day event was held Monday May 6, 2024 at the Calgary Marriott Hotel.
Growing Relationships brought together Alberta’s community of small-batch and micro producers, retailers and other cannabis professionals.
StratCann is capturing the notes and providing a summary to the relevant regulators to share what is happening with those who have their feet on the ground.
We hope you enjoyed this event as much as we did. Thanks again to attendees, vendors and organizers for a great day in Calgary.
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/growing-relationships/
Only Four Days until Growing Relationships Calgary: May 6, 2024
We’re on our way to Calgary for Growing Relationships next Monday.
Stratcann is bringing this one-day event back to Alberta’s community of small-batch and micro producers, retailers and other professionals in the cannabis industry.
Specifically designed to deliver opportunities to build relationships and socialize with the community, this event brings retailers and producers together for a day of networking, brainstorming, discussion and learning.
AirMed is a proud sponsor of this industry event where attendees will enjoy networking opportunities, engaging panel discussions, a delicious catered lunch, and exclusive access to the Sunalta patio at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel.
We hope to see you there!
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/growing-relationships/
Data collection made easy with AirMed e-form designer
For many compliance-based businesses, forms are unavoidable. Even with the most comprehensive software, forms are sometimes necessary for collection and verification of data.
While many software vendors offer electronic form functionality, in most cases the information contained in those forms is not stored in the database. This means relying on PDFs or printed documents to access the data contained in the form.
Our built-in form designer lets you create custom electronic forms that integrate with AirMed’s system data-sources. All fields in electronic forms created using the form designer can be stored in the AirMed database. There is no need to refer to physical documents or PDFs.
Using AirMed, you can automate workflows using custom e-forms to prevent the need for paper-based documentation. Forms can be linked to processes such as plant scouting, nutrient checks, room sanitation, and shop floor data collection. Using our form designer, you can employ drop-down picklists, date & time, checkboxes, radio groups, custom fields and more. AirMed lets you apply auto-complete, file upload, hidden input and electronic signatures to your forms.
All the data is electronically accessible and even reportable.
Form data collection doesn’t get any easier than that.
For more information visit our AirMed 5 page.
Grow Up Toronto 2024 Conference: May 27-29
Billed as Canada’s #1 cannabis event, the Grow Up Toronto Conference & Expo is a true B2B cannabis event bringing together growers, retailers and suppliers for three days from May 27 to 29.
Grow Up’s Brands and Buyers zone makes its debut in Toronto this year. Brands have the opportunity to promote their latest products to retail buyers and provide samples to qualified cannabis workers.
At the expo, purchasers from the largest retail stores across Canada will converge for two days looking to place orders from the hottest brands from Standard, Micro and Craft processors.
From the latest in technology to workshops with the brightest minds in the industry, combined with the opportunity to sell your brands, Grow Up Conference and Expo is truly an all-in-one stop event for the whole team.
Grow Up is more than just a conference and tradeshow; it’s a pivotal platform dedicated to shaping the future of cannabis in Canada, building strong, long-lasting relationships within the industry.
For more information visit: https://growupconference.com/
Cannabis Consumption in Canada
Stats Canada published an article on April 19, 2024 that discusses various aspects of cannabis in Canada including production, sales, consumption, crime and even wastewater. The article combines government statistics with information from Canadian consumers.
The government agency reported that more than one in three Canadians adults are using cannabis. “In 2023, more than one-third of adults aged 18 to 24 years (38.4%) and 25 to 44 years (34.5%) reported using cannabis in the previous 12 months, compared with 15.5% of adults aged 45 years and older. About 1 in 10 adults aged 18 to 24 years (8.7%) and 25 to 44 years (10.3%) reported using cannabis daily or almost daily in the previous 12 months, compared with 4.8% of adults aged 45 and older.”
In a surprising statistic, the article also reports that out of every five dollars spent on legal cannabis, two dollars went straight into government coffers.
“Federal and provincial governments received $1.9 billion from the control and sale of recreational cannabis in 2022/2023, up by almost one-quarter (+24.2%) from a year earlier.”
To read the full article, visit Statistics Canada:
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/6091-cannabis-consumption-canada
Thanks for Making Craft Cannabis Summit a Success!
The BC Cannabis Summit was a success!
Held April 19-21 in Prince George, BC on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, this event brought together craft cannabis farmers, processors, independent retailers, Indigenous organizations, government officials, and other sector leaders.
Hundreds participated in this three-day summit that put a spotlight on one of BC’s best-kept cannabis secrets.
In conjunction, the BC Craft Farmers’ Co-op hosted a 4/20 street party on Saturday with 30 vendors and hundreds of members of the public in attendance. This +19 event was the first cannabis-related street closure ever in British Columbia.
