Study: Medical Cannabis in Older Patients
A study carried out by representatives of the University of Victoria and the commercial cannabis industry reports that “Approximately 90% of patients used medical cannabis to treat pain-related conditions such as chronic pain and arthritis. Almost all patients reported a preference for oral cannabis products (e.g., extracts, edibles) rather than inhalation products (e.g., flower, vapes), and most preferred oral formulations high in cannabidiol and low in tetrahydrocannabinol.”
This study aimed to assess the patterns of medical cannabis use in patients over 50 years of age and its effect on health outcomes such as pain, sleep, quality of life, and co-medication.
The Medical Cannabis in Older Patients Study (MCOPS) had treating physicians collecting detailed data on participant characteristics, medical cannabis and co-medication use, and associated impacts on pain, sleep, quality of life, as well as adverse events.
There were 299 participants with an average age of 66.7 years, 66.2% of which identified as female.
“Over the six-month study period, significant improvements were noted in pain, sleep, and quality of life measures, with 45% experiencing a clinically meaningful improvement in pain interference and in sleep quality scores. Additionally, nearly 50% of patients taking co-medications at baseline had reduced their use by the end of the study period, and quality of life improved significantly…”
The study was published by the Research Society on Marijuana and can be accessed here:
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/239An article summarizing the results was published on Norml.org, an organization whose mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.
https://norml.org/blog/2025/02/21/study-cannabis-use-in-older-patients-associated-with-improved-quality-of-life-lower-demand-for-prescription-drugs/
Report: Global Cannabis 2024-2028
The Global Cannabis Report: 5th Edition delivers a thorough analysis and insight into the world’s key cannabis markets, organised by region. This edition explores the global evolution of cannabis markets and examines possible future developments on the international stage. Additionally, it highlights the most notable and relevant trends in the industry, offering regional insights, market sizing data and analyses, and exclusive interviews with cannabis industry experts from around the world.
This report is produced by Prohibition Partners, which provides specialist information, data analytics and digital commerce solutions to the B2B cannabis industry.
For more information and to download the ‘Lite” version of the report for free, visit:
https://prohibitionpartners.com/reports/the-global-cannabis-report-5th-edition/
10 Ways to Increase Cannabis Profits in 2025
High taxes, market saturation, and increased competition are cutting into profit margins for cannabis producers in Canada. In some areas, oversupply has driven prices down, affecting profitability for both growers and retailers.
With so many challenges complicating efforts for legitimate businesses to thrive, what can cannabis producers do to increase profits? We’ve compiled 10 strategies to help you cultivate success in the upcoming new year.
1. Diversify Product Selection: Broadening your offerings to include edibles, topicals, oils, and tinctures can create a wider customer base.
2. Target Niche Markets: Focusing on specific demographics or consumer needs, such as organic or medical cannabis, can establish a unique selling proposition.
3. Expand Distribution Channels: Export markets can offer new channels for Canadian cannabis, but be aware that meeting compliance in other regions can be costly. There are, however, alternatives. Selling to GMP-compliant organizations is one. Another is boosting your reach in Canada by partnering with retailers or large distributors and by selling online through direct delivery programmes.
4. Educate Consumers: Providing educational materials about product benefits and applications can strengthen customer engagement and drive sales.
5. Enhance Quality Control: Establishing high-quality cultivation practices can lead to superior products allowing for premium pricing and inspiring customer loyalty.
6. Optimize Processes: Creating formulas for cultivation or manufacturing by developing repeatable plans, templates, and recipes can ensure success again and again and trim waste.
7. Operate Efficiently: Streamlining through automation, standard operating procedures and improved resource management can reduce costs and increase output.
8. Minimize Risks: Active prevention through workforce management, approval workflows, and incident tracking lowers expenditures resulting from errors and damages.
9. Systemize Compliance: Having a system in place to administer compliance and stay ahead of regulatory changes can protect profits.
10. Improve Decision Making: Utilizing business intelligence and data analytics to track operations and consumer trends can help you make better decisions toward future success.
By implementing these strategies, cannabis producers can position themselves for greater financial success in a competitive market.
For information on the many ways AirMed can help you improve profitability, click the Request Demo button at the top of the page and a team member will be in touch. In the meantime, visit our Software page.
Cannabis Industry Forecast for 2025
What’s in the cards for cannabis in 2025? We’ve rounded up some of the predictions.
