Tag: Canada

Changes Coming To Ontario Cannabis Stores

Written by Johnny Green on May 16, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Changes are coming to Ontario’s emerging retail cannabis industry. The Ford government is reportedly loosening cannabis store restrictions that have historically forced brick-and-mortar retailers to cover their shop windows.

“As part of its 2025 budget, the province announced it is planning to amend those rules to allow cannabis stores to operate with transparent windows, like any other high street shop.” reported Global News in its local coverage. “The move is one the industry has lobbied for and welcomed after it was announced in the budget.”

“To increase the comfort, security and safety of both customers and employees of licensed cannabis retail stores, changes are being made to allow stores to improve their outside visibility,” stated the government, according to Global News‘ reporting. “These changes are intended to support legitimate local businesses by enhancing transparency and fostering a more welcoming environment for consumers, while still protecting youth from exposure to cannabis.”

Requiring non-transparent windows negatively impacts cannabis retailers in various ways. Foot traffic in the area doesn’t result in potential customers coming in to make purchases like it typically does for stores in other industries that have transparent windows. After all, ‘window appeal’ is predicated on customers being able to see through windows.

As touched on in Global News‘ coverage, not being able to see through windows creates safety issues for cannabis retail staff and the store’s customers. Obviously, people with nefarious intent can still cause public safety issues even if windows are transparent. However, it helps mitigate potential issues to some degree to have better visibility and see if trouble is heading in the direction of the store.

Ontario will not be the first Canadian jurisdiction to make the regulatory retail change. Both Alberta and British Columbia have already permitted cannabis retailers to remove coverings from store windows. In addition to changes to store window regulations, Ontario is expected to place a special logo on domestic cannabis products to make consumers aware that the products were ‘made in Ontario.’

The World Continues To Learn From Canada’s Modernized Cannabis Industry

Written by Johnny Green on May 14, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

When Canada became the second country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2018, it was a historic moment for both Canada and the larger international cannabis industry. Uruguay may have legalized recreational cannabis before Canada; however, Canadian legalization has proven to be more significant in many ways.

Whereas Uruguay limits legal adult-use cannabis sales to residents through limited commerce channels, Canada’s recreational commerce model permits sales to anyone of legal age via a multitude of purchasing options. Canada remains the top jurisdiction for cannabis industry and policy research, years after modernized adult-use policies were implemented.

Canada’s emerging legal cannabis industry goes well beyond the nation’s borders, with Canada serving as a major source for cannabis exports to other legal markets around the globe. As the international cannabis industry continues to transition from a patchwork of largely siloed markets to a more harmonized global industry, Canada’s legal market is more important than ever.

Every large national and international industry is built on partnerships and relationships, and lucrative collaborations require effective networking. Additionally, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, regulators, and industry service providers have to remain in a constant state of learning and evolving. After all, the cannabis industry and policy landscape are constantly shifting, and people and entities must always stay ahead of the curve if they want to succeed.

With that in mind, two timely events are coming up at the end of this month that everyone serious about the cannabis industry should consider attending. The first is the CannaVision Global Executive Summit taking place on May 26th, 2025, at the Pearson Conference Center in Ontario.

CannaVision is an exclusive event designed for leaders and decision-makers in the cannabis space to engage in high-level discussions, to network, and to collaborate with other executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in strategic talks, panel discussions, and case studies addressing the latest trends, regulations, market developments, and investment opportunities in the global cannabis market.

Following the CannaVision Global Executive Summit will be the iconic Grow Up Industry Gala Awards, which is also taking place on May 26th, 2025. The Awards Gala, which is now in its 6th year, is one of the most anticipated events on the annual international cannabis industry calendar, where industry pioneers, innovators, and trailblazers gather to celebrate the year’s achievements and the people who made them possible.

The two-day Grow Up Conference and Expo, Canada’s largest and premier cannabis event, will be held on May 27th and 28th, 2025. The event is in its 11th year, and this year’s installment will be bigger and better than ever. With so much going on in Canada’s industry and the wider international cannabis industry, the two-day Grow Up Conference and Expo is a must-attend for anyone wanting to gain a meaningful spot in the most exciting industry on the planet.

A wide range of important topics will be discussed via the event’s numerous presentations, all of which will be led by some of the true experts in the cannabis space. You can see a list of the event’s speakers and schedule at this link here.

