What to Expect from the Cannabis Act Review
Since the announcement of the Cannabis Act review, people are speaking out about what they hope to see from reviewers.
The review was initially planned to begin in 2021 and look at the public health implications of the legalization of cannabis in Canada.
The CBC reported that the government delayed the start of the review to expand the scope. “The review mandate has been expanded to include an examination of the social and environmental effects of the Cannabis Act, the impact of legalization and regulation of medical cannabis and the impact on racialized communities and women.”
Read more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/public-health-cannabis-mandated-eview-1.6591442
An article in The Globe & Mail stated that “For George Smitherman, the chief executive officer of the Cannabis Council of Canada, the national industry association, the announcement comes at a critical time. Companies continue to face pressure from the illicit market, as well as excise taxes, provincial distributor markups and regulatory fees.”
Read more here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-health-canada-cannabis-act-review/
The Toronto Star notes that the pot sector wants packaging changes and financial relief from the review. “The industry is frustrated the review’s launch arrived a year later than mandated but is still hoping it can result in enough tweaked restrictions to make cannabis distribution easier, draw in new customers and prevent more staffing and facility cuts.”
Read more here: https://www.thestar.com/news/cannabis/2022/09/22/pot-sector-wants-packaging-changes-financial-relief-from-cannabis-act-review.html
The review is expected to be completed in 18 months, and government officials say that it will consider health issues as well as financial, tax, regulatory and criminal-justice matters.
Government of Canada Launches Cannabis Act Review
On September 22, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a legislative review of the Cannabis Act.
The announcement stated, “Parliamentarians recognized the need for an early assessment of the Government’s new approach to cannabis control, and included a provision requiring a review in the Act. The review will help ensure that the Act adapts to the current situation and continues to meet Canadians needs and expectations.”
An independent panel of experts will lead what is being called a credible and inclusive review. “The Panel will provide independent, expert advice to both Ministers on progress made towards achieving the Act’s objectives, and will help identify priority areas for improving the functioning of the legislation.”
In conjunction with the legislative review, an online engagement process has been launched.
All Canadians are invited to read Taking Stock of Progress: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation in Canada.
Canadians are also encouraged to share their views via the online questionnaire or through written feedback until November 21, 2022.
Take the survey here: https://ca1se.voxco.com/SE/?st=3KoT2Xgsv4uHJF2%2F0i%2F7oo5IS3ATejUCjIjdJ4lUsME%3D&lang=en
You can also read the original announcement on the Government of Canada website.
Canadian cannabis sales projected to double over next five years
A “Cannabis Canada Weekly” column published on BNN Bloomberg in March 2022 reports that Canadian cannabis sales are expected to double to $8.8B over next five years.
The article refers to a report published by the market researchers at Brightfield Group and notes, “The pace of sales in Canada’s cannabis market may be slowing down, but it is still expected to double over the next five years, according to a new report.”
Read the article by visiting BNN Bloomberg: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/cannabis-canada-weekly-market-expected-to-double-by-2027-pot-stocks-up-on-u-s-legalization-hopes-1.1743189
AirMed Nominated for Two 2022 O'Cannabiz Awards
We’ve been nominated in the O’Cannabiz Awards as Best Software and Best Innovative Technology!
Hosted by the producers of the O’Cannabiz Conference & Expo, the awards program is designed to recognize excellence and innovation in our industry.
Between now and May 14, 2022, anyone can vote on which nominees will win in the O’Cannabiz Awards. To vote you need to register for free on the O’Cannabiz website. Once registered, you can go back to vote any time before the deadline, but registered voters can only vote once in each category (see list below).
An awards gala will be held during the O’Cannabiz Conference & Expo on June 1st, 2022 in Toronto to honour cannabis professionals and companies.