A report from insurance brokerage Hub International states that “In a volatile marketplace, risk mitigation will separate success from failure.” The document contains results from HUB’s Executive Outlook Survey, which polled 900 C-Suite and VP-level executives on the issues facing them on profitability, employee vitality and organizational resilience. “Outlook 2025 Cannabis” discloses that 80% of Canadian cannabis companies identified rising costs as the biggest challenge to profitability, but only 65% feel prepared to address it. https://www.hubinternational.com/en-CA/insights/outlook/2025/cannabis/
BNN Bloomberg posted a video titled, “Challenges in Canada’s Cannabis Sector,” featuring an interview with Ben Kaplan, author of Catch A Fire: The Blaze and Bust of the Canadian Cannabis Industry. Kaplan, a Brooklyn-born and Toronto-based writer and editor and the founder of KIND Magazine distributed in Canada’s legal weed shops, claims the industry is currently “right-sizing”. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/shows/the-open/2024/12/24/challenges-in-canadas-cannabis-sector/
Ben Kaplan also penned an opinion piece for the Globe & Mail titled, “Forgotten in the cannabis crash is how the industry is a Canadian success story.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-forgotten-in-the-cannabis-crash-is-how-the-industry-is-a-canadian/
Investing News Network published “Cannabis Market Forecast: Top Trends That Will Affect Cannabis in 2025.” While mostly focused on the U.S. market, the article mentions Canada. Overall, INN predicts that “2025 could be a year of transformation for the cannabis industry.” https://investingnews.com/cannabis-forecast/
For general and breaking news on the Canadian cannabis industry, visit one of the sites below.
Cannabis in Canada Review for 2024
There’s something about the end of one year and the beginning of another that makes people want to look back as they leap forward. End-of-year recaps are common in the news. But when we looked, we found many covering the U.S. cannabis industry and the process of decriminalization. But there were almost none about Canada. So we turned to ChatGPT, a type of artificial intelligence trained on large amounts of text data that uses an algorithm called a transformer to generate text. After scouring the Internet, ChatGPT came up with the following key developments for the Canadian cannabis industry in 2024.
Maturing Legal Market
The legal cannabis industry in Canada is entering its fifth year since the nationwide legalization in 2018. While the initial enthusiasm has settled, the market is now focusing on consolidation, innovation, and consumer education. Cannabis sales remain strong, but growth rates have slowed compared to the initial years. There is now a greater emphasis on quality and differentiation rather than simply expanding the market.
Industry Challenges
Despite initial optimism, the cannabis industry faces significant challenges:
- Profitability Issues: Many cannabis companies continue to struggle with profitability due to oversupply, high taxation, and competition from the illegal market. Prices have come down, but not always enough to outcompete illicit operators.
- Regulatory Hurdles: Companies are still navigating complex regulations, particularly around packaging, labeling, and marketing. The government has been slow to adjust some of these regulations to allow for more dynamic industry growth, such as expanding retail hours or reducing restrictive rules for cannabis advertising.
- High Taxes and Licensing Fees: The federal and provincial governments have kept taxes high on cannabis, which has affected margins for producers and retailers.
Expanding Product Offerings
In 2024, cannabis companies have expanded their product offerings, with a continued shift towards innovative products beyond dried flower, including:
- Edibles and Beverages: Cannabis-infused beverages and edibles have gained significant traction, providing a more discreet and enjoyable consumption method. These products are now a larger portion of the legal cannabis market.
- Vapes and Concentrates: Vaping continues to be popular among cannabis consumers, though it faces some regulatory scrutiny due to health concerns. Concentrates, like hash and distillates, are also on the rise.
- Medical Cannabis: Medical cannabis is still a crucial market, with more people accessing it for health-related reasons. New research and trials have also driven more interest in medical products, particularly those with a focus on CBD.
Consumer Trends
Consumer preferences have become more sophisticated. In 2024, Canadian cannabis consumers are looking for quality, consistency, and variety. This includes an increased demand for:
- Sustainable and Organic Products: Consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly cannabis options, pushing producers to adopt sustainable farming practices.
- Microdosing: With more people seeking subtle, controlled experiences, microdosing has become a prominent trend, especially in edibles and tinctures.
- Brand Loyalty: As the market matures, consumer brand loyalty is becoming more pronounced, with established companies gaining recognition for their quality and reliability.