The Grow Up Conference is a privately owned Canadian company since 2017, focusing on cultivation, brands, and retail. Event attendees will be surrounded by industry professionals to network with and explore potential collaborations. A limited number of tickets, exhibitor spots, and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Lock in your spot now before it is too late. You can find out more at: growupconference.com.

Did Cannabis Usage Rates Spike In Uruguay And Canada Post-Legalization?

Written by Johnny Green on May 14, 2025. Posted in Policy.

A common prediction made by cannabis opponents when cannabis policy modernization proposals are being considered is that cannabis consumption rates, particularly cannabis misuse rates, will dramatically increase. Cannabis opponents have made that claim for decades, often going unchallenged.

This scenario is no longer hypothetical, with multiple countries having adopted adult-use cannabis legalization measures. Consumption data generated from those jurisdictions can be examined and analyzed, providing insight into what actually happens when countries adopt modernized recreational cannabis policies.

Uruguay was the first country to ever adopt a national adult-use legalization measure involving cannabis that contains high THC levels. Low-THC production and use (industrial hemp) were permitted in various jurisdictions before Uruguay legalized recreational cannabis in 2013. However, Uruguay was the first nation to legalize high-THC production, possession, and use by adults for recreational purposes.

Over a decade after Uruguay implemented legalization, below is what we know about consumption rates in the South American country via an insightful article by reporter Javier Hasse for Forbes. The data is derived from a presentation by Mercedes Ponce de León, director of Expo Cannabis Uruguay, at the C-Days 2025 conference in Barcelona.:

‘Problematic use’ has remained steady at 2.1% since 2011
Overall consumption rates fell from 14.6% in 2018 to 12.3% in 2024
The average age of initial cannabis use rose from 18 to 20 years

Uruguay’s legalization model involves permitting adults to legally access regulated recreational cannabis through one of three channels. The first is through the nation’s pharmacies, 40 of which sell adult-use cannabis products containing very specific ratios of THC and CBD. A reported 75,498 consumers are registered to make recreational cannabis purchases from Uruguay’s pharmacies.

The second is through the nation’s licensed member-based cultivation associations, of which there are currently 460 that are active. A reported 15,162 consumers are members of a licensed cultivation association. Lastly, adult consumers can cultivate their own cannabis in their private residences, up to six plants. A reported 11,465 consumers have registered to cultivate cannabis at home.

Canada’s legalization model permits a more robust commerce system, including permitting recreational cannabis sales to non-residents. Uruguay limits recreational cannabis sales to residents of the South American nation only. Canada first implemented its legalization model in 2018.

A team of academic and health researchers based in Canada recently examined reported cannabis consumption data, intending to determine whether cannabis use or misuse changed “among adults in the 5 years following recreational cannabis legalization in Canada.” The researchers’ findings were published in the academic journal Substance Use and Addiction.

“This prospective cohort study included data from community-dwelling adults who participated in up to 11 biannual assessments from September 2018 to October 2023 in Ontario, Canada. Data were analyzed from November 2023 to January 2024.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

“In this prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults in Canada, cannabis use frequency increased modestly in the 5 years following legalization, while cannabis misuse decreased modestly.” the researchers concluded. “These changes were substantially moderated by prelegalization cannabis use, with more frequent consumers of cannabis before legalization exhibiting the largest decreases in both outcomes.”

Data from both Uruguay and Canada demonstrate that national adult-use cannabis legalization does not automatically result in a massive spike in consumption rates, problematic or otherwise, debunking claims made by cannabis opponents. The same is true for localized adult-use cannabis commerce reform, as demonstrated by the results of research conducted in Switzerland, where regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating.

An interdisciplinary research team affiliated with the Addiction Department of the Department of Health of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the University of Basel, the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), and Psychiatric Services Aargau recently published results from a study that relied on data from the Weed Care pilot trial project in Switzerland.

The study’s findings, which are the first academic reporting of its kind, were published on the University of Basel’s website in addition to being published in the academic journal Addiction.

“We measured the effects of public health-oriented cannabis access compared with the illegal market on cannabis use and related mental health outcomes in adult cannabis users.” the researchers stated about their study. “This was a two-arm, parallel group, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Follow-up outcome measurement took place after 6 months.”