Please vote for AirMed in the Best Software and the Best Innovative Technology categories by registering at:
https://awards.ocannabiz.com/To learn more about the conference & expo, visit: https://ocannabiz.com/
O’Cannabiz Awards categories
Attorney of the Year
Best Activist/Advocate of the Year
Best Budtender
Best Business Consultancy
Best Cannabis Clinic
Best Cannabis Nutrients Product
Best Customer Service
Best Disinfection and Pest Control Services
Best Engineering Firm
Best Extraction Equipment
Best Extraction Facility/Toll Processing
Best Growing Medium
Best Home Grow Package
Best HVAC & Ventilation Systems
Best Hydroponics System
Best Innovative Technology
Best Lab Equipment
Best Lab Testing Facilities
Best Lighting Systems
Best Marketing Campaign
Best new Start-Up
Best News Source
Best Packaging Design
Best Packaging Equipment
Best POS/CRM Software
Best PR/Advertising Agency
Best Retail Chain
Best Retail Interior Design
Best Security Service
Best Seedbank
Best Software
Best Storefront Branding
Best Supplier/Distributor
Best Top Retail Store (Single Location)
Best Trimming Equipment
Best Water Filtration System
Brand of the Year
Cannabis Person of the Year
Favourite Accessory
Favourite Capsules, Extracts, Concentrates
Favourite CBD & Topicals
Favourite Edible Product
Favourite Flower
Favourite Infused Beverages
Favourite Product of the Year
Favourite Retail Store or Medical Clinic
Favourite Vaporizer
Green Deed(s) Award
Licensed Producer of the Year
Medical Cannabis Professional of the Year
Outstanding Educator or Institution of the Year
Scientific Researcher or Facility
Social Media Influencer of the Year
Health Canada authorizing dried and fresh cannabis sales to licensees
Beginning April 19, 2022, existing holders of micro and standard cannabis licenses in Canada will be granted authorization to sell dried and fresh cannabis products. A notification went out to existing license holders at the end of March that this regulatory change will allow them to sell dried or fresh cannabis products to provincial wholesalers. Prior to this, a sales amendment was required to sell those products.
“Initial licensing came with sales conditions, and the amendment application process could take months,” said Justin Hearn, president and CEO of AirMed Canada Systems, “These changes are designed to reduce the regulatory burden for licensees and help them get their products to market more quickly. We expect this to be especially significant for our micro clients who want to carry out farmgate sales.”
Health Canada will automatically reissue licenses with amended conditions over the next three months. Those who had already applied for an amendment for dried and fresh cannabis sales will be prioritized in the process. Following the regulations, licensees will still need to submit a Notification of New Cannabis Product (NNCP) 60 days in advance of the sale of any new product.
This modification to the license program has been implemented as part of Health Canada’s efforts to improve the cannabis licensing process. According to the notification, “The decision is based on the lower risk associated with producing dried and fresh cannabis products.”
Note that the change applies only to dried and fresh cannabis products. Other products, such as edibles and vape cartridges, are not included in the sales amendment. Licensees planning to sell those products must still apply to Health Canada for a sales amendment.
“While these changes do not apply to the sale of extracts and edibles, it is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Hearn. “We expect edibles and extracts to play a significant role in cannabis sales in the future and have already added support in AirMed for these classes of cannabis.”
For more information about cannabis in Canada, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/cannabis/industry.html
For information on how AirMed manages the sale of cannabis products for licensees, visit: https://airmedcloud.com/software/#sell
Lift Expo Toronto 2022: May 12-15
The Lift & Co. Expo will be making its return to Toronto this May 12-15, 2022 at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The Lift Expo pride itself on providing top-notch educational content, enriching thought leadership from the industry’s brightest minds, and of course, fun & authentic networking opportunities.
Featuring hundreds of exhibitors, a band of forward-thinking speakers, and the movers & shakers of the industry, Lift & Co. Expo is the meeting place for cannabis consumers, professionals and media.
For more information visit: Lift Expo
Report says Cannabis Contributed $43.5 Billion to Canada’s GDP since legalization
The industry analysts at Deloitte Canada have published an annual report on the Canadian cannabis industry. Posted February 1, 2022, the report is titled, “An industry makes its mark: the economic and social impact of Canada’s cannabis sector.”
The authors of the report wrote, “Canada’s cannabis industry is generating billions for the country’s economy and government coffers… In the span of three years, the Canadian cannabis sector has found its footing and emerged as a thriving new source of economic growth, creating and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in communities countrywide.”
