Bill C-45
How do modern workplaces feel about cannabis?
Cannabis Legalization
Is it a barrier to clinical research?
Robo-Farming
Are cannabis jobs vulnerable to automation?
Cannabis Prospect Magazine
PM #43596516
Canada’s News Source for the Cannabis Industry
Vol. 1, Issue 1, February 2019
THE SECURITY ISSUE
Table of Contents/
February 2019
DOSING
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In our first Q&A section we ask how do we address dosing and labeling concerns with respect to medical cannabis?
SECURITY
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In this issue’s retail section Cannabis Prospect Magazine talks with Markus Merrill, General Manager Canada for Vend Data Media Solutions, an automated-dispensing systems manufacturer that pivoted from the tobacco industry into cannabis
ACCESSORIES
26
New tobacco and vaping products legislation under the CCPSA is shaking up the Canadian accessories market
ROBO-FARMING
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In our premiere technology article we look at the role automation plays in agriculture and the cannabis industry.
ON THE COVER REGULARS
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Will the ease of access negate the need for robust research in medical cannabis? Will legalization kill the research or will it do the opposite?
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While advancements in security technology are constantly changing, so too is the legislation, leading many to question, “Am I properly protected?”
30
A new national sentiment study by Colliers International shows Canadian attitudes towards cannabis in the workplace (and the results aren’t what you might think).
4 6 8 27 12 28 32 36 40
From the Editor Events News Appointments Q&A Product Showcase Provincial Updates Retail Directory List of Advertisers
February 2019 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine
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Editor’s Letter/
Why I Got into Cannabis
T
his might shock a lot people to hear as an editor of a cannabis magazine but I’m not a recreational user of cannabis. I don’t like how the smell lingers on clothes, I’ve never been a fan of inhaling smoke and quite frankly the appeal of getting high always felt lackluster to me. So why take the risk, time and effort of starting an industry publication for a product I rarely ever consume? Last June I bought tickets to the O’ Cannabiz Expo in Toronto. Bill C-45 (better known as the Cannabis Act) had passed its second reading in the Canadian Senate the previous March and, unknown to the attendees at the expo including myself, would be passed by the Senate again 10 days later on June 18. While speaking with numerous people at the booths and vendors at the expo I began to hear the same familiar story. “We are a food safety consulting firm that pivoted into cannabis last year,” said the first. “We’re a commercial HVAC supplier that began selling to licensed producers in 2016.” The more people I spoke with the more I realized their story wasn’t that different from mine. For most of my professional career business-to-business publishing has been my home (six out of the last seven years working as a business development manager for Canada’s largest pensions/benefits publication). In early 2018 when talks of legalization were still a long way off I realized that if legalization were to happen sooner rather than later an entire industry would open up overnight, and with that an industry news source would be required to bring some semblance to the misinformation and confusion surely to still plague the industry. So after doing a lot of research and finding that no such publication existed for the Canadian market, even though several successful B2B publications did in the U.S., I made
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Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
the decision to start my own. The need was there but was the demand? I sent hundreds of emails, made several dozen phone calls and set up meeting after meeting to meet the top professionals looking to get heavily into the Canadian cannabis industry, and with that Cannabis Prospect Magazine was born. The truth is I wanted to be part of an industry that was young, dynamic and where the room for growth was limitless. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. Most importantly I didn’t want to answer to the old ways of doing business, to the powers-that-be with antiquated notions and fixed mindsets of how business ‘should’ be done but rather how it could be done. This issue a feature on how automation is affecting the cannabis industry. Our Security Update has articles by March Networks, Shred-it, iMotion and Vend Data Media Solutions, each of which examines a specific aspect of security related to the cannabis industry. Also included are articles related to vaping legislation, how legalization affects cannabis research and issues related to accurate labeling/dosing when it comes to medical cannabis. Last but not least, a very special thank you to everyone that helped make this magazine possible!
David Halpert
President / CEO, Straight Dope Media Inc. @cannabispromag
Visit the New www.CannabisProOnline.com
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Conferences & Events/ March 17, 2019 Legalize Summit Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Vancouver, BC http://legalizedsummit.com
May 30 - June 1, 2019 Canadian Cannabis Summit Calgary Downtown Marriott Hotel Calgary, AB http://cannabissummit.ca
September 12 - 14, 2019 Grow-Up Conference & Expo Location TBD Niagara Falls, ON http://growupconference.com
March 26, 2019 Cannabis in Retail Forum Toronto Congress Centre Toronto, ON http://retailcouncil.org/events
June 6 - 9, 2019 Lift & Co. Cannabis Expo Toronto Metro Convention Centre Toronto, ON http://liftexpo.ca/expotoronto18
October 23-24, 2019 Security Expo Central 2019 Toronto Congress Centre Toronto, ON http://securitycanadaexpo.com
April 25 - 27, 2019 O’ CannaBiz Conference & Expo The International Centre Toronto, ON http://ocannabiz.com/toronto
June 12 - 14, 2019 MJBizConNext Ernest N Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA http://mjbizconference.com/next To submit an event for inclusion in the Cannabis Prospect calendar, email media@cannabisproonline.com
Cannabis Prospect Magazine CANNABIS PROSPECT MAGAZINE VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES For subscription services visit www.cannabisproonline.com or email david@cannabisproonline.com. For change of address, please include the old address and new address, along with an address label from a recent issue, if possible. If an address is not updated when the magazine is mailed, we are not responsible for delivery of your magazine. If the Post Office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we will suspend our subscription until a correct address is received.
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EDITORIAL For editorial submission requests or article ideas please email media@cannabisproonline.com Cannabis Prospect Magazine assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in the magazine or in any advertisement. All materials contained are for educational purposes and intended for the legal marijuana business. Cannabis Prospect does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products contained within. ISSN 2562-1033. CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT AND SALES AGREEMENT NO. 43596516
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
Publisher and Editorial Director David Halpert Vice President, Marketing Director Cliff Persaud Cannabis Prospect Magazine is published six times a year by Straight Dope Media Inc., 44 Valleywoods Road, Unit 1802, Toronto Ontario M3A 2R6 Canada ADVERTISING For advertising rates or inquiries please email sales@cannabisproonline.com
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News/ LGC Capital Closes Investment in Swiss Cannabis Producer, Viridi Unit SA
LGC Capital Ltd. has closed its previously announced transaction with Swiss cannabis producer, Viridi Unit SA. LGC has issued 35,167,001 shares of its common stock at a price of $0.1143 each to Viridi in exchange for a 30% equity interest in Viridi plus a 5% royalty on Viridi’s net sales over 10 years. All final documentation in respect of the transaction will be submitted today to the TSX Venture Exchange. John McMullen, CEO of LGC stated, “The LGC team and I are very pleased with the closing of our strategic investment in Viridi. With partners like Viridi in Switzerland, we at LGC are solidifying our presence in the legal European cannabis market which is estimated to grow upwards of $98 billion by 2025 according to a recent BMO report.”
Cannabis Benchmarks Launches Canada Cannabis Spot Index Cannabis Benchmarks, a division of New Leaf Data Services, initiates coverage of Canadian wholesale flower prices with the Canada Cannabis Spot Index (CCSI). The CCSI represents the average wholesale price that an online or retail location pays for dried cannabis flower from Licensed Producers (LPs) under supply agreements with the provinces, and is available at www.CannabisBenchmarks. com. Cannabis Benchmarks’ methodology includes working directly with market participants from both the supply and demand sides, including analysis of public and private data, such as StatsCan and LP company filings, to assess the average wholesale price paid each week. Fire & Flower Achieves C$10 Million Sales Milestone Fire & Flower Inc., an independent cannabis retailer, has achieved a milestone of $10 million in sales since opening on October 17th, 2018, the date adultuse recreational cannabis became legal in Canada. Fire & Flower opened with five shops on legalization day and has now grown the retail network to nine shops across the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. “This significant sales milestone demonstrates a strong and growing consumer demand for recreational cannabis and delivers on Fire & Flower’s commitment to capture significant market share in the retail cannabis category,” said Trevor Fencott, Chief Executive Officer. 8
“Our experienced retail operations team strives to deliver a best-in-class customer experience through a brand that is trusted by consumers in the communities we call home.” Fire & Flower looks forward to bringing its education-focused retail experience across Canada as new markets emerge, while maintaining a consistently excellent customer experience in shops that are already open. Fencott says that Fire & Flower is excited for what the future holds and the company is intent on continuing its journey of being Canada’s leading cannabis retailer. Aurora Cannabis Expands Through Investment in High Tide Aurora Cannabis Inc. has entered into an agreement to invest $10 million by way of brokered private placement in High Tide Inc., a privately held, Alberta-based, retailfocused cannabis and lifestyle accessories company. In total, Aurora will receive 10,000 senior unsecured convertible debentures issued by High Tide priced at $1,000 per debenture, bearing an interest rate of 8.5% per annum, and convertible in aggregate to 13,333,333 common shares of High Tide at $0.75 per share. High Tide is developing an expanding network across Canada of cannabis and cannabis accessory retail stores, as well as manufacturing and distributing branded cannabis accessories which positions it exceptionally well to capitalize on the Canadian adult-use cannabis industry. Through its two wholesale businesses, Famous Brandz and RGR Canada, and
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
the 19 existing Smoker’s Corner retail locations, High Tide serves more than 170,000 retail customers per year. Through Canna Cabana and eventually KushBar, High Tide currently operates four retail stores in Alberta, with additional leases secured with the intention of opening new locations across Canada in the near future. Up Cannabis to Supply PEI Cannabis Management Corporation Newstrike Brands Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Up Cannabis Inc., has received initial purchase orders from PEI Cannabis Management Corporation (PEICMC) for adult-use cannabis products. “We are increasing the availability of Up Cannabis products from coast to coast,” said Jay Wilgar, CEO of both Newstrike and Up Cannabis. “We are thrilled to announce this agreement with PEI Cannabis and look forward to building a long-term partnership by providing high-quality, safe and reliable products to its adult-use consumers.” Prince Edward Island becomes the sixth Canadian province with which Up Cannabis has announced agreements. Up Cannabis has also formalized supply agreements with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC), Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC). The company also has a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the British Columbia Liquor Distribution (BCLDB) as well as having been cleared as a supplier to the Saskatchewan Liquor & Gaming Authority (SLGA). With
CAA Launches Cannabis Education Campaign CAA South Central Ontario (CAASCO) launched its cannabis education campaign called #DontDriveHigh. CAASCO worked with The Turn Lab, to create a series of videos demonstrating the impact cannabis has on concentration, coordination, reaction time and decision making. The campaign is geared towards young drivers to remind them that even though cannabis is legal, it’s not harmless, especially in situations where reaction time, motor skills and judgment are critical. CAA’s research shows that there is a gap in awareness of the effects of using cannabis, specifically, in young men. Men aged 25 to 34 are the most likely to drive under the influence of cannabis. As long-standing advocates for road safety, CAA is monitoring the impact of cannabis legalization across the province.