“The primary outcome was self-reported severity of cannabis misuse after 6 months, as measured by the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test – Revised (range 0–32). Secondary outcomes involved depressive, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms, cannabis consumption amount, alcohol, and drug use.” the researchers wrote regarding their investigation’s measurements.

“Public health-oriented recreational cannabis access may decrease cannabis use and cannabis-related harms, especially among those using other drugs.” the researchers concluded.

“Furthermore, the study was able to dispel fears that legalization could exacerbate the psychopathological symptoms associated with cannabis consumption in addition to consumption itself: after the first six months, there was no difference between the two study groups in terms of depression, anxiety or other symptoms.” stated the University of Basel on its website.

“The interim assessment after two years of study shows a significant improvement in the mental state of the approximately 300 or so participants who are still taking part.” the University also wrote.

Earlier this year, Marijuana Moment reported that a government-commissioned report found that Switzerland’s adult-use cannabis legalization pilot program is “running smoothly,” with “no indication of any disturbances to public order.”

“About two years after the pilot program launched in seven municipalities across the country, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) study—carried out by the University of Lausanne and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland—generally determined that the initiative has been a success.” the outlet also reported.

Previously published government data from the United States found that in jurisdictions where adult-use cannabis legalization was adopted, consumption rates among minors had reduced post-legalization compared to pre-legalization.

Analysis Finds Legal Canadian Cannabis Has Largely Displaced Unregulated Market

Written by Johnny Green on May 12, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

A major goal of every jurisdiction that has modernized its cannabis policies to permit adult-use cannabis activity is to help combat the unregulated market, including in Canada, where lawmakers adopted a national recreational cannabis legalization measure in 2018.

Since 2018, Canada has served as the largest legal national adult-use cannabis market and remains the only country on earth where anyone of legal age can make purchases of recreational cannabis products, regardless of their residential status. Uruguay, which adopted national legalization in 2013, still restricts legal adult-use cannabis sales to residents only.

A team of investigators affiliated with academic and research institutions based in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom recently analyzed data from Canada’s legal cannabis market and determined that Canadian legalization has resulted in the legal industry largely displacing the nation’s unregulated market.

The researchers’ findings were published in the academic publication International Journal of Drug Policy.

“The current analysis used ‘demand-side’ methods to estimate the size of the Canadian cannabis market using data from two sources.” the researchers stated about their study’s methodology. “First, data from the Canadian Community Health Survey were used to estimate the number of Canadians who use cannabis.”

“Second, data on cannabis expenditures from legal versus illegal sources were analyzed from 5656 past 12-month consumers aged 16–100 who completed national surveys conducted in 2022 as part of the International Cannabis Policy Study.” the researchers also stated.

In a regulated cannabis commerce system, cannabis producers, product manufacturers, and retailers must adhere to certain standards, including stringent testing, which ensures that consumables are fit for human use. The same is not true of the unregulated cannabis market, which creates potential public health outcome issues when patients and consumers make their purchases through unregulated sources.

Additionally, unregulated cannabis sales do not generate revenue for public coffers, and profits from such sales often support organized criminal enterprises, which further adds to the potential for public issues that can affect all members of society. With that in mind, the more market share that a legal, regulated cannabis commerce system can gain, the more it benefits all members of the jurisdiction’s society.

“In the 12-month period ending in September 2022, total cannabis expenditures in Canada were estimated at $6.72 billion dollars, including $5.23 billion from legal sources and $1.49 billion from illegal sources for an estimated legal market capture of 78 %.” the researchers stated about the legal Canadian market’s share of the nation’s cannabis purchases.

“In 2022, dried flower accounted for 55 % of total legal expenditures and an additional 2 % was spent on plants and seeds. Concentrates accounted for 12 % of legal expenditures, followed by oral liquids (11 %), vaping liquids (10 %), and edibles (8 %, excluding drinks).” the researchers also stated.

“The findings provide evidence of substantial transition in expenditures from the illegal to the legal market in the five years since legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada.” the researchers concluded.

Findings from this data analysis provide valuable insight for lawmakers and regulators in other jurisdictions who desire to effectively combat the unregulated market in their areas, including in European jurisdictions where national adult-use commerce models like Canada’s remain prohibited due to current European Union agreements.

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Canada: Alcohol A “Greater Threat To Road Safety” Than Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on May 4, 2025. Posted in Science.

