Week in Weed – November 9, 2024
- Various Canadian cannabis news highlights were covered, including legal cannabis sales increase following raids on unlicensed stores, new reports from Winnipeg and BC, and the launch of a campaign in Alberta.
- Financial updates from companies like Noya Cannabis, Auxly, Canopy Growth, Aurora Cannabis, and SNDL were provided.
- Law enforcement news included raids on unlicensed stores, a cannabis shop robbery in Edmonton, and the shutdown of an illegal hash processing lab in Quebec.
- Other news items mentioned included errors in Surrey's cannabis licensing, a failed short-selling scheme case, a profile on a BC Cannabis Store assistant manager, shipments to Israel, and a proposed name change by The Hash Corporation.
This past week at StratCann, we looked at the life and legacy of cannabis cultivars, we spoke to some legal cannabis retailers who say their sales increased following recent raids of nearby unlicensed stores, and BC’s cannabis industry responded to some eyebrow-raising comments from a BC MLA who blames legalization for a recent raid.
In Alberta, AGLC launched its Forget Bad Bud campaign.
A new report from city staff in Winnipeg says there have been no public complaints or licence applications following the designated medical cannabis production zoning amendments adopted in 2022. In related news, the province’s new cannabis home grow law is expected to come into force sometime next year.
In our profile section, this past week, we featured one Toronto cannabis retailer’s success with delivery.
In financial news, Noya Cannabis has applied for creditor protection, Auxly reported its Q3 results, Canopy Growth released its Q2 2025 results (not actually from the future), Village Farms released its Q3 2024 report, Aurora Cannabis released its Q3 2025, and SNDL released its Q3 2024.
In law enforcement news, the OPP’s provincial enforcement team again raided an unlicensed cannabis store in London. Edmonton police are seeking the public’s help identifying suspects in a cannabis shop robbery, and police shut down an illegal hash processing lab in Quebec.
Shares in Canada’s major cannabis companies fell (a little) in early trading after the U.S. election, reports the Canadian Press.
Surrey, BC, ran into a few errors in their new cannabis licensing efforts. An application by “137 Brands” was first greenlit to go before council but was replaced at the last minute as it would have been located too close to a school. Now, a second application, UEM, may be too close to a preschool program.
Enforcement staff at the Ontario Securities Commission failed to prove allegations of an “illegal and abusive” short-selling scheme by three market participants from an anticipated spike in demand for Canopy Growth Corp. shares. The case was launched in 2022 and revolved around a complex series of transactions in 2017, including a private placement, a securities lending agreement, and short sales.
The BCGEU ran a profile on an assistant manager at a BC Cannabis Store location.
A man in Ontario is frustrated by the theft of some of his cannabis plants.
CannaPharmaRx says it has completed two shipments of its products to purchasers in Israel. A third shipment of approximately 300 kg is currently in the final stages of preparation and is expected to be dispatched soon. The average price for the third shipment is projected at CAD 2.10 per gram, with final pricing based on batch quality and THC results.
Greenstate ran a piece on Toronto-based Club Lit, which opened next to Body and Mind Cannabis and Lit Research in October.
Tether announced the release of its print edition Holiday Gift Guide with gift-giving inspiration for the holidays.
The Hash Corporation (CSE: REZN) announced its intention to change its name to “Street Capital Inc.” and its ticker symbol to “STRC.”
As part of a larger drug trafficking investigation called Project Bourbon, RCMP seized 111 pounds of cannabis, 8 kilograms of hashish, and 3,500 vials of cannabis oil in Newfoundland.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chiefs voted against having a community-wide referendum on the community’s current cannabis policies after the topic was s raised at a Council meeting last week. The Kahnawake Cannabis Control Board (KCCB) recently informed the community of the updated list of seven applicants who have submitted applications for a Dispensary Licence with the KCCB.
The Ottawa Citizen ran a sponsored post for an Indigenous-owned cannabis retailer, Red Roots Trading Company. With one location in Vanier, two in Ottawa, and another Ottawa location expected later this month, the business eschews provincial licensing.
Freedom Cannabis has been granted an extension of its stay period until December 19, 2024. The company sought creditor protection in August.
Leafly reports $8.4 million in revenue (compared to $10.6 million in Q3 2023), but a net loss of $1.1 million for Q3 2024.
Village Farms International, Inc., the parent company of Pure Sunfarms, announced it was one of 25 participants selected for the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s upcoming Administrative Law Judge hearing regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana in the United States from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Village Farms was the only cannabis industry operator selected to participate in the Rescheduling Hearing, which is expected to occur sometime in January or February 2025.
A ballot question that would have legalized the recreational use of cannabis in Florida failed to clear the 60% threshold necessary to pass. It received about 56% of the vote.
Finally, a medical cannabis initiative was passed in Nebraska, but it is facing legal challenges regarding the validity of many of the votes. A decision is not expected for a few weeks.