agreements in place with six provincial distributors, Up Cannabis continues to operate in an elite group of Licensed Producers. Valens Signs Multi-year Cannabis Extraction Agreement with Canopy Growth Valens GroWorks Corp., a multi-licensed, vertically integrated provider of cannabis products and services focused on various proprietary extraction methodologies, has entered into a multi-year Extraction Services Agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation for cannabis extraction services. Under the terms of the multiyear agreement, Valens is partnering with Canopy Growth to provide extraction services, utilizing the Company’s proprietary technology and methodologies to process Canopy Growth’s whole flower and trim into high-grade cannabis resin. Valens expects to receive the first shipment for extraction processing under this agreement by the end of December 2018. “We are pleased to provide specialized extraction services to support Canopy Growth’s innovative product offerings, while also capitalizing on our CraftGrow partnership to bring Valens branded products to market in the new year,” said Tyler Robson, CEO of Valens GroWorks Corp.” Global Cannabis Partnership Expands with Seven New Members The Global Cannabis Partnership (GCP) recently announced the addition of seven new members as it continues to
grow internationally, bringing its total membership number to 31. The GCP welcomes Cannvas MedTech Inc., Compass Cannabis Clinic / Starbuds Canada, Constance Therapeutics, MediPharm Labs Corp., Nutrasource Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Services, Strainprint Technologies Ltd. and YSS by Solo. “There’s a growing interest in the GCP as more stakeholders recognize the importance and value of working together on industry-wide CSR policies and programs,” said Kim Wilson, Executive Director. “At a time when everyone is learning as they go, and as this nascent industry develops around the world, now is the time to work collaboratively, share insights and knowledge, and set the bar for socially responsible practices.” The member category is open to government agencies, licensed producers, national associations, industry partners and community groups from the global cannabis industry. Neither an advocacy nor a lobby group, the GCP represents a cross-section of organizations that play – or will play – a role in the legal, adult-use recreational cannabis supply chain. Pivot Announces Completion of Definitive Agreement with Cartagena Inc. Pivot Pharmaceuticals Inc. has completed the previously announced transaction to create a Joint Venture Corporation (JVC) with Cartagena Leaf Inc., a subsidiary of Mexico-based Licorera Del Sur. The Joint Venture is structured as a federally-
registered standalone company from which Pivot will receive 50% of Net Revenues generated by the JVC. Each party will appoint two board members to the JVC. The JVC will develop and commercialize cannabis-infused nonalcoholic beverages combining the proven industry expertise of Licorera del Sur with Pivot’s patented Solumer and RTIC powderization technologies. Formulation development is nearing completion, branding and marketing is underway, and product launch is scheduled for Q2 2019 in global markets through Licorera Del Sur’s extensive distribution network, where regulations permit. Mr. Paul BouNader, Managing Director of Cartagena Inc. stated, “Our formulators have been working diligently with Pivot’s scientists and we are very pleased with the progress to date, having already established a go-to-market flagship product. We will offer consumers a healthy and natural alternative to alcohol-based beverages with products that contain either CBD or THC.” Drinks infused with marijuana-derived compounds could swell to become a $600 million market in the U.S. within the next four years, outpacing the growth of other categories of retail cannabis products, according to analysts at Canaccord Genuity.
Have a news release? Send it to us. Forward to media@cannabisproonline.com
February 2019 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine
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Canadian Cannabis Legalization: Is it a Barrier to Clinical Research?
O
by Christine Lewczuk
ctober 17, 2018 ushered in the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. If the explosion of legal marijuana sales across the country on that day wasn’t enough to tell you that Canadians felt their right to weed was long overdue, what would? Aside from edibles, any adult in Canada could now legally purchase up to 30g of cannabis at once without medical authorization. Sales are expected to accelerate in the coming months as licenced producers ramp up their production to meet consumer demands. Current predictions have recreational purchases of cannabis accounting for more than half of the total 2019 Canadian sales to the tune of $4.43B1. In Ontario, brick-and-mortar legal retail stores will arrive this spring and although initially limited in number, large sellers are still hoping for rapid expansion and even franchising. Indeed, the legacy of these Canadians as “passionate purveyors of pot,” may one-day rival Starbucks. Additionally, rapid innovation has handed consumers a plethora of options not limited to just dry cannabis. These include chocolates, gummies, patches, creams, sprays, cosmetics, teas, olive oils, butters, coffee, cola, beer, wine and yes, even weed tampons. Naysayers hoping this lion will soon exit as a lamb had
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Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
better think again. Like it or not, cannabis in Canada is here to stay. But what happens to the medical cannabis patient in this recreational ruckus? Will the medical scholarship of cannabis be made irrelevant? Canadians are asking for more information on cannabis use and medical marijuana patients want their questions on safety, therapeutic benefits, long-term administration and drug interactions answered. Although patients enter the cannabis space for a variety of reasons, for many it is often the result of failed conventional treatments with a last-ditch hope that medical marijuana will be the answer. These vulnerable individuals approach cannabis with hope and want their information from a source they know and trust – their doctor. From April 2017 to September 2018, the total number of medical cannabis client registrations with Licenced Producers (LPs) increased by approximately 96% to 342,1032 and continues to grow still. Unfortunately for them, the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) current stance on marijuana is unsupportive for most indications, due in part to the lack of evidence-based guidelines on appropriate dosing and possible drug interactions. Furthermore, since Canadians can now obtain cannabis
legally, MDs feel their role as prescribers may be redundant and there has been little appetite from the CMA to maintain a separate regulated medical stream. For patients however, it is imperative that cannabis be considered an actual medicine, and this requires clinical research and funding through healthcare. So what is the current climate of cannabis clinical research? A recent search of one global clinical trial web registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) using only the word “cannabinoids” identified 19 countries that recorded a total of 269 clinical or “in-human” trials.3 Of this sample, 92% were interventional studies - a trial where a cannabis product, user behaviour or a diagnostic procedure was evaluated for effects on biomedical or health outcomes, while the remainder listed were observational studies, with only one being an expanded access trial. Of the predominant players, the US listed 144 studies (53.5%), Canada 37 studies (13.8%), Israel 17 studies (6.3%), Germany 16 studies (5.9%) and the UK 14 studies (5.2%). Investigations were varied including, but not limited to, bipolar disease, epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, Tourette syndrome, neuropathic pain, Parkinson’s disease, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, ophthalmology, memory, cannabis use and driving, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the effect of cannabis consumption on sperm nuclear quality. In Canada, of the 37 studies in this sample, 21 (57%) were classified as interventional, examining the use of synthetic cannabinoids and patented cannabis medicines, whereas 16 (43%) addressed the investigation of organic cannabis and cannabinoids. Most study sponsors were hospitals and universities (78.4%), followed by government and pharma (8.1% each), then LPs (5.4%). Study collaborators were often a combination of overlapping sources. Like sponsorship, hospitals and universities represented the predominant partners, with LPs ranking last. Eighteen trials (45%) were with a hospital and university collaborator, seven trials (17%) with federal and provincial governments, nine trials (23%) with pharma, four trials (10%) with disease associations and two trials (5%) with an LP. It is disappointing post-legalization to see that only one study listed in this Canadian sample was scheduled to start in 2019. Nine studies were to begin in 2018, four in 2017 and two in 2016. The rest of the group had start dates ranging from 2005 to
2015. It is important to note that because not all trials fit the definition of an applicable study for this registry’s listing, the sample may not be inclusive of all studies researching cannabinoids. Over the coming year, the medical cannabis market is anticipated to generate an additional $0.77B to $1.79B in sales domestically.1 Legalization has laid the foundation to support excellence in clinical research and Canada is in the perfect position to take the lead. Science will address the complexity of the plant and its variable compounds spurring LPs to breed strains customized for derived outcomes. This benefits consumers by providing them with even more choice. For patients, clinical research will give guidance regarding specific strains and dosages that are effective for their condition and safe for long-term use. Further investigation will look more deeply into the role of the endogenous cannabinoid system and how it may be used to improve quality of life. A separate regulated medical framework is critical to be maintained so that patients have access to specific strains, are not self-medicating through recreational sources and have clinical oversight to their care. We need to do more research including larger and longer trials. Hopefully, a portion of the revenue stream generated from recreational sales will be a driver for funding clinical investigations. In the end, research will provide objective information in a common medical language that the medical community and physicians understand so that for the benefit of their patients they will begin to embrace this exciting area of medicine and not step away from it. Christine Lewczuk is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Research Echo Inc., a boutique clinical research consulting firm located in Toronto, Canada that specializes in the management of innovative clinical trials for new Pharma, Biotech and Medical Cannabis. References: 1. https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en/pages/consulting/articles/deloitte2018cannabisreport.html# 2. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/ drugs-medication/cannabis/licensed-producers/market-data. html 3. This sample excluded investigations on cannabinoid receptors and non-cannabis medicines
February 2019 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine
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Q&A/
Addressing Rising Expectations for Accurate Labeling and Dosing By Guy Setton, Ph.D.
Q
How do we address growing concerns with respect to dosing and labeling?