The report is based on a study that uses an input-output methodology to estimate the economic contributions of the Canadian cannabis sector.
To read more about this report visit: Deloitte Canada
To download the full report in PDF visit: An industry makes its mark
Deloitte Report Discusses Retail Cannabis Pricing Dynamics
With the help of BDSA and Hifyre, the analysts at Deloitte Canada examined consumer sales data alongside Deloitte’s recent survey of cannabis consumer preferences. The goal? To better understand pricing dynamics in both the Canadian and American adult-use cannabis markets.
“We discovered some fundamental similarities between cannabis and consumer packaged goods (CPG) markets—and some key differences.”
This report, titled “Price. It’s Complicated,” gives a close look at how cannabis behaves like a typical CPG (consumer packaged goods) market and the dynamics at play when it doesn’t. The report outlines some recommendations for companies looking to stay competitive in the challenging environment of this young industry.
To read more about this report visit: Deloitte Canada
To download the full report in PDF visit: Price. It’s Complicated.
Lift Expo Toronto 2021: Nov 18-21
The Lift & Co. Expo will be making its return to Toronto this November 18-21 at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building.
The Lift Expo pride itself on providing top-notch educational content, enriching thought leadership from the industry’s brightest minds, and of course, fun & authentic networking opportunities.
Featuring hundreds of exhibitors, a band of forward-thinking speakers, and the movers & shakers of the industry, Lift & Co. Expo is the meeting place for cannabis consumers, professionals and media.
For more information visit: Lift Expo
Cannabis in Canada: Get the Facts
Do you have questions about cannabis in Canada? Would you like to understand the laws that govern the Canadian cannabis industry? Are you considering applying for a license to cultivate, process or sell cannabis?
The federal government has a webpage that outlines what industry needs to know about cannabis in Canada. This information covers the basics related to doing business in the cannabis industry including:
Impact of the new law and regulations on industry
- Applying for or amending a federal licence
- Packaging and labelling requirements
- Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System requirements
- Compliance and enforcement under the Cannabis Act
- Prohibitions on promotions
- and more
The page provides links to relevant sections of the federal government website where you can find more information on each topic.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/cannabis/industry.html
For more information on how AirMed helps you meet compliance, visit our Compliance page or our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you’d like to discuss your specific needs, please give us a call at 1-877-313-2442 or use one of the contact forms to start the ball rolling.
Join AirMed at Virtual Grower Day April 14
Hosted by Greenhouse Canada & Grow Opportunity magazine, Grower Day comes to a new virtual platform for 2021.
Grower Day on April 14 spotlights all things cannabis cultivation, including trends and issues that impact Canada’s licensed cannabis producers.
Meet with experts and growers from across the country, and discuss the latest in research, technology and production practices.
AirMed seed-to-sale business solutions will be an exhibitor at this event, so drop by our virtual booth to find out more about AirMed Cloud software and our turn-key ecosystem.
For more information visit: Grower Day April 14, 2021
Visit our virtual booth: AirMed at Virtual Grower Day
Market Researcher Says Canadian Cannabis Industry Exceeded $2.6 billion in 2020
According to BDSA, a market research firm specializing in the cannabis industry, global cannabis sales exceeded $21 billion in 2020. Based in Boulder, Colorado in the United States, BDSA made this announcement on March 5, 2021 in a blog post highlighting statistics from a market forecast.
The post noted, “Legal cannabis sales in Canada totaled an estimated $2.6 billion in 2020 and are forecast to grow to nearly $6.4 billion in 2026, a CAGR of 16%… During the year, BDSA Retail Sales Tracking data in Alberta and British Columbia showed rapid growth in shares of new Cannabis 2.0 product categories.”
The market research company also made predictions for the market into 2026. “Global cannabis sales reached nearly $21.3 billion in 2020, an increase of 48% over 2019 sales of $14.4 billion. BDSA forecasts global cannabis sales will grow from $21.3 billion in 2020 to $55.9 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 17%. This growth is expected to be steady, roughly $6 billion annually.”