Legal Developments
The Canadian government continues to tweak the legal framework around cannabis in 2024. Several provinces are exploring the possibility of relaxing some restrictions:
- Expansion of Retail Stores: While Ontario leads in retail outlets, provinces like British Columbia and Alberta are increasing their number of licensed dispensaries, making cannabis more accessible to consumers.
- Home Cultivation Rules: Discussions around expanding personal cultivation rights are ongoing, with some provinces exploring allowing more plants to be grown for personal use, while others remain restrictive.
- International Market Opportunities: As Canada’s domestic market stabilizes, there’s growing attention on international markets for cannabis exports. Canadian companies are positioning themselves to benefit from the global cannabis boom, especially in Europe and emerging markets.
Social and Cultural Changes
Cannabis is now more ingrained in Canadian culture than ever. Public attitudes have become more accepting, especially regarding medical and wellness use. However, some societal issues remain:
- Concerns about Youth Access: Despite strict age restrictions, there are concerns about the accessibility of cannabis to minors, particularly through online sales or in neighborhoods with high retail density.
- Workplace Policies: As cannabis becomes more mainstream, workplaces are adapting to accommodate employees who consume cannabis. Employers are grappling with issues surrounding cannabis use, workplace safety, and testing.
The Black Market’s Continued Impact
The illicit cannabis market remains a significant challenge. Although legalization has greatly reduced illegal cannabis sales, the black market still exists, driven by lower prices, a wider selection of products, and a lack of trust in the legal system. Tackling the black market through regulation adjustments and lowering taxes is seen as a key area for future policy development.
Conclusion
Overall, the cannabis industry in Canada in 2024 is in a phase of refinement. While there are still challenges like profitability, regulatory barriers, and competition from the illicit market, the industry is maturing and diversifying its offerings. Consumer trends are shifting towards quality, sustainability, and innovation, while legal and regulatory adjustments are set to shape the market in the coming years. As Canada’s cannabis market continues to stabilize, the industry is positioning itself for long-term growth, both domestically and internationally.
Thanks ChatGPT! Content courtesy of https://chatgpt.com/.
If you are looking for media reviews of the cannabis industry that include some information on Canada, please click the links below:
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/cannabis-2024-year-review-2024-11-13/
https://investingnews.com/daily/cannabis-investing/cannabis-market-update/
Report: Veterans and Cannabis Mental Health
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has published a report titled Closing Research Gaps on Cannabis and Mental Health – Veteran-Specific Findings.
Over the past five years, MHCC has led a research program to assess the impact of cannabis on the mental health of diverse populations. MHCC recent released the results of studies that explored the relationship between cannabis and mental health among Canadian veterans.
“According to these studies, Canadian Veterans are significantly impacted by a range of physical and mental health conditions, which medical cannabis is frequently used to manage.”
Key findings in this report include the following.
- Veterans use cannabis for many reasons and experience a range of benefits and harms.
- The relationship between cannabis use and trauma is unique and nuanced for veterans.
- Barriers to accessing medical cannabis persist after legalization.
- Stigma prevents many veterans from accessing formal health-care supports.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a national non-profit organization created by the Canadian government in 2007 in response to a senate committee tasked to study mental health, mental illness, and addiction.
To read the full report, visit:
https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/cannabis-synthesis-report-veterans/
Report: Statista Cannabis Market Data & Analysis
The 2024 Cannabis Market Data & Analysis Report from Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, provides an international oversight into the Cannabis market. This 72-page report offers insight into drivers, current market trends, key companies, consumer insights, and future developments in the market.
“New product innovation and a shift in attitude towards cannabis from consumers and governments have led to a growing Cannabis market. Overall, the Cannabis market realized a revenue of US$59.4 billion worldwide in 2023.”
The analysts at Statista predict that the cannabis market will grow at a CAGR of 3.01% between 2024 and 2029. “Particularly strong growth is expected in upper-middle-income countries, due to the growing trend of changes in cannabis legislation and the corresponding expansion of supporting infrastructure.”
Statista reports, “Together, the Recreational and Medical Cannabis segments account for 51% of the total global revenue, due to the major sales of cannabis for recreational and medical-use in Canada and the United States.”
Statista is a global data and business intelligence platform with an extensive collection of statistics, reports, and insights on over 80,000 topics from 22,500 sources in 170 industries. Established in Germany in 2007, Statista operates in 13 locations worldwide and employs around 1,100 professionals.