A
ccurate drug labeling is critically important for patient and consumer health, and medical cannabis is no exception. It is only a matter of time before cannabis products will be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as other prescription drugs and dietary supplements. With patient safety a top priority, the authorities will seek to ensure that what is listed on the label is truly in the product. Unsurprisingly, the global cannabis testing market, which was valued at above US$ 900 million in 2017, will experience double-digit growth during the coming years and will surpass US$ 1.5 billion in 2025 (Coherent Market Insights, 2018). Right now, labeling accuracy remains a serious industry-wide challenge and a threat to consumer confidence. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015 and 2017 showed that cannabis products frequently over- or understate the cannabinoid content. About 68% of cannabis batches that failed regulatory testing this summer in California did so because of inaccurate labels, specifically overstating the amount of THC. A lack of trust in labeling creates legitimate public health concerns, specifically when dealing with the psychoactive element THC. This should concern prescribing doctors and medically fragile end users. It should also be a warning to supply-chain stakeholders who may find themselves liable 12
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
for potency labeling errors and misguiding consumers. If pharmaceutical corporations were to sell products with active ingredient variance like cannabis crops, class-action legal suits would soon arise. Inevitably, accurate potency labeling will be a top priority for retailers, if only for the reason of self-preservation. The health industry still has a great deal to learn about the pharmacological role of the many active compounds found in cannabis. Companies may try to differentiate themselves in the market by highlighting a specific cannabinoid or terpene with little or no information about their efficacy. There is no point in confusing consumers about compounds, especially those which exist in trace amounts before there is more knowledge about them. Therefore, for the time being, cannabis potency testing should focus on protecting public health starting by ensuring accurate analysis of the main cannabinoids, specifically providing dependable results for THC and CBD levels. Reliable and affordable technology exists today for empowering cannabis players along the supply chain to better ensure the quality and safety of their products. For example, near infrared (NIR) technology is a well-established method, endorsed by the FDA for testing the quality of pharmaceutical products. The same technology, in combination with image analysis and advanced data analytics, can overcome the complex heterogeneous nature of cannabis to ensure that products have been produced to the right standard, with the correct ingredients, without requiring the physical destruction of a sample. Companies that adopt in-house testing to their standard operating procedures to ensure the quality of their production, will be those whose brands will be trusted most, command a premium in the market and shape the future of the industry. Dr. Guy Setton is the CEO and co-founder of GemmaCert Ltd. (www.gemmacert.com) which specializes in cannabis analytics using spectroscopy, image analysis and data science. Guy has been involved in the health and nutrition industries for the past two decades fulfilling a range of international business development roles.
Security Update
From break-ins to data breaches, from identity theft to theft of product, retailers and licensed producers in the cannabis industry have to be more vigilant than ever when it comes to security. In our premier issue of Cannabis Prospect Magazine we look at various aspects of this vast sector.
Security Update/
Sell-in, Sell-Through How Automated Dispensing Systems Help Sell in a Regulated Retail Environment
Tell us a little bit about Vend Data media platform that allows retailers to In this issue’s retail Media Solutions and what type of display product information, adversection Cannabis products/services your company tising campaigns related to ancillary offers. products and brand specials. We like Prospect Magazine Vend Data Media Solutions (VDMS), as to think of ourselves as a turnkey solutalks with Markus its name suggests, provides automattion, making it more convenient for Merrill, General ed product dispensing for retailers and retailers while also shaping the overall is a digital media platform for in-store customer shopping experience. Manger Canada advertising. The term “vending� leads for Vend Data people to believe that we are proWhen we first met you mentioned viding a customer-facing, interactive that VDMS Canada primarily Media Solutions, kiosk, which is not the case. Our sysaligned its product with the tobacco an automatedtems are installed behind the countindustry. How does that better align dispensing systems er, in back offices or storage areas to your products with the cannabis help protect, control and automate industry? Where do they differ? manufacturer the sale of highly-regulated products. That is correct, VDMS has provided that pivoted into They are designed to streamline the solutions for the convenience, grosale checkout process making it more cery and petrol retail channels globcannabis from the convenient and efficient. ally and we have been doing so for tobacco industry. All the data from our systems is the last 4+ years to help retailers in captured in real-time and made availthose markets to secure, control and able to clients through our cloud-based technology and mo- speed up the sale of tobacco products. One example of this bile app. This information includes product sales, in-store is with respect to packaging, specifically when selling a high product inventory through our management program (such volume and heavily-regulated products like tobacco. In Canas low or out-of-stock items) as well as the health and opera- ada, Australia, the UK, Ireland, France and New Zealand, all tions of our machines and devices within a retail shop. Along- tobacco products must be hidden from the consumer with side the automated dispensing systems, we provide a digital the packaging all plain in terms of colouring and font. Next 14
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
year in Canada all cigarette packs will look the same making it difficult to distinguish between brands. So you could imagine the difficulties for retail staff to find tobacco products when they can’t see where they are. On top of that, they must remember where all 200+ SKUs are, potentially leading to long lines for customers and delays in a business that prides itself on convenience. With an automated dispensing system, new staff members can start selling tobacco their first shift, where traditionally it would take them three to four weeks to remember the location of the products, and more often than not would only really remember the top 20 SKUs. In recreational cannabis stores, and retail in general, one of the biggest overheads is labour, and one of the biggest inefficiencies is the time it takes employees to locate and select the right products within the store. Automating this process would allow more employees on the floor to interact with consumers and ensure their shopping experience is a positive one. It would also save time and money on finding the right cannabis product. With a touch of a button the customer’s request is dispensed to a central location behind the counter where the staff (or budtender) then collects the product and finishes the checkout process. Customers are not waiting in long cues to get their products in their hands, and leave with a positive experience. How do cannabis and tobacco differ? There are many similarities. Both are consumables and technically plants, but they’re also similar especially with respect to controls and legislation: plain packaging, no advertising, health warnings, excise stamps, etc. All these legislative controls create challenges when trying to inform and sell these products to customers. It makes them difficult to
find products, manage inventory and ensure that shrink and external threats are not disrupting operations. We are looking to have these conversations with retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders in the cannabis industry to let them know they do not need to reinvent the wheel. Look to other industries and learn what solutions are making it easier for them to sell their products into the market.
cameras, store layout, back-office design, etc.) but also how they are always going to secure their inventory and products. Burglaries are going to happen, it’s inevitable. These retailers need to be looking at solutions that protect their employees and their inventory. The Federal Government has already put into place a well-designed seed-to-sale program with companies like Ample Organics that have a great foothold in the Canadian Market and are innovative leaders in this space. The tracking and management of the production process all the way to retail are already there because of the existing ACMPR regulations. It has also just announced a Canadian Cannabis Tracking System that all manufacturers, distributors and retailers will need to be part of so that Health Canada can follow and measure the impact of cannabis sales in Canada.
What are some of the laws/ regulations that private cannabis retail stores will have to consider when it comes to securing, storing and transferring/distributing cannabis? As you know the laws/regulations will vary by province and depending on these laws, there may be a few different models or approaches. For instance, in Alberta retailers will need to make sure that all their products, samples and inventory is in a secured storage/safe area when the store is not open. That means that retailers will have to remove all product from shelves, display cases etc. when the store closes and bring all these products out when the store opens. This will be a very time consuming and daunting task. Security is something retailers need to be thinking about, not only perimeter and in-store security measures (e.g.
Can you go into more detail about how your products differ from other products in the market? When it comes to our secured dispensing systems, VDMS is the only company in the space that is leading the way with an automated solution that is designed around helping retailers. We are providing a connected intelligent solution that helps manage the category and eliminates inefficiencies in the operation. All of our systems can only be operated by store employees and the data collection from our machines is available in real-time. This is something we believe can be integrated into other data sets to provide better insight of the manufacturing and distribution supply chain. Our equipment also has the ability to provide real-time Out-of-Stock (OOS) data, so when a product goes OOS in our machines, we can send push notifications, text messages or emails to
February 2019 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine
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retail management alerting it that products are no longer in-stock within the machine. This is very powerful data, eliminating OOS that is on-shelf OOS gives retailers and licensed producers a great advantage over their competition. If you can ensure that your customers’ product is always available, you will not lose sales nor will customers decide to switch to a different brand. Out-of-Stock is definitely something people in the retail and manufacturing space need to be thinking of and keeping an eye on. How do these automated dispensing products differ from traditional merchandising methods? Bill Gates has a quote: “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” It’s very difficult to manage 200+ SKUs with a variety of strains and products (e.g. capsules, oils, flower). Also the weighing of product in-store will not be allowed. All products will come prepackaged from the LPs and distributed to retail. When we talk about traditional merchandising methods, the ones we’ve seen are out of date and time consuming. As mentioned before, it’s cumbersome to have retail staff spending time looking and searching for products in the back-storage area. It’s going to negatively impact the shopping experience for customers and unless they have a very efficient system in place it will be difficult to manage and control their inventory. Automated dispensing systems allow for more staff on the floor to support and educate customers, ensuring all your product inventory is under lock and key and that you are protecting your most valuable assets, your employees. We believe that if customers see or know a store has an automated dispensing system installed, this will correlate with a positive shopping experience, shorter wait times, knowing your product is in-stock and an accurate and efficient check-out process. Markus Merrill is the General Manager of Vend Data Media Solutions
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Things to Consider Security: Cannabis retailers will need a secure way to protect these assets, both in-store and outside the store. The best way to combat burglaries is by being proactive and making it difficult for people to rob your store.
Shrinkage: In-Store Employee Theft: This is a reality in all retail sectors. People steal from their employers and this will be the same for cannabis. In the retail space for tobacco it is estimated that shrink is anywhere from 1-3% of total sales.
On-Shelf / Out-of-Stock: »» It is estimated that on-shelf OOS is around 8%, which means the product isn’t on the shelf when customers are looking for them, and often cannot be found in the store. »» The time spent looking for product costs money for labour, the loss of the sale because the customer gets frustrated or the customer may look to an alternative brand with the same attributes. »» If a product is OOS it usually means that there are issues within the operation and this problem affects retail operators/owners, manufacturers and ultimately the customer.
Convenience: How to do you keep your customers happy? »» By ensuring you always have their products in-stock and that it is convenient for them to buy the products they are seeking. »» Long lines, delays in finding products are a few issues that really frustrate customers. It is great if your store is appealing and makes the purchase enjoyable but, you can often lose customers in the last few minutes of their in-store experience and that is the check-out process. »» This process needs to be seamless and effortless. Tell the person behind the counter what you would like and then the product is provided and paid for.
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
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VIDEO SURVEILLIANCE FOR CANNABIS
“While some organizations still think of their video surveillance system primarily as a security tool, many cannabis operators are choosing to invest more strategically in their video solutions to improve other areas of their business.”