When it comes to cannabis policy modernization efforts, two of the most popular talking points within the cannabis opponent community are that ‘cannabis reform will harm children’ and that ‘cannabis reform will result in less safe public roadways.’

Historically, in every jurisdiction where cannabis policy reform is being proposed, those two talking points are almost always offered up by cannabis opponents. What cannabis opponents fail to recognize is that responsible cannabis advocates also want to ensure that children and public roadways are safe, which is why we advocate for sensible regulation over prohibition.

Alcohol is an intoxicating substance that is popular all over the world, and just as alcohol can be permitted and regulated, the same should also be true for cannabis. A recent analysis in Canada found that alcohol poses a greater threat to road safety. Below is more information about the analysis via a news release from NORML:

Vancouver, Canada: Alcohol is among the most frequently detected controlled substances identified in drivers following a motor vehicle accident and it “remains the greatest threat to road safety,” according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

Canadian researchers reviewed bloodwork data for over 8,300 drivers involved in a motor vehicle accident. Over half of the study’s participants tested positive for the presence of a controlled substance. Drivers were most likely to test positive for either depressants, cannabis, or alcohol – with cannabis being more common among younger drivers (ages 19 to 24).

However, most drivers who tested positive for the presence of THC in blood did so at nominal levels – indicating that their exposure may have been several hours or even days beforehand. (THC may remain present in the blood of more habitual consumers for several days following past exposure.) Only about three percent of participants tested positive for THC at elevated levels (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

“These statistics suggest that although more drivers test positive for THC, alcohol remains the greater threat to road safety,” the study’s authors concluded.

A prior Canadian study reported that drivers treated for traffic-related injuries are over three times as likely to test positive for elevated levels of alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08 percent) than elevated levels of THC (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

Driving simulator studies report that cannabis administration is typically associated with compensatory driving behavior, such as decreased mean speed and increased mean following distance, whereas alcohol administration is associated with more aggressive driving behavior. Nevertheless, cannabis exposure can influence certain psychomotor skills necessary for safe driving, such as reaction time and drivers’ ability to maintain lane positioning.

A study conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drivers who test positive for any amount of THC possess, on average, a far lower risk of being involved in a traffic collision than do drivers who test positive for alcohol at or near legal limits.

By contrast, drivers who test positive for the presence of both THC and alcohol in their system tend to possess significantly higher odds of being involved in a motor vehicle accident than do those who test positive for either substance alone.

Full text of the study, “Prevalence of impairing substance use in injured drivers,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Additional information on cannabis, psychomotor performance, and accident risk is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.‘

Study Finds Canadian Legalization Is ‘Displacing Illegal Cannabis Market’

Written by Frank Schuler on April 14, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Canada became the second country to ever adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2018 and was the first G-7 nation to adopt the public policy change. The first country to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization measure was Uruguay in 2013.

Since 2018, Canada’s recreational cannabis market has served as the international leader in size and scope and has also served as the top cannabis commerce public policy model for international researchers to examine.

A team of researchers affiliated with the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University conducted a study analyzing legalization’s impact on Canada’s unregulated cannabis market. The study’s findings were recently published in the academic publication International Journal of Drug Policy.

“We used interrupted time series analysis to evaluate whether recreational cannabis legalization (legislative passage in October 2017/implementation in October 2018) was associated with changes in quarterly national household expenditures on medical cannabis, illegal cannabis, and all cannabis types combined (licensed, illegal, and medical) in Canada from 2001 to 2023, adjusting for price fluctuations.” the researchers stated about their study’s methodology.

“When recreational cannabis legalization was passed, medical cannabis represented 11.8% of the market and illegal cannabis 88.2%. At five years post-recreational cannabis legalization implementation, medical cannabis decreased to 3.7%, illegal cannabis decreased to 24.3%, and licensed cannabis took over 72.0% of the market. The overall cannabis market increased in size by 75% over these 5 years.” the researchers stated about their findings.

“Recreational cannabis legalization in Canada appears to be achieving one of its primary goals by displacing the illegal cannabis market, and medical users also appear to be transitioning to the recreational market.” the study’s authors concluded.