For more information about this report visit: https://www.statista.com/study/119812/cannabis-market-data-and-analysis/
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
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/
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
ISO, SCC and the Canadian Cannabis Industry
ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national standards bodies.
Through its members, ISO brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.
In Canada, the ISO is represented by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). A Crown corporation, SCC was established by an Act of Parliament in 1970 to foster and promote voluntary standardization in Canada. SCC is independent of government in its policies and operations, although it is financed partially by Parliamentary appropriation.
When Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, SCC set about creating standards for the new industry believing that standards are essential for an effectively regulated marijuana market. These standards were considered groundbreaking when published in October of 2022.
ISO IWA-37, “Safety, security and sustainability of cannabis facilities and operations” is available for purchase through ISO in three parts.
Part 1 (ISO IWA 37-1:2022) covers requirements for the safety of cannabis buildings, equipment and oil extraction operations. https://www.iso.org/standard/84023.html
Part 2 (ISO IWA 37-2:2022) covers requirements for the secure handling of cannabis and cannabis products. https://www.iso.org/standard/84024.html
Part 3 (ISO IWA 37-3:2022) covers good production practices (GPP). https://www.iso.org/standard/84025.html
Taken as a whole, these documents provide invaluable direction to legislative bodies and emerging companies and help to create a safe, legal market for adults who use cannabis.
For more information from SCC visit: https://www.scc.ca/en/news-events/news/2022/new-guidance-from-iso-international-workshop-safe-cannabis-production
For more information from ISO visit: https://www.iso.org/en/contents/news/2022/10/standards_safe_legal_cannabis.html
To learn more about how AirMed helps you meet these standards, visit our Compliance page.
If you’d like to learn about our quality management and GPP offerings or discuss your specific needs, please give us a call at 1-877-313-2442 or use one of the contact forms.
Cannabis Industry Makes Predictions for 2024
While there are no guarantees as to what will happen in the cannabis marketplace, media members and industry analysts have been making predictions for 2024.
Investing News Network published both a year-end review and a forecast for the future that covered Canada, the US and global markets. For the projections, INN reached out to experts to learn about the key trends and challenges they expect to see in 2024.
https://investingnews.com/daily/cannabis-investing/cannabis-market-update/
https://investingnews.com/cannabis-forecast/
The Business of Cannabis published a series of articles in December 2023 and January 2024 with projections by industry stakeholders.
For their North American edition, the Business of Cannabis “spoke with a wide roster of industry stakeholders to discuss everything from the anticipated surge of pre-rolls, poised to surpass flower consumption in both Canada and the United States, to legislative reforms and the emergence of new market opportunities, such as cannabinoid therapeutics.”
https://businessofcannabis.com/looking-ahead-whats-in-store-for-cannabis-in-2024-part-1/
https://businessofcannabis.com/looking-ahead-whats-in-store-for-cannabis-in-2024-part-2/
https://businessofcannabis.com/looking-ahead-whats-in-store-for-cannabis-in-2024-part-3/
For the European edition, the Business of Cannabis focused on Germany and the UK.
https://businessofcannabis.com/whats-in-store-for-the-european-cannabis-in-2024-part-1/
https://businessofcannabis.com/whats-in-store-for-the-european-cannabis-in-2024-part-2/
The research firm Brightfield Group published “Six Insights from 2023 for 2024 Success in Canadian Cannabis.” This blog post offers a brief overview of the state of the Canadian cannabis industry plus trends for the future.
https://blog.brightfieldgroup.com/2024-canadian-cannabis-trends
The Green Market Report, which is focused on cannabis industry financial news, published “Cannabis Industry Executives Share Predictions for 2024.” This short article discusses both US and International reforms.
https://www.greenmarketreport.com/cannabis-industry-executives-share-predictions-for-2024/
The International Cannabis Business Conference blog offered up predictions for various markets around the globe in a post titled, “What Will Happen In 2024 Within The Global Cannabis Industry?”
https://ca.internationalcbc.com/what-will-happen-in-2024-within-the-global-cannabis-industry/
Market research company Technavio published a report titled, “US-Cannabis Market by Derivative Type, Product and Geography-Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027.” While focused on the USA, some of trends are likely the same as those that will affect the Canadian market. “The analysts have presented the various facets of the market with a particular focus on identifying the key industry influencers.”
https://www.technavio.com/report/us-cannabis-market-analysis
Report: GS1 Trends 2023/2024
Selling any product, including cannabis, starts with a unique identification number from GS1. The GS1 (Global Standards 1) organization is a neutral, global collaboration platform that brings industry leaders, government, regulators, academia, and associations together to develop standards-based solutions to address the challenges of data exchange.