SECURITY IS JUST THE START
I
t’s clear to me that, on the whole, cannabis business owners are a smart, forward-thinking group of people. Most have built their business from the ground up in a new market while navigating a myriad of licensing, cultivation, and sales regulations, such as Canada’s 2016 Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations and the historic Cannabis Act, which came into effect in October of this year. At every cannabis-focused event I attend, and every cultivation facility or dispensary I visit, I’m always impressed with level of discussion amongst those who are leading the way in this unique industry, as well as their willingness to share their experiences and lessons learned. So it’s not at all surprising to see that many cannabis operators are taking full advantage of current technologies – including video surveillance technology – to run their business more effectively. While some organizations still think of their video surveillance system primarily as a security tool, many cannabis operators are choosing to invest more strategically in their video solutions to improve other areas of their business. Whether applied in a cultivation facility or a retail dispensary, these astute operators are using intelligent video combined with data from other business systems to cut losses from theft and fraud, ensure compliance, improve customer service, and make sure that their business is running as it should – even when they aren’t physically there to oversee operations. Here are just a few examples of how video combined with data from analytics, point-of-sale (POS) transactions and fixed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags is providing cannabis operators with a true competitive advantage. Cultivation Facility Applications Licensed producers are well-versed in the regulations governing cannabis production in Canada, from cloning and vegetation through to flowering, harvesting and drying/curing. Each stage is closely monitored for health,
safety and compliance, and of course to ensure product is kept secure. This is where an intelligent video solution with integrated access control and analytics can make a real difference, providing operators with both security and operational insights. Security On the security side, an integrated solution can alert operators to suspect incidents, such as an unauthorized person entering a restricted area or unusual activity after-hours, and provide a convenient link to the recorded video. With a few mouse clicks, an operator or staff person can verify what’s actually happening in the location and who is involved. This can all be done remotely from any networked location, saving both the travel time to physically investigate an alarm and the need to respond to all alerts – even those that end up being false alarms. An intelligent video solution can also play a critical role in securing plants and products. Clear video evidence makes it much easier to investigate a missing item to determine if there’s been a theft or if an employee has simply made a mistake. As a result, having video evidence on hand also aids in prosecution if a crime has occurred. Operations and compliance Operationally, an intelligent video solution combined with analytics can help cultivation operators licensed producers analyze how efficiently their business is running. By setting up regular, automated reports complete with video snapshots and convenient links to recorded video, operators might discover that certain shifts aren’t starting as scheduled, or find out why it’s taking an unusually long time to dry product in one cultivation facility compared to the rest. These reports can also highlight compliance issues that need to be corrected, such as employees not wearing proper protective clothing or mishandling product. Typically, once operators understand the power of their video solution, they immediately think of other applications that could help them solve a particular challenge. Retail Dispensary Applications Customer service Using an intelligent video solution to assess and improve customer service in a retail dispensary is one of the most interesting – and effective – applications for many operators. By combining surveillance video with analytics like people counting, queue length monitoring or dwell time, operators can easily generate reports complete with charts and graphs to see how long their customers waited in line, determine which marketing or educational displays garnered the most attention, and if people are leaving the dispensary without making a purchase. They can set up automated reports that include snapshot images from different areas of a dispensary or from multiple dispensaries, so
operators can check for things like store cleanliness and presentation, merchandise displays and correct signage. All of this information helps operators quickly identify areas for improvement in their dispensaries. It enables them to gauge the success of promotional displays, compare customer service and conversion trends in one or multiple locations, and identify where more employee training is needed. Ultimately it helps them make the adjustments necessary to improve sales, using the surveillance video they are already collecting for security and compliance. Loss prevention Video integrated with POS transaction data can also help dispensary operators cut losses significantly. It enables them to set up alerts triggered by unusual transactions – such as voids over a set amount or suspect employee discounts – and investigate incidents faster by tying receipt data to recorded video. Operators can use their video system to run searches on a wide variety of data, including employee number, transaction data and time, etc. across multiple locations simultaneously. And again, they can easily review the associated video to see exactly what happened. Inventory tracking In dispensaries where RFID tags are used to track cannabis products and merchandise, tying that data with intelligent video can deliver several benefits. An integrated solution enables operators to search on any data contained in the RFID tag’s electronic product code (EPC), such as the type of item or product serial number. This search capability is invaluable when merchandise goes missing. Not only can operators use the video solution to pinpoint the last known location of the item(s), they can also retrieve the recorded video to see exactly how and where the item went missing. Perhaps it was out the back door, or through the storefront in a shoplifter’s pocket. The powerful combination of RFID tracking plus recorded video makes it easy to solve the mystery of disappearing items. It also provides strong evidence that can be used to recoup losses or share with law enforcement if a crime has been committed. Intelligent video can provide cannabis operators with a unique view of their business, especially when used in combination with other types of data. It can help with compliance, inventory tracking, loss prevention, customer service and more. For operators already investing in video surveillance systems for security, moving to a more advanced solution that can provide practical business insights is well worth considering as part of a smart ROI strategy. Jeff Corrall is responsible for strategic partnerships and integrations at March Networks
Security Update/
With High Growth, Comes High Risk Is the cannabis industry data protection ready? By Paul Saabas
Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
T
he cannabis industry is booming in Canada. As the first G7 country to legalize adult-use cannabis, industry players are moving at a rapid pace. In an industry where reputation is everything, it’s worth asking the question, are cannabis licensed producers (LPs) doing what they can to ensure that customer information is kept confidential? Shredit’s 2018 State of the Industry Report confirms that 94% of Canadians believe that employee negligence is a contributor to data breaches, which highlights the importance of prioritizing data security and properly training employees on information security. Many LPs operate clinics and dispensaries that collect personal and confidential medical information from patients. Cannabis players that chose to operate in the recreational space still collect personal information from customers and need to ensure that they hold themselves to the same standards as hospitals and medical clinics when it comes to information protection. A 2017 report from the Ponemon Institute states that healthcare organizations that had a data breach experienced a 6.25% decline in their stocks, lost more than 4% of patients and it took over three months to recover from the financial damages of the breach. It is expected that this same decline in stocks and
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customers can be seen in both the recreational and medicinal cannabis markets if a breach occurs. Shred-it’s 2018 Security Tracker, its annual survey conducted by Ipsos, looked at information security practices of both C-suites and small business owners. This year the study also examined millennials and the topic of data security. The results were surprising – and concerning. Despite having grown up in the digital and mobile era, millennials are lagging behind their Generation X (35-55) and baby boomer (55+) colleagues when it comes to safe data protection practices – a finding that is particularly concerning for the cannabis industry given the number of millennials in its workforce. Below are four steps that can be taken by cannabis LPs, dispensaries/ clinics, recreational brands and other industry players to avoid data breaches: Understand Privacy Laws and Regulations The cannabis industry is heavily regulated, and the slightest violation will have financial and reputational consequences. It is important to educate and continuously train employees on relevant privacy laws that pertain to them and their industry, such as the PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), and the
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
Implement a “Clean Desk” and “Shred-it All” Policy It is essential to ensure that confidential information is not left on desks at the end of the day. Leaving information out in the open is one of the risks of having open concept offices. Documents should be either filed away, or placed in a locked console for shredding if no longer needed. Shred-it’s 2018 Security Tracker Study found that 48% of millennials leave notebooks on their desks when they leave work, and only half of them regularly shred confidential documents. The report also found that 37% of millennials regularly leave their computers on and unlocked after work compared to 22% of Generation X (35-54). Additionally only half of the millennials surveyed regularly shred confidential documents compared to 65% of Generation X and 52% of baby boomers. Destroy Unused Hard Drives Employers should remind employees that hard drives should always be securely destroyed since confidential information remains on hard drives even after it has been erased, deleted or reformatted. Emails and Phishing Scams Email and phishing scams are a frequent and persistent method hackers use to gain access to a company’s sensitive information. Online scams accounted for more than 20,000 complaints, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2016, and cost Canadians more than $40 million. It is important for cannabis LPs to protect their investors’ and customers’ personal information as well as other internal documents. When setting up internal operations, it’s valuable to conduct a security risk assessment or do a one-time document clean out. Paul Saabas is Vice-President at Shred-It
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Security Update/
Security Considerations in an ACMPR Landscape
T
he nature of grow sites makes them among the most targeted locations for crime. An entire crop of extremely valuable finished products can potentially be wiped by a single theft, not to mention the damage that can occur to other important mechanisms, such as irrigation and lighting systems. Producing and/ or storing cannabis poses a risk to the companies growing it, and to employees in these sites as well. Hence, considering a robust and redundant security solution is crucial to obtain in the early site stages. With its relatively young legal status, changes are occurring with regards to the security needs for the cannabis industry, as the laws governing the creation and handling of the producer are ever-evolving. The most significant question newly-licensed producers should ask is whether the security firm they choose (or are currently using) is ACMPR compliant according to Health Canada. These guidelines and regulations, made public on the Government of Canada’s website, have long-standing implications to a grower’s overall security needs. For instance, while it’s common knowledge that licensed producers require round-the-clock surveillance at all entrances and exits inside
22
By Nour Muqatash
and out, these requirements by Health Canada do more than give a picture in real-time of potential theft by employees or potential outsiders. If (through the use of surveillance) Health Canada sees that cannabis was mishandled, for example without the use of proper safety gloves, it will deem that batch, and all batches handled in that manner, contaminated. Keep in mind that surveillance, whether it be IP video surveillance CCTV; outdoor, indoor and transportation surveillance or video management solutions, represents only one aspect of a much larger security pie. Other facets include access control solutions, radar technology, intrusion alarm systems, electrical and monitored pulse fences, audio security systems for deterrence, storing and archiving solutions as well as video intercom solutions for gates and entrances. Now more than ever professionals at all levels of the cannabis supply chain, whether it be the licensed producer, the cannabis retailer or those that distribute the product therein, need to be hyper-vigilant when it comes to choosing a security firm capable of handling all facets of their business. Some questions you may wish to ask include:
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
»» »»
»»
»»
Does your current or prospective security firm offer free on- and offsite consultancy? Does it fully understand your business when it comes to exploring its strengths, bridging security gaps and (through constant monitoring) recommend on the best practices to achieve your security goals? Does the firm’s engineers, technicians and sales team, take on the hard work so you can sleep comfortably at night, providing a unified security solution that meets your specific requirements? Are its after-sales support equipped with highly certified technicians that can tackle the challenges of this changing landscape?
