Shoppers Drug Mart may have yet to receive its medical cannabis license from Health Canada, but it is moving full steam ahead to make sure it has secured multiple Canadian cannabis suppliers to provide its customers with products.
Author Archives: Caroline Cahill
California Cannabis Surety Bond Program Approved by Insurance Commissioner
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has been on a mission to ensure state-legal cannabis businesses have commercial insurance coverage and with his announcement of the first California cannabis surety bond program on Feb. 21, 2018, he continues to make progress.
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Issues RFP for Cannabis Retailers
While the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has its key policies in place for recreational legalization and has secured a supply agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED) to provide cannabis for the province, it is now ready to hear from prospective cannabis retailers.
New Brunswick Cannabis Stores to Have Refined Design Elements
While the locations for New Brunswick cannabis stores were only recently announced, the province is moving full steam ahead, completing design plans for the retail cannabis properties expected to open this summer.
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Ready to Serve Patients This Week
While the Keystone State’s first dispensary held its grand opening on Jan. 27, 2018, it didn’t have medical marijuana available for patients to purchase, but now the wait to buy products from Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensaries is almost over. Starting on Feb. 15, and progressing through the week, a handful of dispensaries will open with products available for patients to purchase.
Study: Medical Cannabis Treatment Significantly Reduces Chronic Pain in Elderly
Baby boomers have become a growing market segment in the legal cannabis industry as the acceptance of medical cannabis treatment continues to spread across the world, and now it appears that medical cannabis treatment may offer senior citizens a safer alternative to opioids in the treatment of chronic pain.
Ontario Selects Shopify to Run Mobile and Online Cannabis Sales
With Canadian cannabis legalization slated to commence this summer, Ontario has been proactive in its preparations, being the first province to issue its market regulations and now announcing a partnership with a popular ecommerce platform based in Ottawa to run mobile and online cannabis sales in the province.
Oregon Audit Reveals Weaknesses in OLCC Cannabis Tracking
Oregon’s cannabis market has been scrutinized over the past year and with the recent release of a state cannabis audit, scrutiny of the state’s cannabis tracking and licensing systems has intensified.
Leafly Cutting Unlicensed Cannabis Companies From Dispensary Finder Tool
Prior to recreational cannabis legalization in California, unlicensed cannabis companies proliferated under a system that didn’t require state licenses to operate medical cannabis businesses; however, the opportunity for those operating under the guise of legality is over in California and a popular cannabis dispensary and strain review website is erring on the side of caution.
British Columbia Marijuana Market Details Revealed
Canada is nearing its rollout of recreational marijuana this summer and while there have been challenges in keeping up with the federal deadline, the British Columbia marijuana market is taking shape.
Bright Side of the Bay: 8 Winners Selected for Oakland Dispensary Licenses
In California, officials with the city of Oakland have been working for more than a year to create and implement the city’s Dispensary Equity Permit Program, and with the winners of Oakland dispensary licenses having been announced, the fruits of their labor are being realized.
California Treasurer Studying Possibility of Creating a Public Cannabis Bank
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions may have reversed federal marijuana enforcement policy, but that isn’t stopping the Golden State from studying how to move forward with creating a public cannabis bank to serve the state’s legal cannabis industry.
Here Are the 9 Nova Scotia Cannabis Retail Locations
Canadian cannabis legalization is rolling out this summer and the country’s provinces are under a tight deadline to be up and running, but it looks like the legal Nova Scotia cannabis market may be ahead of the game as far as distribution goes.
Canadian Cannabis Consumers Spent Almost C$6 Billion on Product in 2017
Recreational cannabis legalization is on Canada’s horizon and as a means of understanding pre- and post-legalization markets, Statistics Canada has been analyzing historical data to get a sense of what the future of legal cannabis may hold for the country and if its most recent report is any indication, Canadian cannabis consumers are ready to open their wallets when it comes to cannabis.
Keystone State Auditor General Advocating for Pennsylvania Legalization
While the Keystone State’s medical marijuana program has only just begun, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is ready for Pennsylvania legalization to tap into the recreational market to benefit the state budget, reduce the costs associated with simple possession arrests, curb the opioid epidemic and create jobs.
Canadian Cannabis Research Banks $1.4M in Funding From Government
With the Great White North preparing to become the first G7 nation to launch recreational legalization, the federal government wants to inform its journey into uncharted territory by providing $1.4 million in funding to Canadian cannabis research projects.