GS1—which has local Member Organisations in 116 countries, over two million user companies and 10 billion transactions every day—helps ensure that there is a common language of business across the globe. GS1 manages the Global Trade Item Number or GTIN, which identifies companies and their products and services using barcode data.
“Trend Research 2023-2024” is a report published recently by GS1 that discusses the top business trends in the world. Topics include data privacy, supply chain digitalisation, traceability and new technologies.
“A cornerstone of any digital transformation are the concepts that are core to the GS1 system: globally unique identification, a common data language, a commitment to interoperability and a firm belief that business value achieved through data sharing is amplified through the use of standards.”
For more information and to download the report visit:
https://www.gs1.org/resources/articles/trend-research-2023-2024-innovation-world-continuous-disruption
Alberta Loosens Cannabis Regulations
Alberta is changing provincial cannabis regulations to “give retailers more time to focus on their business, while ensuring health, safety, and security remain a top priority.”
The Alberta government made the announcement in December 2023 in a media release titled, “Reducing red tape for cannabis retailers.”
On January 31, 2024, the following improvements to the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation will come into force:
- Licensed cannabis retailers can operate temporary sales locations at adults-only events like trade shows and festivals.
- Cannabis retailers can keep their products in locked display cases when the store is closed rather than moving everything into a secured storage room at the close of every business day.
- Restrictions are removed on sales and transfers between cannabis retailers and to further allow Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis to establish resale markup limits.
Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, was quoted as saying, “We’ve been looking at the cannabis market to determine what’s working, what needs to be improved, and what’s redundant or unnecessary while protecting public health and safety. These changes are the result of our latest work to help curb the illegal cannabis industry and continue providing choices Albertans can trust.”
Stratcann, one of Canada’s cannabis news platforms, reported, “…a media representative for the AGLC tells StratCann that the ‘policies and processes to support cannabis licensees who are interested in operating temporary sales locations are in development and will be shared with cannabis stakeholders prior to the implementation date.’”
The CBC reported, “In Edmonton and Calgary, city bylaws already allow smoking or vaping cannabis at outdoor festivals and public events, but only in designated areas. And in those cases, selling cannabis on site isn’t allowed… The changes will allow licensed cannabis retailers to set up temporary sales at adults-only events, like trade shows and festivals. They also ease some of the restrictions around how store owners can transfer product between different locations and lift the requirement to store product in a secure area off the shop floor while the store is closed.”
Cannabis in Alberta is regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) ministry.
To read the Alberta government media release visit: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=89500F3BC265B-E9F5-13F7-DA8506A53DD281BE
To read the Stratcann article visit: https://stratcann.com/news/alberta-announces-several-changes-to-retail-cannabis-regulations-through-red-tape-reduction/
To read the CBC article visit: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-to-allow-cannabis-sales-at-adults-only-events-1.7064117
For more information about cannabis in Alberta visit: https://aglc.ca/
Important Cannabis Council of Canada Excise Tax Request
Cannabis Council of Canada surveyed licensed producers and has released their findings in a report that you can access here: https://cannabis-council.ca/files/advocacy/C3-Excise-survey.pdf
But that’s not the end of this story. In fact, it’s just the beginning. CCC announced that after bringing their excise tax survey results to Ottawa during the Grass on the Hill Summit last month, the Department of Finance wants to learn more.
“The Department of Finance would like to get a deeper understanding of how excise tax impacts License Holders’ financial positions, and how different rate models can help the long-term viability of our sector.”
This is where you come in.
CCC is asking Health Canada License Holders who pay excise tax to provide the Canadian government with a confidential look at their financials for 2022. Note that deadline to respond: November 30, 2023.
For details and to access the CCC excise model spreadsheet use the contact information below before the November 30 deadline!
Email CCC directly at hello @ cannabis-council.ca
If the email link doesn’t work, visit the Cannabis Council of Canada website for contact information: https://cannabis-council.ca/
MJBizDaily Publishes Series on Government Funding for Canadian Producers
In the first article of a series, MJBiz Daily reported “More Canadian cannabis companies are tapping government funding sources to finance research and other projects as private-sector capital has become harder to come by.”