Over the next several editions of Cannabis Prospect Magazine, iMotion will share its knowledge and expertise in the cannabis field detailing design guidelines of Health Canada’s guidelines and regulations while also focusing on a specific topics related to security. Stay tuned! Nour Muqatash is a sales manager for iMotion Security
Follow us on @cannabispromag
The Canadian cannabis industry is everchanging. Cannabis Prospect Magazine is proud to offer multiple platforms to keep you up to date in this constantly evolving industry. Stay informed and grow with us!
Cannabis Prospect Magazine
A 2019 AGM Checklist Is Your Cannabis Company Prepared? By Ian Robertson Cannabis companies and their boards could face some troubled waters as they head into their 2019 annual general meetings (AGMs). According to the latest Globe and Mail Board Games—a ranking of S&P/TSX composite index companies that rates a company on its governance practices including board independence, diversity, compensation and share ownership—Canadian cannabis companies are lagging behind other sectors. While good governance may not have been top-of-mind for cannabis companies in the past, it’s critical now given that large cannabis companies have seen a turnover from retail to institutional investors who place greater importance and scrutiny on board governance. (Based on an analysis of publicly available data for six of the largest Canadian cannabis companies by market cap, the number of institutional shareholders over the last year has increased on average by 549%). So, while cannabis companies are focused on the opening of the recreational market, there is a more important choice for them today: either get prepared and spend the time needed to properly institute best-in-class governance practices or run the risk of a failed vote at their annual meeting. Be prepared with our 2019 AGM TOP 10 Checklist: Do you know your shareholders? Are you aware of how sensitive your shareholder base is to the recommendations of leading proxy advisors Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”)? Understanding the composition of their governance teams and their policies, as well as how they previously voted on the same or similar proposals across the sector are critical to determine whether a proposal will pass the vote. Do your shareholders know you? Like any good relationship, the relationship with shareholders is equal parts sharing your message and listening. Directly engaging shareholders, including utilizing independent directors, is crucial in courting shareholders’ support. Is gender diversity a problem for your board? If you are a part of a TSX-listed company with no female directors on its board and you do not have a robust gender diversity policy your Chair of the Nominating Committee may be in trouble. Other diversity measures regarding ethnicity have also come into play and may generate withhold recommendations from ISS’ Social Advisory Services. Can your board members, especially new members, withstand scrutiny? A director’s strong CV and record of performance are no longer enough. What relationships do nominees have with other directors? What do they bring to your board? How many 24
Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
other boards do nominees sit on? ISS’ new policies demonstrate a renewed focus on overboarding. Have you considered reviewing your by-laws, articles and shareholder rights plan to make sure they keep up with best practices? It is critical to balance the rights of shareholders and proper defense mechanisms. Are you aware of the benchmarks against which your full by-laws will be assessed by ISS if you are changing any one part of your by-laws? Are you aware of the rising importance of environmental and social (“E&S”) issues for corporate issuers? Are you aware of how you will be evaluated from an E&S perspective and the consequences? Do you know which of your peers have received E&S shareholder proposals in the last few years? Is your meeting turnout where it should be? This is a subjective question dependent on factors like shareholder base composition between retail and institutions, and contentious proxy resolutions. However, what cannot be denied is that a strong voter turnout is a sign of a healthy, well-governed company. Have you noticed the participation rate at your meeting on the decline? How does it stack up against peers? How has your company performed and is your executive compensation aligned with performance? Shareholders traditionally look at total shareholder return performance but ISS and Glass Lewis look at a variety of financial metrics in addition to total shareholder return. Do you measure and have targets for other financial performance metrics and do you know how you have stacked up against your peers? Are you planning to renew your rolling reserve equity plan or do you intend to seek shareholder approval for additional treasury reserves? Be aware of the ISS Equity Plan Scorecard approach to evaluating equity plans. The scorecard looks at three main categories including plan cost, plan features and granting practices. When was the last time your board met with an activist-defense team, and is your defense playbook up-to-date? There have been 39 proxy fights in 2018, already more than the 32 in 2017, and new battles continue to surface daily. An activist-defense team will help you take stock of your vulnerabilities beyond a simple SWOT analysis and will prepare your board to effectively respond to an activist’s challenge. Ian Robertson is an Executive VP at Kingsdale Advisors
Facts & Figures/
IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
The Rocky Road to Marijuana Legalization in Canada
1923
Cannabis is deemed illegal under the Narcotic Drug Act Amendment Bill
1938
Commercial cultivation of industrial hemp is forbidden.
2015
After he was elected Prime Minister, the first significant step that Justin Trudeau took was the creation of a federal-provincial-territorial task force to discuss a jointly suitable process for the legalization of cannabis possession for casual use.
2017
Bill C-45, also known as Marijuana Act, is passed by the House of Commons and receives Royal Ascension shortly after.
1969
In the 1960s cannabis began to rapidly increase in Canada. In response to the increase in criminal charges against middle class citizens, the government formed the Royal Commission of Inquiry in the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, usually referred to as the Le Dain Commission to investigate the nonmedical cannabis use in Canada.
2016
This Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation released a 106-page report to the public on 13 December 2016, with various recommendations. Those were provided for consideration by the federal and provincial governments but they were not binding.
October 17, 2018
Recreational cannabis officially becomes legalized across Canada
Vape Regs Revamped New Tobacco and Vaping Products Legislation Under the CCPSA
I
n May of last year, Bill S-5 received Royal Assent for Canada’s new Tobacco and Vaping Products Legislation (TVPA). With this update, all vaping products that are not subject to the Food and Drug Act (i.e. marketed without therapeutic claims) are subject to all of the requirements of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and its applicable regulations, including the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (CCCR 2001), which incorporate toxicity provisions. Vaping products include the vaping liquid and the vaping device. However, vaping devices with refillable tanks and other vaping device parts that hold or may hold vaping liquids with nicotine have been excluded from the scope of the CCCR, 2001 by articles 75 and 80 of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) at the present time. This is an interim measure to provide industry with time to manufacture vaping devices with refillable tanks to meet the applicable legislative requirements (including child resistant containers and toxicity labeling). Note: vaping products with therapeutic health claims fall under the Food and Drug Act and its regulations, and require pre-market approval. CCPSA Compliance Under the CCPSA, it is prohibited to sell a product to a consumer that is a danger to human health/safety, which is defined as “any unreasonable hazard — existing or potential — that is posed by a consumer product during or as a result of its normal or foreseeable use and that may reasonably be expected to cause the death of an individual exposed
to it or have an adverse effect on that individual’s health — including an injury — whether or not the death or adverse effect occurs immediately after the exposure to the hazard, and includes any exposure to a consumer product that may reasonably be expected to have a chronic adverse effect on human health.” There is no pre-market approval or certification for consumer chemical products or containers under the CCCR, 2001 but rather, the onus is on industry to ensure that products comply with the CCPSA and its applicable regulations and that products: (a) do not pose a danger to human health and safety; (b) that records are kept on file for traceability; and, (c) health or safety incidence/events are reported to Health Canada. Toxicity Levels Defined Under Vaping Products Legislation With the health and safety of consumers in mind, the toxicity of nicotine was reviewed by Health Canada and was classified for vaping liquids sold as consumer products in the following manner: »»
»»
»»
Very Toxic (containing or equal to more than 66 mg/g of nicotine): prohibited from import, advertising or sale under CCCR, 2001 Toxic (containing between 10 mg/g and less than 66 mg/g nicotine): must be sold in a child-resistant container and labeled according to CCCR, 2001 requirements Potentially Toxic via Oral Exposure (containing between 1 mg/g and 10 mg/g of nicotine): must be sold in a child-re-
sistant container and labeled according to CCCR, 2001 requirements. Requirements also apply for general prohibition set out in paragraph 7a and 8a of the CCPSA (i.e. no person / manufacturer / importer shall manufacture, import, advertise or sell a consumer product that is a danger to human health or safety) Overall, any e-juice (liquid) product containing nicotine above just 0.1 mg/g is required to comply with the applicable labeling requirements under CCCR, 2001, including hazard symbols, warning statements, safety instructions, and first aid statements. These requirements do not preclude manufacturers from including other information such as expiry dates, lot numbers, contact information and other articles, as clarified in Health Canada’s Guidance on Vaping Products not Marketed for a Therapeutic Use. These guidance documents also provide information on other considerations for vaping products, including devices, batteries, impurities, flavours/flavourants, and other additives. In the future, Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program intends to introduce specific vaping product regulations, which may include child-resistant container and toxicity labeling requirements for all containers of vaping substances. Regulatory proposals for these will follow the standard regulatory process, which will include a stakeholder consultation period. Monica Banach is a Scientific Regulatory Affairs Specialist and consultant at dicentra Inc.
Announcements & Appointments/
Budding Careers FIGR Inc. has appointed Harvey Carroll as president of the company. As Vice President of Marketing for Labatt North America, he was responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the entire Labatt portfolio of brands in both Canada and the US. He was also a founding member of the Oland Specialty Beer Company (OSBC), a Labatt funded start-up dedicated to incubating and growing specialty beer brands.
Green Relief Inc. has appointed Andrew Pegg as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Pegg joins Green Relief from Spin Master, a global toy and entertainment company headquartered in Toronto, where he served as Vice President of Finance since 2013. Previously, Mr. Pegg was the Vice President of Finance and Business Planning for Latin America and Canada at Revlon, an international company specializing in cosmetic, skin-care, fragrance, and personalcare products.
1933 Industries Inc., a licensed cultivator and producer of cannabis flower and manufacturer of hemp/CBD products in the U.S., has appointed of Josh Taylor to the Company’s Business Development Division, tasked with identifying and evaluating licensing and acquisition opportunities, establishing distribution networks for the company’s branded suite of products, and opening new markets for expansion in North America.