For more information visit:
https://blog.bdsa.com/cannabis-sales-in-2020
Cannabis Helps Canadian Agriculture Industry in 2020
According to the newspaper Moosejaw Today, Statistic Canada reported farm cash receipts of $16.7 billion increased 5.2 per cent in 2020 over 2019.
The newspaper article, published September 13, 2020, stated, “Without a 62 per cent increase — $685 million — in cannabis sales, farm cash receipts would have increased a mere .8 per cent… Led by surging cannabis sales, farm cash receipts in the first half of the year bucked the general decline caused by the coronavirus.”
To read the original article, visit: https://www.moosejawtoday.com/local-news/cannabis-steers-healthy-increase-in-agriculture-income-2706446
AirMed Recognized as Underlying Technology Software for Cannabis Sector
In a recent article by venture capital company Canopy Rivers, AirMed was recognized as one of the foundation vendors of seed-to-sale software. In a ‘market insights” post, Ben Futoriansky, an Associate in Business Development at Canopy Rivers, described specialized cannabis technology suppliers as “picks & shovels” for the sector.
“The sector-agnostic use case of many technology-driven innovations has led to software becoming the foundation in various industries. Following decades of prohibition and patchwork regulations, many established software solutions have not yet been applied to the cannabis sector. This has paved the way for specialized cannabis…”
To read the full article, visit Canopy Rivers.
Why you need seed-to-sale software for your cannabis business
Introduction
Seed-to-sale software tracks plant production from reproduction through growth, harvesting, drying, packaging, sales and distribution. Health Canada mandates record keeping for every part of the process, and Canadian seed-to-sale software applications focus on compliance built on Health Canada’s regulations.
Record keeping is an essential part of Health Canada’s compliance regulations. From the advent of legal medical marijuana in Canada, legal producers of cannabis have been required to track every seed, rooted plant, gram of waste material, final dried product, as well as interactions with customers. Due to the sheer volume of information, an electronic record-keeping system is the only practical way to manage the process. The software industry has responded to this need by creating seed-to-sale management software systems designed to help producers track their operations and report to Health Canada to meet compliance.
As a Health Canada applicant, you must specify the name of the software system you plan to use for record keeping and provide a summary of how the software program meets Health Canada’s requirements. As a result, you will need to make at least preliminary decisions into seed-to-sale management software early on in your application process.
This might seem like one more challenge along your path to becoming a licensed producer, but in reality, seed-to-sale software is designed to help you be successful.
Seed-to-sale software platforms should provide the electronic record keeping required to not only for you to meet compliance, but also to help you be successful in your business. From greenhouse to warehouse to customer, your software system should help you at every stage of your operation. Functionality for genetics tracking, inventory management, quality control, shipping & receiving, point-of-sale ecommerce, compliance auditing & reporting, and customer relationship management can provide you with full business administration.
Licensing
To do business in the cannabis industry in Canada, you must meet Canada’s licensing requirements. Currently there are several types of licenses for those wishing to carry out cannabis-related business in Canada.
- Standard Cultivation
- Micro-cultivation
- Nursery
- Standard Processing
- Micro-processing
- Sale
- Analytical Testing
- Research
Regardless of which class of license you get, you will be responsible for complying with all the regulations that apply from the various levels of government.
The Laws
The Cannabis Act
Formerly called the ACMPR, this act covers all aspects of cannabis in Canada from growing through processing to selling and more. It is the responsibility of the licensee/applicant to understand and meet all the requirements that apply to their business.
Other Federal Acts and Regulations
As a licensee or applicant, you are responsible for complying with requirements of other Canadian acts and regulations such as the Food and Drugs Act (FDA), the Pest Control Products Act, the Fertilizer Act, among others.
The Canada Revenue Agency
You’ll also need to meet requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency depending on which activities will be conducted with cannabis.
Provincial or Territorial Legislation
As a licensee or applicant, you’ll be responsible for complying with all applicable provincial or territorial laws and regulations (environmental laws, for example).
Municipal By-Laws
As well, you’ll need to deal with municipal by-laws such as zoning and building permits.
How can seed-to-sale software help?