That article, written by MJBiz Daily International Editor Matt Lamers, was published September 28, 2023 with the title “Canadian cannabis companies tap government funding programs.”
Lamers wrote, “MJBizDaily found that more than 3 million Canadian dollars ($2.2 million) worth of federal funding was provided to almost two dozen companies over the past year, according to the government’s Grants and Contributions portal.”
The second article, published October 3, 2023, reported that “Cannabis-related agricultural businesses based in Alberta are eligible for provincial funding under two programs if they meet certain requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation told MJBizDaily.”
The latest installment, published November 16, 2023, reported that the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food explained via email that “federally licensed and commercial cannabis production is eligible for many of its programs and services.”
The author wrote, “Federally licensed cannabis producers in British Columbia are eligible to apply for a host of government programs, some of which provide funding, including the provincial portion of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.”
In the News Five Years After Cannabis Legalization in Canada
This month marked the fifth anniversary of the legalization of cannabis in Canada, and news outlets offered various views on the results so far. While some of the articles discussed the challenges and struggles facing the industry, others looked at different aspects.
CTV News reports that “Five years after cannabis legalization, 64 per cent of Canadians are in support of the move.” The article published on the CTV News website was about the results of an online survey conducted by Research Co. “Support for the legalization of marijuana is highest among Canadians aged 55 and over (66 per cent),” Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. said in a press release. “The proportions are lower among those aged 35-to-54 (56 per cent) and those aged 18-to-34 (48 per cent).”
The Canadian Medical Association Journal published “Outcomes associated with nonmedical cannabis legalization policy in Canada: taking stock at the 5-year mark.” This scholarly article reported, “Cannabis legalization in Canada appears not to have been the public health disaster anticipated by some of its opponents, but it cannot be described as a comprehensive or unequivocal success for public health either.”
https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/39/E1351#ref-11
The Royal Gazette published “Canada and cannabis at Year 5,” which focused on three major aspects: the cannabis market, public health and social justice. “Canadian experience demonstrates there have been problems that must be responded to. But the ending of criminalisation that especially burdened Indigenous and Black people, the creation of a legal market providing untainted cannabis — the strength of which is clear — and the confronting of the illicit one that makes vast sums of money, pays no taxes and has no regard for the quality of what it sells must weigh heavily in the balance.”
https://www.royalgazette.com/opinion-writer/opinion/article/20231028/canada-and-cannabis-at-year-5/
Report: What We Heard
The federal government released a report that summarizes what a “five-person expert panel has heard over the past year as it engaged with almost 500 stakeholders in nearly 90 meetings across Canada.”
The report, titled “What We Heard,” describes the scope of the engagement and summarizes the responses in several categories including: public health, impact on young persons, impact on First Nations and more.
Read about the expert panel and review here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/laws-regulations/cannabis-act-legislative-review/expert-panel/legislative-review-cannabis-act-report.html
Read the report here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/laws-regulations/cannabis-act-legislative-review/expert-panel/legislative-review-cannabis-act-report.html
Stratcann summarized the report in an article published on their website on October 10, 2023, the same day the report was released.
Read the Stratcann article here: https://stratcann.com/other/canada-releases-what-we-heard-report-on-the-cannabis-act-review/
Global News followed up the release of the report with an in-depth article on the state of the cannabis industry in Canada. In the feature published on October 16, 2023, Global News offers commentary by several experts including George Smitherman, president and chief executive of the Cannabis Council of Canada.
Read the Global News article here: https://globalnews.ca/news/10027112/cannabis-act-review-canada/
Complete C3 Excise Tax Survey of Licence Holders before Sep 1
Cannabis Council of Canada (C3) is conducting a study on the Canadian cannabis excise tax framework and are looking for input from licensed producers and processors from across the country.
Are you a Health Canada Licence Holder? Please take 10 minutes to fill out an anonymous survey (or forward to your CFO) before September 1st and join C3 August 31st for a virtual discussion with other leaders in the cannabis sector.
“Your input will be invaluable in shaping our conversations with government decision-makers at an upcoming lobby day and in advance of the Fall Economic Statement. All responses are anonymous and will be reported in aggregate.”
Not a licence holder? C3 encourages you to share this survey link with LPs whose operations might be impacted by a change to the excise tax framework.
Use the link below to complete the survey:
https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25f1c7xf8k9fhoqOr visit C3 for more information:
https://cannabis-council.ca/