1933 Industries Inc., a licensed cultivator and producer of cannabis flower and manufacturer of hemp/CBD products in the U.S., has appointed Ryan Maarschalk as Chief Financial Officer. As CFO of a large privately-held company in British Columbia, Mr. Maarschalk led the sale of that company to a publicly traded private equity firm, and ensured a smooth transition to public accounting standards and expectations. Prior to that, he was a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of a restaurant chain.
We are now Cannabis Prospect Magazine! On October 17th Canadian legalization of recreational cannabis took effect making Canada the first G7 nation to do so. Deloitte projects estimates of between $4.9 - $8.7 billion in annual revenue sales in its first year alone. With this new market comes new opportunities.
Is your business ready? Whether you’re a licensed producer, manufacturer or a service producer to the industry Cannabis Prospect Magazine will help you reach cannabis retailers, dispensaries and other industry professionals across Canada. We’ll make sure your message is heard loud and clear to this new, burgeoning market!
Advertise Today! To inquire about advertising opportunities or to request a media kit visit www.cannabisproonline.com or send an email to media@cannabisproonline.com.
Product Showcase/ Across International’s AccuTemp Vaccuum Ovens
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an important safety certification for products sold in the United States, while CSA (Canadian Standards Association) covers Canada. These are recognized industry-wide as a pedigree, signaling the dependability and safety of products and equipment, many operating under some of the harshest conditions. Due to this, Across International has just announced UL and CSA certifications will now come standard with our award-winning AccuTemp series vacuum ovens. This is also available for a small additional fee for our Elite series ovens as well.
GemmaCert Creates All-in-One Testing Solution
GemmaCert has developed an innovative solution that analyzes cannabis and provides reliable composition and potency readings, without harming the flowers or altering their efficacy and commercial value. Growers, dispensaries, labs and home users can use our device to test an unlimited amount of flowers, which spares them the time and costs involved in batch sampling and lab testing. Its one-of-its-kind device combines three technologies: spectrometry, image analysis and data analytics, to provide a real-time, reliable solution for measuring cannabis composition and potency. Results are delivered directly to a proprietary secure app on your smartphone.
GreenBroz Sorter
The GreenBroz Sorter is constructed entirely of food-grade materials and will sort your flower in up to six adjustable size variations at a time. Simply load your flower into the feeding hooper, lock the dividers to your desired sizes, and turn on your belts to get sorting at a rate of 10-15 pounds every 10 minutes. The use of a conveyor system fosters an exponentially more gentle handling process than a vibration system, preserving your flower and maintaining quality throughout the process. The Sorter’s simple to use control panel allows you to adjust the speed of the round belts, which carry your flower along the top of the machine before falling through at the appropriate sizing area. This panel also controls your main power source, lower conveyor belt, and an emergency stop switch that allows you to maintain full control of the machine.
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Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
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Marijuana in the Workplace By David Halpert, Editor 30% of office workers feel that marijuana in the workplace should be moderately or very unrestricted.
A
s of October 17, 2018, marijuana will be legal in Canada, opening the door to significant societal changes as well as the need for usage regulations within the workplace. To place this cultural shift in context, Canada is the first G7 country to implement national legalization for recreational cannabis and only the second country in the world after Uruguay, which enacted similar legislation in 2013. For this reason, it’s safe to say that there are a number of unknowns in terms of exactly how this will play out day-to-day within Canadian society, economic structures and the diverse corporate environments within which we work. Charting New Territory While Bill C-45 (known as the Cannabis Act) legalizes marijuana across Canada, it leaves individual provinces to determine how and where they are going to sell the product. Given this level of autonomy, valid questions arise regarding the specifics of retailing, marketing and the level of restriction within the workplace. With few reference points for cannabis legalization on a national scale, Canada itself may become the primary global touchstone in terms of policies and procedures adopted. Let’s take a closer look at the attitudes, beliefs and opinions held by Canadian workers, specifically as it pertains to the expectations people have for cannabis in the workplace. Let’s Get this Party Started-or Not A survey conducted in September 2018 by Colliers International Asset Advisory Services examined the beliefs of 1062
respondents located in office buildings that they manage. Participating provinces included British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. When asked about the level of restriction that should be imposed regarding the use of marijuana in and around workplace environments, some of the responses were unexpected. A total of 38% of the respondents believed that marijuana should be strongly restricted in the workplace with zero tolerance for those caught. At the same time 30% believed that marijuana should be moderately or mostly unrestricted at work. This sentiment came as a surprise. Should it be okay to go out for lunch and consume marijuana, similar to having a glass of wine or a beer? This in turn raises potential policy and procedure questions for property managers in terms of where it is acceptable for people to consume cannabis, and whether to follow the same rules that are used for smoking tobacco. Cannabis Retailers in Office Buildings There has been significant discussion regarding the concerns that some people have with recreational cannabis outlets being located too close to schools. The Colliers survey tapped into similar concerns that some in the business community have with cannabis products being marketed or available for sale at retailers within an office building. Many were undecided pending more information on the form that the cannabis retailing would take—would the product be sold at a dispensary, coffee shop, cannabis store or some form of government partnership? At the same time, close to half the people surveyed (49%) believed that selling cannabis products within an office building is either unacceptable or very unacceptable. This could have a significant impact for landlords as they may need to think carefully before leasing space to a retailer in this space. Attitudes by Province - with an Interesting Message from BC What was especially noteworthy however were the attitudes when broken down by province. BC and the Atlantic provinces were most eager to see workplace restrictions, while Alberta was most likely to feel that marijua-
na use at work could be moderately or mostly unrestricted. Additionally, BC was more likely than any other region to feel that retailing cannabis products in an office building was unacceptable—an interesting response given BC’s progressive stance towards cannabis in the past. With the rise of marijuana-related activities (including advertising and merchandise), landlords, commercial property managers and leasing agents need to take into account the sensitivities of occupants in their office buildings. Even though the widely circulated statistic is that seven out of 10 Canadians are in favour of legalization, close to half of office workers we surveyed felt that marijuana products should not be marketed and/or available for sale within their buildings. As we go through this multi-layered change that incorporates national, provincial, municipal and private levels of legalization, we anticipate a learning curve with cannabis users around office properties that will require property managers to have close knowledge of their local situation and potentially act as enforcers/ educators for the overall benefit of all office workers at their properties.
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www.durhamcollege.ca/cannabis | 905.721.3052
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Provincial Updates/
Ontario
In Ontario, recreational cannabis can only be purchased online via the Ontario Cannabis Store’s website. Private cannabis retailers will come into effect starting in April 2019. Twenty-five licenses will be granted via lottery. Municipalities will have the opportunity for a one-time opt-out of private retailer sales. Oakville, Richmond Hill and Mississauga have opted out of private cannabis retail sales. Toronto and Ottawa have opted in with private retail sales.
Manitoba
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries would source all cannabis to retailers, where it will be sold in private-sector stores. Four mega-licenses were issues by the province: Hiku/ Tokyo Smoke, Delta 9 Cannabis, Meta Cannabis Supply Company/National Access Cannabis and Tweed/Canopy Growth. Cannabis can be purchased through the provincially-run website as well.
Alberta
In Alberta all cannabis related activities are run by the Albert Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis division. All recreational cannabis can be purchased at private licensed retailers as well as the province’s government run AGLC website. At this time Alberta remains the province with the highest amount and most diverse number of private cannabis retailers.
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Quebec
The Quebec Cannabis Society (SQDC) is a subsidiary of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), which was created in June 2018 following the passage of the Act to regulate the Société québécoise du cannabis. In addition to its 12 cannabis retailers, cannabis products can be purchased online on the SQCD’s website.
Saskatchewan
In March 2018, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority released its framework for distribution, sale and use of cannabis. Only six cannabis stores were open initially operated by private enterprise companies and licensed by the province; online purchases could also be made from the provincial website.
British Columbia
British Columbia will be a government-run wholesale distribution model overseen by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, although private and publicly run retail stores would operate. Initially, there was only one cannabis store in B.C. (Kamloops) operated by the government, but over 100 private retailers had applied for licenses. Cannabis can also be purchased on its government-run website.
Prince Edward Island
PEI Cannabis is the only retailer of adult use cannabis in Prince Edward Island, sold through our four stand-alone retail stores. Cannabis can also be purchased through the provincially-run PEI Cannabis website.
Newfoundland & Labrador
In contrast with other Atlantic provinces, NL planned to allow cannabis to be sold by licensed private retailers, though distribution and regulation will be run by the province’s crown corporation Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation. The province approved 22 retail stores, all privately operated, including 10 by Dominion stores, but fully controlled and regulated by the NLC. Additional stores will be added after they are approved and licensed.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, customers are able to purchase recreational cannabis from the NSLC (Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation) with eight locations across the province. It is the only authorized retailer of cannabis in the province, and weed can be purchased by anyone of legal age at 12 designated NSLC stores across N.S. or online for home delivery. The downtown Halifax NSLC on Clyde St. is the only stand-alone cannabis store, which will have the most variety and amount of products.
New Brunswick
Government-run cannabis retailers in New Brunswick are overseen by the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation. By law, Cannabis NB is only permitted to sell cannabis and accessories within the Province of New Brunswick. As of the end of 2018 there are 20 retailers in the province. Recreational cannabis can also be purchased on its provincial website, Cannabis NB.
Yukon / Northwest Territories / Nunavut As of October 17th the Yukon Cannabis store became selling in Yellowknife alongside the territory’s ecommerce site for recreational cannabis sales. Applications for private companies to operate retail stores will be accepted by the Yukon Liquor Corporation’s newly-developed licensing board in spring 2019. In the Northwest Territories the Liquor and Cannabis Commission regulates all pot sales in the territory as well as online sales and distribution. In Nunavut, due to delays caused by the October 30th territorial election in 2017, the territory was expected to be the last territory to announce its legal cannabis framework. Sales are being made online, by phone and through agents of the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC). For some time, no stores will sell marijuana but private enterprise stores may be licensed in future.