AG Ferguson Wants to Know Sessions’ Effects on Washington Cannabis Industry
Since United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions first criticized the Washington cannabis industry in July 2017, Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson have defended the industry; however, Sessions’ memo on Jan. 4, 2018, announcing a reversal of federal cannabis enforcement policy, may have prompted the state to bolster its position.
Vermont Recreational Marijuana Now a Reality
The Green Mountain State just got a little bit greener as Vermont recreational marijuana is now a reality. On Jan. 22, 2018, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed H. 511, legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. This makes Vermont the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana and the first state to do so via the state legislature instead of a ballot initiative.
Arizona Dispensaries Sold Over 43 Tons of Medical Marijuana in 2017
While the Grand Canyon State may have failed to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016, Arizona dispensaries ran full steam ahead with medical marijuana sales in 2017, selling more than 43 tons by the end of the year, according to an end-of-year report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
This Is Why the Colorado Cannabis Industry Makes the Grade in Education
When legal cannabis sales commenced in the Centennial State in 2014, some opponents were concerned that negative public health effects would outweigh any positives derived from tax revenue; however, under the state’s helm, the Colorado cannabis industry continues to make the grade in public cannabis education.
First Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Dispensary Holds Grand Opening
The Keystone State’s first cultivator was greenlit this past October and while Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the first Pennsylvania medical marijuana dispensary had been approved to start serving patients on Jan. 4, 2018, the dispensary wasn’t quite ready to open its doors until recently.
Fourth Company Named as New Brunswick Recreational Cannabis Supplier
With the Picture Province estimating that recreational legalization will create hundreds of new jobs and generate up to $150 million annually in recreational sales, the province has named the fourth New Brunswick recreational cannabis supplier.
Multiple Oregon Cannabis Retailers Fail Latest Sting Operation
While central Oregon cannabis retailers passed the state’s sting operation on Dec. 19, 2017, with flying colors, retailers in the rest of the state didn’t fare as well in the latest sting operation.
American Mayors Send Letter to Sessions Criticizing Cannabis Policy Change
The outrage over United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ reversal of federal cannabis policy continues to grow, with a group of American mayors the latest to join the clarion call.
Province Projects Hundreds of New Brunswick Cannabis Jobs in 2018
While the fate of legal cannabis may be uncertain in the United States, Canada continues to make progress on its planned rollout of recreational cannabis this summer.
Pelican State Asks Trump to Protect Louisiana Medical Marijuana
When United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo on Jan. 4, 2018, announcing the reversal of federal marijuana enforcement policy, politicians across the country were outraged, and now the Pelican State has joined in and asked President Donald Trump to protect Louisiana medical marijuana.
Saskatchewan Cannabis Retail Permits Marked for Private Retailers
On Jan. 8, 2018, the Bread Basket of Canada announced that approximately 60 Saskatchewan cannabis retail permits will be awarded to private operators distributed across 40 Saskatchewan municipalities and First Nations that have populations of at least 2,500.
Pew Survey: Majority Still Support American Marijuana Legalization
While United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reversed federal marijuana enforcement policy, it appears his stance on American marijuana legalization isn’t representative of the country’s politicians or its people.
Voters to Decide on Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Legalization This Summer
This past summer voters in the Sooner State learned that they’d have an opportunity to vote on Oklahoma medical cannabis legalization in 2018, but the exact election date wasn’t clear until now.
Politicians Outraged by Reversal of Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy
On Jan. 4, 2018, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo to announce a reversal of federal marijuana enforcement policy, rescinding five Obama-era memos that guided U.S attorneys to take a hands-off approach in regards to investigating and prosecuting state-legal marijuana businesses complying with state law.
Apply Now for Annual California Cannabis Cultivation Licenses
With the Golden State’s recreational cannabis market up and running, those with temporary California cannabis cultivation licenses can now apply for the coveted annual licenses.
California Recreational Cannabis Sales Commence at 100 Retailers Across State
While not all Golden State dispensaries had received their temporary licenses to start adult-use sales on New Year’s Day, the state’s legal commercial cannabis market still went live on Jan. 1, 2018, with California recreational cannabis sales commencing at approximately 100 retailers across the state.
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Patients Top 10K
Since its launch on Nov. 1, 2017, the Keystone State’s patient registry continues to grow with the addition of more Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients.