Cannabis is currently legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and adult-use commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Israel Announces 165% Tariffs On Canadian Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on April 14, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Israel is an international leader in medical cannabis in many ways, having allowed legal medical cannabis activity by patients going back to the 1990s. It is also considered the birthplace of modern medical cannabis research.

The Israeli medical cannabis market is large in size and scope, which makes it a popular destination for medical cannabis product imports and exports. Historically, medical cannabis products from Canada have been popular in Israel. However, that could be changing in the future, with Israel announcing stiff tariffs on Canadian cannabis.

“Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry has announced the nation will impose tariffs on Canadian cannabis at rates as high as 165% for the next four years.” StratCann reported. “The decision still needs to be approved by the country’s Knesset Finance Committee and Finance Minister.”

“In its adoption of the Minister of Economy’s Advisory Committee recommendations, the new levy tariffs will be 165% on all Canadian cannabis imported into Israel, except for Decibel (12%), Village Farms (28%), Organigram (53%), and Tilray (70%).” the outlet also reported.

Persistence Market Research estimates that “the global medical marijuana market is expected to grow from USD 33.1 Bn in 2025 to USD 83.1 Bn by 2032, registering a CAGR of 14.0% during the forecast period.”

Legal Cannabis Sales Spike In Canada As Alcohol Sales Plummet

Written by Hazel Norman on March 22, 2025. Posted in Business.

Canada was the second country to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization law and remains the most robust nationwide legal adult-use cannabis market on the planet. Uruguay legalized cannabis before Canada, however, Uruguay continues to limit adult-use cannabis commerce to legal residents.

The legal adult-use market in Canada is the best recreational cannabis commerce experiment for public policy and economic researchers for a multitude of reasons. The data generated in Canada provides insight into what other nations may expect if/when they adopt a similar legalization model.

One thing that the data is demonstrating in Canada is that legal cannabis sales continue to erode the unregulated cannabis market, and paralleling the rise in cannabis sales is a drop in sales of alcohol products. Below is more information about the sales trends via a news release from NORML:

Ottawa, Ontario: Sales of alcohol and cannabis in Canada are on opposite trajectories, according to data provided by Statistics Canada, the national statistical agency of the Canadian government.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, sales of alcoholic beverages experienced historic declines, with beer sales experiencing the largest overall decrease. In comparison, “Sales of recreational cannabis by provincial cannabis authorities and other retail outlets increased 11.6 percent or $0.5 billion from one fiscal year earlier, reaching $5.2 billion in 2023/2024.” Sales of cannabis products had previously grown nearly 16 percent in 2022/2023.

Canada legalized the adult-use marijuana market in 2018.

Separate data published in February in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that fewer young adults in the US acknowledge consuming alcohol following the opening of licensed marijuana retailers.

While survey data finds that many consumers acknowledge substituting marijuana for alcohol, observational data gathered from jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis is mixed – with some studies reporting dips in alcohol sales post-legalization and others reporting no significant changes at the population level.

Complete data sets are available from Statistics Canada.

Cannabis Consumption Is Associated With Lower Opioid Usage Rates

Written by Frank Schuler on March 8, 2025. Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have historically portrayed the cannabis plant as a ‘gateway drug.’ Members of the mainstream media have also perpetuated this stereotype, as have film makers going back as far as the 1930s.

However, a growing body of scientific evidence is proving that the ‘gateway drug’ talking point is false. Many public health advocates and researchers have found that the use of many other substances, including the misuse of household items and pharmaceutical drugs, often predates cannabis use in society.

A recent study conducted in Canada found that cannabis consumption is associated with decreased rates of opioid usage, demonstrating that cannabis may actually be an ‘exit drug’ and not a gateway drug. Below is more information about the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Vancouver, British Columbia: Polydrug consumers are more likely to cease using non-prescription opioids if they consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Researchers affiliated with the University of British Columbia assessed the relationship between the use of cannabis and unregulated opioids among people who use drugs (PWUD) living with chronic pain.

They reported that the daily use of cannabis was positively associated with opioid cessation, particularly among males.

“Participants reporting daily cannabis use exhibited higher rates of cessation compared to less frequent users or non-users,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings add to the growing evidence supporting the potential benefits of cannabis use among PWUD, underlining the need for further research.”

The findings are consistent with prior data suggesting that cannabis use can mitigate opioid-related cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and illicit opioid cessation among people who use drugs living with chronic pain,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids.’