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Technology/
Robo-Farming
How vulnerable are cannabis jobs to automation? We talk with Steven Looi, Director of Strategy and Origination at White Sheep Corp., to get a better idea what the future of automation looks like in the cannabis industry. ‘Robo-farming’ is a colloquial term we’ve heard being throw around in recent years. How would you define that? Is there a better term for it? I would define ‘robo-farming’ as the application of robotics and automation to agriculture for several reasons but mainly to increase efficiency and productivity of farms. We sit at a unique moment in time where technologies have advanced far enough to make robo-farming somewhat a reality. There have been attempts to automate farming before, earlier in the past century tractors were made ‘self-driving’ by attaching them to guide rails/wires for example, but by and large, farming, has always been a manual/ human process. Until now. The first completely robo-farmed pound of produce has already been grown and harvested without any human assistance or intervention. It will still be a little while before the same can be said about cannabis but it’s coming. Can you go into the broad strokes of how robo-farming is changing agriculture as we know it today? Despite the advances of the Green Revolution (some might say because of it), current farming methodology is incredibly wasteful and costly. Robo-farming will mean much better utilization and management of precious resources like energy and water, and the tempered/measured use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. On the output side, even with less inputs, we’ll see greater yields and more productive farms. Sociologically, we’ll see larger singular farms. We’ve all heard for a while now about the ‘death of the family farm’ caused mostly by economic forces and the farm consolidations that resulted. Now with the technical ability for fewer people to run ever larger operations, expect farms and greenhouses to further consolidate in gargantuan facilities. Another but more obvious change will be in the number of folks employed in agriculture and the changing role of the farmer. In cannabis there is a huge challenge with consistency. The problem is in large part due to the lack of optimized and stabilized genetics. Once this is solved though robo-farming, and the ability to detect and adjust to things like micro-climates, should allow for much greater consistency in the final product; something sorely needed by current medical patients. When we hear the term ‘robo-farming’ a lot of us tend to think of actual robots doing autonomous labour but are there other technologies that tend to get glossed over by the general public that make up this sector of agri-tech? Robo-farming is the result of a confluence of many different maturing technologies. Certainly, there is the robotics/engineering piece, creating machines that can physically do the farming work; this goes pretty deep but covers things like advances in material science, battery tech, and robot dexterity. Then you need your robot to understand the world around it. This comes from 34
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advances in sensing technologies including PH sensors but also things like machine vision and GPS. All of those sensors and robots themselves, all need to be connected as well and is served by IOT technologies – to me this is one of the biggest factors. All the sensors and the robots will be creating massive quantities of data that will need to be melded with outside data, processed, and made sense of, which is possible due to the advances in computer science, AI, machine learning, and of course, data science/big data itself. Give us a picture of what a licensed cannabis production facility will look like 10 years from now compared to today. It may not be a full certainty that full robo-farming will come to cannabis. Firstly, the economics of growing cannabis is demanding that production occur more and more in low cost jurisdictions as opposed to high-cost ones like Canada. In those labour environments it may actually be cost ineffective to automate/ roboticize production not to mention that job creation is usually one of the benefits that LPs tout when they apply to governments for licenses. Secondly, with the amount of investment that has gone into synthetic biology and synthesis of cannabinoids, it is very possible that the future of the cannabis industry is one largely without a single plant in the supply chain. In any case, a licensed producer of the future may be able to take human hands out of the production process completely: Propagation – A robotic arm works speedily to create tens of thousands of tissue cultures around the clock in a clean room that is seldom opened resulting in tissue cultures that are 100% pathogen free and perfectly faithful to their mother plant genetically. Every single tissue culture is given an ID and its creation logged. Planting – Like an assembly line, large empty trays are filled with individual grow blocks, and in each block a robotic arm transfers a new plant and RFID tag. Once the tray is filled with plants, or a table of trays is completed it is then shuttled by a wheeled robot, to its vegetative growth room. The same process is repeated as the plant grows and needs to be replanted. The porter robot rolls underneath the grow table, picks it up and brings it back into the processing room. Once there a couple of robot arms, delicately pick up each plant, transfers them to a larger grow block and sets them on a new table with more spacing between the plants, then the entire table is moved back to the veg room or into a flowering room. Maintenance/Optimization – Sensors throughout the veg room are constantly relaying data back to the control room where AI makes decisions on micro-amendments to fix any deviations to prescribed temperatures, humidity, PH levels, etc. Drones are flying around actually looking at the plants, using their machine
vision algorithms and infrared sensors, looking for signs of trouble: discolouration in the plants, strange growth patterns, pests/ infestations, etc. Data for completed crops is continually analyzed and optimizations are implemented for future crops. Harvesting – Mature plants are brought into a processing room by porter bot. In the processing room, robotic arms skillfully dissemble the plant, removing the RFID tag, separating the main stem from the roots, trimming the plant and then hanging the remaining branches and buds on racks which are then moved to a drying room. Just before entering the drying room a tiny sample is tested by a QA robot that analyzes chemical composition. Sorting and Packing – After sometime in the drying room, the QA bot samples the cannabis looking for changes in chemical composition brought on by the curing process. If the batch is within acceptable range, a porter bot is called and the batch is sent for processing and packaging. Once delivered to the processing room, robotic arms cut away the buds which are then sent by conveyor belt to a sorting machine. The sorting machine uses different sensors and actuators to sort the buds according to size. Once sorted another a packing machine assembles the buds in pre-determined portions by weight and then packaged. The cannabis is then put in jars where the jars are sealed, labeled and boxed. The boxes are then stamped, stacked and palletized. Tracking – As soon as a tissue culture
has been taken an ID number is given to the plant. This ID is then transferred onto an RFID chip that is physically tagged on the plant at all times. RFID sensors are deployed around room entrances and other choke points, so that every relocation/ movement of every plant is recorded at all times, seamlessly. What are the advantages for a licensed producer to adopt these technologies, or at least consider adopting them? Overall the industry will benefit from the classic advantages of automation, cost reduction, increased efficiency etc. But I think the biggest advantage for our industry with the automation/roboticization of our production processes is the consistency that we will be able to achieve. Right now, a significant problem for medical patients and the medical community at large when it comes to cannabis as a medicine is the lack of consistency in terms of chemical composition from crop to crop. Heck, even within singular crops there can be large deviations in what each plant produces would you accept medicine with varying levels of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API)? Or what about not just different levels, what about different APIs? The consistency piece is huge from a business/operations standpoint as well. Our CEO, Hamish Sutherland, famously says that “the cannabis industry is a compliance industry first”. If you are an automated operation it should be much easier to comply and demonstrate compliance with your regulator. Additionally, GMP certification should be a lot easier, giving
you access to more markets. All of which could add to the valuation of your company. Do you see inherent disadvantages to making processes more automated? Yes, there are clear disadvantages from automation/robo-farming. One of the biggest problems is the Capital Expenditure (capex) required to implement these systems. They require huge investment up front and payback periods are usually quite long. This can be especially daunting given that the supply side of our industry is still maturing – will cultivation shift to low-cost jurisdictions? Another disadvantage for automation is the poor optics it gives. Many cannabis businesses, if not all, submitted to their regulator via their license applications, that their facility would bring jobs to their chosen communities. Roboticizing operations would put this pledge in jeopardy and may cause problems with regulators (and even consumers) later on. On the technical side, introducing new technology always has risks and takes time. There will be a learning curve for both human operators and machines alike. It will take time before both will reach high proficiency. These systems are highly specialized and adapt to their tasks. Robots have a hard time dealing with exceptions, ambiguity and things that deviate from its programming. Adapting them to new processes that may be mandated by your regulator or other market forces can be very difficult and sometimes simply impossible.