From the advent of legal medical marijuana in Canada, legal producers of cannabis have been required to track every seed, plant, gram of waste material, final product, and more. Due to the sheer volume of information, an electronic record-keeping system is the only practical way to manage the process.
The software industry has responded to this need by creating seed-to-sale management software designed to help businesses meet compliance. Seed-to-sale software tracks growth, harvesting, processing, packaging, sales and distribution.
And some seed-to-sale software systems go beyond compliance to help businesses cultivate success with features and functionality to help fine-tune propagation, growth cycles, harvesting, production, derivatives, inventory, staffing, and product sales. AirMed is one of those. Wherever your business fits in the seed-to-sale supply chain, AirMed can help with both legal compliance and business acumen. For a free demo, call 877-313-2442, email info @ airmed.ca or fill out the form on our contact page.
For information on cannabis licensing in Canada visit: Cannabis Licensing Application Guide
For more information on purchasing seed-to-sale software, fill out a form to download our complete buyer’s guide: Seed-to-sale Software Buyer’s Guide
Thanks for visiting us at Lift Vancouver!
We’d like to thank everyone who visited the AirMed booth at the Lift Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre last week. Thanks for taking the time to get to know us. It was a pleasure to meet you! We had a great time at the show and hope you did too.
We demonstrated our seed-to-sale software live on site and introduced many of you to out AirMed Ecosystem, a turn-key compliance and business solution for micro-producers. We had tablets, environmental sensors and more in the booth.
To help cannabis producers, big and small, cultivate success, AirMed has developed strategic partnerships with leading vendors of products and services in the Canadian cannabis industry. From compliance consultants through equipment manufacturers to telecommunications and finally delivery services, we’ve partnered with the best in the industry. For more information about our partners visit: AirMed Ecosystem
To schedule an AirMed software demo, email info@airmed.ca or call 1-877- 313-2442.
Visit us at Lift Vancouver 2020 next week
The Lift Vancouver 2020 Conference & Expo is just one week away and we’re busy getting ready. Being held January 9 through 12 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Lift & Co. Conference and Expo is Canada’s largest cannabis expo.
Featuring hundreds of exhibitors from around the world, renowned speakers, and the movers and shakers in the global industry, the Lift & Co. Expo is Canada’s biggest event for cannabis consumers, industry professionals, investors and media.
Visit AirMed in booth #1230 in the expo hall throughout the conference for a demo of our cloud-based seed-to-sale software. And be sure to ask about our AirMed Ecosystem, which lets you purchase hardware and software in a turn-key solution for your cannabis business. From compliance consultants through tablet, sensor, scale and printer manufacturers to telecommunications and finally delivery services, AirMed has partnered with the best in the industry.
Business Conference Thursday, January 9, 2020, 8 AM – 7 PM
The Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference (LCBC) brings together leading experts from across the industry to tackle subject matter from a uniquely Canadian perspective. This exclusive, all-day conference incites discussions around both the fast-growing medical and adult-use cannabis markets, as well as how Canadian businesses are in a position of leadership on the world stage. Meet fellow players or find your niche in this fast-paced global industry.
Expo Industry Day Friday, January 10, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Our industry-only trade show day offers focused opportunities for cannabis professionals to kick-start meaningful conversations, relationships and deals. Whether you’re an established business owner, cannabis company employee or industry-curious entrepreneur, we encourage you to engage with fellow exhibitors in this exclusively professional environment.
Expo Consumer Day Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Featuring over 200 exhibitors from Canada and around the world, and speakers including the industry’s most knowledgeable and inspiring movers and shakers, the Lift & Co. Expo is Canada’s signature event for cannabis consumers, professionals and investors.
For more information about the conference or to purchase tickets online, visit: Lift Expo
To schedule a specific time to meet with our team during the expo, email info@airmed.ca or call 1-877-313-2442.
See you in Vancouver!
Just four weeks until Lift Vancouver 2020
The Lift Vancouver 2020 Conference and Expo is just four weeks away.
Being held January 9 through 11 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Lift & Co. Conference and Expo is Canada’s largest cannabis expo.