This Is What the Edward Jones Marijuana Report Says About Canada’s Market
Merrill Lynch may have been one of the first mainstream investment firms to release a report on the burgeoning legal marijuana market back in 2015, but more have followed, including the Edward Jones marijuana report that recently entered the fray.
Shoppers Drug Mart Marijuana Closer to Reality With Second Supplier Named
Shoppers Drug Mart marijuana is one step closer to reality after a public Canadian marijuana company announced that it has signed on to be the Canadian pharmacy chain’s second medical marijuana supplier.
Central Oregon Cannabis Retailers Pass Sting Operation With Flying Colors
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has a negative view of Oregon’s legal cannabis market, but a recent sting operation conducted by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission revealed positive news about central Oregon cannabis retailers that Sessions should take into consideration.
Trudeau: Canadian Cannabis Legalization Arriving ‘Next Summer,’ Not July 1
Recreational cannabis stakeholders have been waiting for Canadian legalization with bated breath, expecting that day to be July 1, 2018; however, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recently cast doubt on the exact date of implementation.
California Now Accepting Cannabis Cultivation and Processing Applications
While California has already started awarding temporary commercial cannabis licenses to distributors, microbusinesses, labs and retailers, it has only recently launched its system for accepting cannabis cultivation and processing applications.
Study: Canadian Cannabis Consumption Was Worth Billions in 2015
As a means of understanding the pre-legalization landscape of Canada, Statistics Canada has released an Economic Insights study on Canadian cannabis consumption, estimating the number of consumers and the volume of their consumption by examining data from 1960-2015.
West Virginia Medical Cannabis Interests 82 Percent of Doctors in State
Medical cannabis cards in the Mountain State won’t see the light of day until July 1, 2019, but it appears prospective patients might have an easier time finding a West Virginia medical cannabis doctor.
Golden State Awards First Round of California Commercial Cannabis Licenses
The Golden State may have just launched its online licensing system for California commercial cannabis licenses, but the Bureau of Cannabis Control is moving quickly to meet the legalization rollout date of Jan. 1, 2018, and has already chosen its first round of licensee recipients.
This Is Why Arkansas Medical Marijuana Banking Will Become a Reality
The Natural State is still reviewing the hundreds of medical marijuana business applications it received back in September 2017 and even though waiting is the hardest part, those that receive licenses can look to forward to the reality of Arkansas medical marijuana banking.
Michigan Medical Marijuana Application Window Now Open
While the Wolverine State has had regulatory growing pains in launching its emergency marijuana rules, the Michigan medical marijuana application window is now open.
Colorado Marijuana Sales Data Now Available to Public
While the Evergreen state launched its Washington marijuana data dashboard back in 2015, the Centennial State is just now getting around to releasing its Colorado marijuana sales data.
Finance Ministers Revise Canadian Cannabis Tax Plan
While the initial Canadian cannabis tax framework was revealed on Nov. 10, 2017, provincial leaders and industry stakeholders renounced the proposed 50-50 split of cannabis taxes and so federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers went back to the drawing board, announcing the revised Canadian cannabis tax plan on Dec. 11.
You Can Now Apply for California Cannabis Licenses Online
With the Golden State poised to become the largest cannabis market in the world, California cannabis licenses are going to be a hot commodity and the rush to obtain them is already underway.
Massachusetts Marijuana Tax Revenue Projection Swings Wide for First Year
Massachusetts marijuana tax revenue in the Bay State has been given a wide-ranging projection for recreational marijuana’s first year of sales. According to a Massachusetts Department of Revenue analysis, tax revenue will range between $44-82 million in fiscal year 2019.
Aphria Stock Soars After Announcement of Cannabis Deal With Shoppers Drug Mart
Following market close on Dec. 4, 2017, Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH), an Ontario-based licensed producer of medical cannabis, made headlines when it announced that it had entered into an agreement to be the medical cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart, a Canadian pharmacy chain.
New Video Series Aims to Convince Black Market in Oregon to Go Legal
With U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions criticizing Oregon’s cannabis policies and an Oregon marijuana processor busted in Nebraska recently, the black market in Oregon has been giving the state some bad press; however, the OLCC is trying to change that with the launch of a new video series that aims to convince participants in the black market to go legal.
Members of Congress Urge Extended Protection of State Medical Cannabis Laws
On Nov. 28, 2017, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers sent a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to extend protection of state medical cannabis laws in the 2018 appropriations bill.