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Retail Directory Alberta 420 Premium Market D290-9737 MacLeod Trail South Calgary, AB, T2J 0P6 Alternative Greens 12451 97 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T5G 1Z6 Beltline Cannabis Calgary 806 12 Avenue SW Calgary, AB, T2R 0J3 Canna Cabana 1065 Canyon Meadows Drive SE Calgary, AB, T2W 5V3 Cannabis House 6560 170 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB, T5Y 3X6 Co-op Cannabis 7-8720 MacLeod Trail SE Calgary, AB, T2H 0M4 Daily Blaze 1-5009 50 Street Stony Plain, AB, T7Z 1T3 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 9610 165 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB, T5Z 3L3 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 313-10451 99 Avenue Fort Saskatchewan, AB, T8L 0V6 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 263 Gregg Avenue Hinton, AB, T7V 2A7 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 380-220 Lakeland Drive Sherwood Park, AB, T8H 0N6 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 19 Bellerose Drive St Albert, AB, T8N 5E1 Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. 6610 50 Avenue Stettler, AB, T0C 2L2 Global Leaf 106-5401 Temple Drive NE Calgary, AB, T1Y 3R7 NewLeaf Cannabis 29-240 Midpark Way SE Calgary, AB, T2X 1N4 NewLeaf Cannabis 18-13750 Bow Bottom Trail SE Calgary, AB, T2J 6T5 NewLeaf Cannabis 111-13 Southland Crescent SW Calgary, AB, T2W 0K4
NewLeaf Cannabis #110, 1935 - 37 Street SW Calgary, AB, T3E 3E4
Small Town Buds 102-6 Athabasca Avenue Devon, AB, T9G 1G2
Cannabis-NB 784 Dieppe Blvd. Dieppe, NB, E1A 9G5
NewLeaf Cannabis 32nd Ave: #9, 2015 - 32 Avenue NE Calgary, AB, T2E 6Z3
The Green Exchange 328 South Railway Street Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 2V4
Cannabis-NB 575B Rue Victoria Edmunston, NB, E3V 3M9
NewLeaf Cannabis #9, 12 Castleridge Drive NE Calgary, AB, T3J 1V4
Waldo’s 420 Store 946 16 Street SW Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 8A4
Cannabis-NB 435 Brookside Drive, Unit A002 Fredericton, NB, E3A 8V4
NewLeaf Cannabis #2, 7400 Macleod Trail SE Calgary, AB, T2H 0L9
Westside Weed 914 South Railway Street SE Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 2W2
Cannabis-NB 45 Woodside Lane Fredericton, NB, E3C 2R9
NewLeaf Cannabis #30, 12981 – 50 Street Edmonton, AB, T5A 3P3
British Columbia
Cannabis-NB 2540 King George Highway Miramichi, NB, E1V 6W5
NewLeaf Cannabis 9522 Ellerslie Road Edmonton, AB, T6X 0K6 NewLeaf Cannabis 1328 Mayor MacGrath Drive South Lethbridge, AB, T1K 2R2 NewLeaf Cannabis #20, 338 University Drive West Lethbridge, AB, T1J 5C9 NewLeaf Cannabis #207, 2 Herbert Road St. Albert, AB, T8N 5T8 Nova Cannabis at Grove Landing 17 Nelson Drive Spruce Grove, AB, T7X 3X3 Nova Cannabis at Namao 16616 95 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T5Z 3L2 Nova Cannabis at Shoppers South B-8015 104 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T6E 4E3 Nova Cannabis at Southpointe 101-9310 Southfort Drive Fort Saskatchewan, AB, T8L 0C5 Nova Cannabis at Willow Park B252-10816 MacLeod Trail SE Calgary, AB, T2J 5N8 Numo Cannabis Corp. 11733 95 Street NW Edmonton, AB, T5G 1M1 Plant Life 101-4215 80 Avenue Lloydminster, AB, T9V 0X9 Queen of Bud 1717 10 Avenue SW Calgary, AB, T3C 0K1 Rocky Mountain Collective 437 Gregg Avenue Hinton, AB, T7V 1N1 Rocky Mountain Collective 393 Drinnan Way Hinton, AB, T7V 2A5
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Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019
B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch store Columbia Place Shopping Centre 1210 Summit Drive Kamloops, BC, V2C 6M1
Manitoba Delta 9 Cannabis Store Unit 1 – 827 Dakota Street Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5M2 Hiku/Tokyo Smoke 55B Goulet Street Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0R5 Meta Cannabis Supply Co. Otineka Mall, Hwy 10 N Opaskwayak, MB, R0B 2J0 Meta Cannabis Supply Co. 79 Keeshkeemaquah Drive Portage La Prairie, MB, R1N 4B1 Meta Cannabis Supply Co. Unit 23 – 584 Pembina Hwy. Winnipeg, MB, R3M 2M5 Meta Cannabis Supply Co. 1881 Grant Avenue Winnipeg, MB, TBD Meta Cannabis Supply Co. 58 Cree Road Thompson, MB, R8N 0N2 Tweed/Canopy 1450 Main Street South Dauphin, MB, R7N 3H4 Tweed/Canopy 120 Osborne Street Winnipeg, MB, R3L 1Y5 Tweed/Canopy 1592 Regent Avenue Winnipeg, MB, R2C 3B4
New Brunswick Cannabis-NB 640 St. Peter Ave, Suite #PD201 Bathurst, NB, E2A 2Y7 Cannabis-NB 157 Water Street, Unit 14 Campbellton, NB, E3N 3L4
Cannabis-NB 165 Main Street, Suite #08 Moncton, NB, E1C 1B8 Cannabis-NB 40 Wyse Street Moncton, NB, E1G 2K5 Cannabis-NB 9316 Route 3 Old Ridge, NB, E3L 4W8 Cannabis-NB 16 Commerce Drive Oromocto, NB, E2V 4T4 Cannabis-NB 12F. Tribe Road Pert-Andover, NB, E7H 0A5 Cannabis-NB 16 Allee De La Cooperative Richibucto, NB, E4W 5V8 Cannabis-NB 34 Lacey Drive Rothesay, NB, E2E 3J9 Cannabis-NB 16 Wright Street Sackville, NB, E4L 4P8 Cannabis-NB 55 Lansdowne Avenue Saint John, NB, E2K 3A1 Cannabis-NB 168 Rothesay Ave., Suite #107 Saint John, NB, E2J 2B5 Cannabis-NB 313-B Main Street Shediac, NB, E4P 2A8 Cannabis-NB 138 Main Street (Gateway Mall) Sussex, NB, E4E 3E1 Cannabis-NB 3524 rue Principale Tracadie, NB, E1X 1B9
Retail Directory Newfoundland and Labrador Clarenville 258 Memorial Drive Clarenville, NFLD, A5A 1N9 C-Shop 230 Conception Bay Highway Bay Roberts, NFLD, A0A 1G0 C-Shop 5 Murphy Square Corner Brook, NFLD, A2H 1R4 C-Shop 120 Columbus Drive Carbonear, NFLD, A1Y 1B3 C-Shop 166 Conception Bay Highway Conception Bay South, NFLD, A1W 3A6 C-Shop 100 Laurell Road Gander, NFLD, A1V 2V5 C-Shop 17 Cromer Avenue Grand Falls-Windsor, NFLD, A2A 1X3 C-Shop 150 Old Placentia Road Mount Pearl, NFLD, A1N 4Y9 C-Shop 55 Stavanger Drive St. John’s, NFLD, A1A 5E8
Thomas H. Clarke’s Distribution 1614 Portugal Cove Road Portugal Cover, NFLD, A1M 3G3 Tweed 62 Broadway Avenue Corner Brook, NFLD, A2H 6H4 Tweed 50-60 Commonwealth Ave Mount Pearl, NFLD, A1N 1W8 Tweed 193 Kenmount Road Unit 4A St. John’s, NFLD, A1B 3P9 Tweed 187-189 Water Street St. John’s, NFLD, A1C 1B4
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. Amherst Mall, 126 South Albion Street Amherst, NS, B4H 2X3 Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 151 Church Street Antigonish, NS, B2G 2E2 Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 274 Dufferin Street Bridgewater, NS, B4V 2G7 Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 5540 Clyde Street Halifax, NS, B3J 1E3
C-Shop 260 Blackmarsh Road St. John’s, NFLD, A1E 1T2
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. Downsview Plaza, 752 Sackville Drive, Unit 114 Lower Sackville, NS, B4C 2R2
C-Shop 62 Prince Rupert Drive Stephenville, NFLD, A2N 3W7
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 610 East River Road New Glasgow, NS, B2H 3S1
Deer Lake Green Stop 31 Upper Nicholsville Road Deer Lake, NFLD, A8A 2G1
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 9256 Commercial Street, Unit 230 New Minas, NS, B4N 4A9
High North 1 Neal Drive Labrador City, NFLD, A2V 1Y5
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 95 Keltic Drive Sydney River, NS, B1S 1P4
Paradise Green Shop 1316 Topsail Road St. John’s, NFLD, A1L 1N9
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 6 Court Street Truro, NS, B2N 3H7
Puff Puff Pass Head Shop 72 Marine Drive Clarenville, NFLD, A5A 1L3
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 650 Portland Street Dartmouth, NS, B2W 6A3
The Natural Vibe 306 Water Street St. John’s, NFLD, A1C 1B8
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 3601 Joseph Howe Drive Halifax, NS, B3L 4H8
The Reef Cannabis Shop 386 CBS Highway Holyrood, NFLD, A0A 2R0
Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. 104a Starrs Road Yarmouth, NS, B5A 2T5
Northwest Territories Fort Simpson Beverages 10021 100th Street Fort Simpson, NW, X0E 0N0 Fort Smith Liquor Store 87 Breynat Street Fort Smith, NW, X0E 0P0 Hay River Liquor Retailer 101- 76 Capital Drive Hay River, NW, X0E 1G2 Normal Wells Liquor Agency 15 Franklin Avenue Norman Wells, NW, X0E 0V0 Yellowknife Liquor Store 100 Borden Drive Yellowknife, NW, X1A 3W6
Prince Edward Island P.E.I. Cannabis 85 Belvedere Avenue Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 4N8 P.E.I. Cannabis 509 Main Street Montague, PEI, C0A 1R0 P.E.I. Cannabis 478 Main Street O’ Leary, PEI, C0B 1V0 P.E.I. Cannabis 425 Granville Street Summerside, PEI, C1N 3C3
Quebec Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 965 boul. St-Joseph Drummondville, QC, J2C 2G9 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 95 route du Président-Kennedy Lévis, QC, G6V 6C8 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 172, Montée Masson Mascouche, QC, J7K 3B5 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 13421 boulevard Curé-Labelle Mirabel, QC, J7J 1G9 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 9256, Boulevard de l’Acadie Montreal (L’Acadie), QC, H4N 3C5 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 970, Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest Montreal (Peel), QC, H3B 1E3 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 6872 St-Hubert Montreal (Rosemont-Petite-Patrie), QC, H2S 2M6 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 830, Rue Sainte-Catherine Est Montreal (Ville-Marie), QC, H2L 2E2
Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 670 rue Bouvier Quebec City, QC, G2J 1A7 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 2491 chemin Sainte-Foy Quebec City, QC, G1V 1T7 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 110-1 rue St-Germain ouest Rimouski, QC, G5L 4B5 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 174 boulevard Saint-Luc suite 114 Sain-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, J2W 1C7 Société Québécoise Du Cannabis 3548 boul. des Forges Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Y 5H5
Saskatchewan Eden Cannabis Co. Hwy 46, north on Range Road 2185 RM of Edenwold, SK, Fire and Flower Inc. 302 114 Street #2 North Battleford, SK, S9A 2M6 Fire and Flower Inc. 275 Broadway St E #5C Yorkton, SK, S3N 3K7 5 Buds Cannabis Bay 18-19, 810 Centennial Blvd. Warman SK, S0K 4S1 Jimmy’s Cannabis Co. 82 B Battleford Crossing Battleford SK, S0M 0E0 Jimmy’s Cannabis Co. 4 - 421A Kensington Ave. Estevan SK, S4A 0VA Jimmy’s Cannabis Co. 1 - 701 Centennial Dr. N Martensville SK, S0K 0A2 Jimmy’s Cannabis Co. 506 Main Street Moosomin SK, S0G 3N0 Living Skies Cannabis 208 3rd Avenue S Saskatoon SK, S7K 1M1 New Leaf Emporium Inc. 602 Main Street Moose Jaw SK, S6H 3K4 Prairie Cannabis Ltd. 180 17th Street W Prince Albert SK, S6V 3X5
Spiritleaf
1251 Man Street N Moose Jaw SK TBD Wiid Boutique Inc. 4554 Albert Street Regina SK, S4S 6B4
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Advertiser Index Auto Gate Inc...............................................................................17 Commissionaires..........................................................................21 Durham College...........................................................................31 iMotion Security...........................................................................39 Leaf Forward................................................................................38 MJBiz Expo..................................................................................29 Mackie Research Capital Corp.....................................................2 O’ Cannabiz Expo.........................................................................7 3 Sixty Secure Corp......................................................................40 Weber Supply................................................................................23
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Cannabis Prospect Magazine | February 2019