AirMed will join exhibitors from around the world, renowned speakers, and the movers and shakers in the global industry at the Lift & Co. Expo, which is Canada’s biggest event for cannabis consumers, industry professionals, investors and media.
Visit AirMed in booth #1230 in the expo hall on Friday January 10 and Saturday January 11 for a demo of our cloud-based seed-to-sale software. And be sure to ask about our AirMed Ecosystem, which lets you purchase hardware and software in a turn-key solution for your cannabis business. From compliance consultants through tablet, sensor, scale and printer manufacturers to telecommunications and finally delivery services, AirMed has partnered with the best in the industry.
Business Conference Thursday, January 9, 2020, 8 AM – 7 PM
The Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference (LCBC) brings together leading experts from across the industry to tackle subject matter from a uniquely Canadian perspective. This exclusive, all-day conference incites discussions around both the fast-growing medical and adult-use cannabis markets, as well as how Canadian businesses are in a position of leadership on the world stage. Meet fellow players or find your niche in this fast-paced global industry.
Expo Industry Day Friday, January 10, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Our industry-only trade show day offers focused opportunities for cannabis professionals to kick-start meaningful conversations, relationships and deals. Whether you’re an established business owner, cannabis company employee or industry-curious entrepreneur, we encourage you to engage with fellow exhibitors in this exclusively professional environment.
Expo Consumer Day Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Featuring over 200 exhibitors from Canada and around the world, and speakers including the industry’s most knowledgeable and inspiring movers and shakers, the Lift & Co. Expo is Canada’s signature event for cannabis consumers, professionals and investors.
For more information about the conference or to purchase tickets online, visit: Lift Expo
To schedule a specific time to meet with our team during the expo, email info@airmed.ca or call 1-877-313-2442.
See you in Vancouver!
Meet AirMed at Lift Vancouver Expo January 10-11, 2020
AirMed will join exhibitors from around the world, renowned speakers, and the movers and shakers in the global cannabis industry at Lift Vancouver 2020. The Lift & Co. Expo, being held January 9-11 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, is Canada’s biggest event for cannabis consumers, industry professionals, investors and media.
Visit AirMed in booth #1230 in the expo hall on Friday and Saturday for a demo of our cloud-based seed-to-sale software. And be sure to ask about our AirMed Ecosystem, which lets you purchase hardware and software in a turn-key solution for your cannabis business. From compliance consultants through tablet, sensor, scale and printer manufacturers to telecommunications and finally delivery services, AirMed has partnered with the best in the industry.
Business Conference Thursday, January 9, 2020, 8 AM – 7 PM
The Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference (LCBC) brings together leading experts from across the industry to tackle subject matter from a uniquely Canadian perspective. This exclusive, all-day conference incites discussions around both the fast-growing medical and adult-use cannabis markets, as well as how Canadian businesses are in a position of leadership on the world stage. Meet fellow players or find your niche in this fast-paced global industry.
Expo Industry Day Friday, January 10, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Our industry-only trade show day offers focused opportunities for cannabis professionals to kick-start meaningful conversations, relationships and deals. Whether you’re an established business owner, cannabis company employee or industry-curious entrepreneur, we encourage you to engage with fellow exhibitors in this exclusively professional environment.
Expo Consumer Day Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10 AM – 6 PM
Featuring over 200 exhibitors from Canada and around the world, and speakers including the industry’s most knowledgeable and inspiring movers and shakers, the Lift & Co. Expo is Canada’s signature event for cannabis consumers, professionals and investors.
For more information about the conference or to purchase tickets online, visit: Lift Expo
To schedule a specific time to meet with our team during the expo, email info@airmed.ca or call 1-877-313-2442.
Cannabis Expo Ottawa: November 23 & 24, 2019 at Shaw Centre
With the advancement of legalization, the Cannabis Expo is an important step in showing the world the professionalism and maturity of the expanding industry. Join industry leaders from across Canada in an interactive forum educating on the latest technology, research and benefits of cannabis. Don’t miss comprehensive networking opportunities while exploring industry related exhibits as we build the foundation for the future of Cannabis in Canada.
For more information visit: Cannabis Expo Ottawa