AirMed was proud to participate in the summit in Prince George. We’d like to thank everyone who dropped by our booth and especially those who took the time to watch a free demonstration of AirMed software. We appreciate you taking the time to learn about our latest cannabis management innovations.
If you missed seeing a demo or want to see more, click the Request Demo button at the top of the page.
In the meantime, visit our software page: https://airmedcloud.com/airmed-5-intro-new/
For more information about the event visit: https://www.bccraftfarmerscoop.com/2024-bc-craft-farmers-cannabis-summit/
If you missed seeing a demo or want to see more, click the Request Demo button at the top of the page.
In the meantime, visit our software page: https://airmedcloud.com/airmed-5-intro-new/
For more information about the event visit: https://www.bccraftfarmerscoop.com/2024-bc-craft-farmers-cannabis-summit/
To read about the 4/20 cannabis street fair in Prince George, click one of the links below.
High praise for Canada’s first official cannabis street party
Province’s first ever 420 street closure sees huge success in Prince George
Just two days until the Craft Cannabis Summit in Prince George
In just two days, the BC Craft Farmers Co-Op (BCCFC) will hold the 2024 BC Craft Farmers Cannabis Summit in Prince George, BC on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.
BC craft cannabis farmers, processors, independent retailers, Indigenous organizations, government officials, and other sector leaders are invited to participate in this three-day summit that will put a spotlight on one of BC’s best-kept cannabis secrets.
While attending the summit, drop by our booth for a free demonstration of AirMed software. We can’t wait to show you our latest software innovations.
For more information visit: https://www.bccraftfarmerscoop.com/2024-bc-craft-farmers-cannabis-summit/
AirMed to Sponsor Growing Relationships Calgary: May 6, 2024
StratCann’s Growing Relationships is back in Calgary this May, and AirMed is a proud sponsor!
Stratcann is passionate about bringing growers, processors, and retailers together to get to know each other and share ideas. Following the success of the sold-out 2023 Growing Relationship series, Stratcann is hosting this one-day event for Alberta’s community of small-batch and micro producers, retailers and other professionals in the cannabis industry.
An important component of the Growing Relationships events is to engage the community in discussion and brainstorming on industry issues from a variety of perspectives.
Attendees will be presented with networking opportunities, engaging panel discussions, a delicious catered lunch, and exclusive access to the Sunalta patio at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel.
For more information visit: https://stratcann.com/growing-relationships/
Workforce Management in AirMed 5
AirMed simplifies compliance by tracking and logging every action and ensures audit readiness with reports and analytics.
Employees only have access to functions and data that relates to their job responsibilities. System Administrators can only access data through approved computers utilizing a VPN connection.
And AirMed offers licensing by facility size rather than by individual user to encourage producers to configure individual accounts for every worker.
Our system improves quality management by allowing producers to identify gaps in employee knowledge and skills.
To see for yourself what AirMed can do, click the Request Demo button at the top of the page.
For more information visit our Software page.
Business of Cannabis Leadership Summit: April 24 in Toronto
Business of Cannabis: Toronto will bring together influential Canadian business leaders spearheading the industry, key investors and on the ground policy makers to discuss the next 5-years of business in the country and how imminent reform might affect the shape of the market there.
In this leadership summits, Business of Cannabis brings together global players, alongside financial and political figures for half-day laser focused program and high-level networking — to utilise data, insights and knowledge in order to arm businesses to best navigate the next phase of Canadian cannabis.
For more information visit: https://www.cannabistoronto.live/
Visit AirMed at the Craft Cannabis Summit: Apr 19-21 in Prince George
The BC Craft Farmers Co-Op (BCCFC) will be holding the 2024 BC Craft Farmers Cannabis Summit from April 19-21 in Prince George, BC on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. BC craft cannabis farmers, processors, independent retailers, Indigenous organizations, government officials, and other sector leaders are invited to participate in a three-day Summit that will put a spotlight on one of BC’s best-kept cannabis secrets.
“In addition to showcasing the diversity of BC’s cannabis sector, the 2024 BC Craft Farmers Cannabis Summit will benefit the local economy and shine a light on how medical cannabis access can safely treat chronic disease and opioid addiction,” said BCCFC Vice President Richard Willems. “We look forward to rolling out the green carpet and safely celebrating cannabis together in Prince George on 4/20/24.”
BCCFC was established in 2020 under the BC Cooperatives Act to help BC’s craft cannabis farmers transition to the legal marketplace, protect BC’s global cannabis brand, and make sure medical and recreation consumers have access to the best quality cannabis in the world.
AirMed is proud to participate in this event, so drop by our booth to see the latest software innovations and learn what enterprise cannabis management can do for you.
For more information visit: https://www.bccraftfarmerscoop.com/2024-bc-craft-farmers-cannabis-summit/