Every employer has an employment contract with every employee. A well-drafted written employment contract is key to avoiding or resolving disputes throughout, and saving the employer time and money at the end of the employment relationship.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information at any given time, or the endless number of tasks that need to be accomplished. But it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Finding ways to stay motivated and productive is key to any retail business’s success.
On August 15, 2022, the B.C. Liquor Distribution Brand (BCLDB) launched the nation’s first Direct Delivery program with intention to level the playing field authorizing nurseries and small-scale cultivators to produce up to 3,000 kilograms of cannabis annually and direct deliver to retailers.
In a few short years, Great White North Growers has gone from a licensed producer of its house brand and 514 Cannabis to an sales powerhourse working with more than 30 growers in the province to get their products in SDQC retail stores. We sat down to learn how the company came to be what is is today and the current state of the Quebec cannabis landscape.
At first glance, hearing the terms words like ‘cannabis’ and ‘technology’ or ‘weed tech’ can be easily dismissed as buzz words, but take a deeper look and you’ll see how technology is transforming the way cannabis business operations are run.
It’s said that it can be lonely at the top unless you bring your friends—or at least 10 microcultivators. That’s the foundation of Sitka’s micro-park, a +10-acre plot of land that currently houses 10 of British Columbia’s best growers, with room for more than 40 more.
Cannabis Prospect Magazine would like to take this time to personally thank all of its contributors, advertisers, vendors and subscribers for making these six issues of the magazine possible during this crazy year of 2022! Here’s to another great year for the cannabis industry!
Every employer has an employment contract with every employee - even when there’s “nothing in writing”. A well-drafted written employment contract is key to avoiding or resolving disputes throughout, and saving the employer time and money at the end of the employment relationship.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information at any given time, or the endless number of task that need to be accomplished on any given day. But it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Finding ways to stay motivated and productive is key to any retail business’s success.
Normally I don’t like to use this letter as a place to talk about the magazine. It’s part of that innate urge inside of me to keep what we call in the industry Church (the editorial side of a publication) and State (the publishing/advertising side of the business) completely separate. Usually the letter to the editor is a place to reflect on the state of the industry, current trends and challenges in the cannabis space, or highlight a certain theme of the given issue at hand. In recent months it’s been nothing new, between the exorbant amount of excise taxes charged to LPs from all levels of government, the constant push-pull tug-of-war between large licensed producers and smaller, craft growers, or the oversaturation of cannabis retailers in what many believe will be the demise of the private sector, among others.
As an industry trade magazine, we do our best to provide information/educational content as well as highlight fascinating cannabis companies, and the people making remarkable strides in the industry, while at the same time not being so doom-andgloom all the time. Truthfully, being both an editor and publisher of Cannabis Prospect Magazine is sort of like being a deaf composer. You create a magazine then send it out to your subscribers in the hopes that they read the articles but rarely (if ever) do you get to see them actually do, aside from the odd kudos you may receive at trade shows or during a video call. At the same time, and not entirely unrelated to my point, comes this reflective question of ‘Am I doing everything in my power to improve the cannabis industry overall?’ or perhaps a more apt question is ‘Am I doing enough?’ To that end, I wanted to take this opportunity to announce an exciting new product from Straight Dope Media Inc. beginning in January 2023: Cannabis Merchandiser
Cannabis Merchandiser will be a monthly, digital-only catalogue of cannabis sell-sheets emailed directly to cannabis retailers that are either current subscribers of Cannabis Prospect or members of the IRCC, a recently established collective of cannabis retail stores, that leverage the buying power
of independent cannabis retailers for better pricing on cannabis products, among other benefits. The reasons for Cannabis Merchandiser is three-fold:
1. We want to make the experience of getting cannabis product information as frictionless as possible for the budtender. Oftentimes budtenders get their info from multiple sources and the process is both cumbersome and timeconsuming. With Cannabis Merchandiser we want to make getting that information as simple as possible.
2. We want to give mico/craft growers, as well as mid-sized LPs more of a voice than their larger cannabis competitors. Oftentimes it’s the bigger players that overshadow the little guy in terms of the number of products they produce or the vast number of resources/dollars they use to build brand awareness of certain products. We want to change that by giving smaller players more prominence when it came to showcasing their products.
3. Since we won’t be charging for those LP sellsheets to be included, we see this as not only a way to give back to the industry but also to be as inclusive and comprehensive as possible when it comes to listing cannabis SKUs.
If you’re a retailer and you’d like to start receiving Cannabis Merchandiser come January (again at no charge) or are a licensed producer that would like your products to be included (also for free), please don’t hesitate to send an email to media@cannabisproonline.com and we’ll be more than happy to add you.
• Compatible with your existing hardware including iOS, Android, and web.
• Data migration and training with a dedicated onboarding team gets you started properly.
• Control everything in your business.
• Have full visibility into your inventory, control employee access, and see who made changes.
• Save data entry time with our provincial product catalogues.
• Bulk upload your purchase orders and generate compliance reports with ease.
Expanding your empire?
• Access up to CAD $500,000 in funding via Greenline Capital.
January 12-14, 2023
Lift & Co. Vancouver Vancouver Convention Centre Vancouver BC
https://liftexpo.ca/lift-co-expovancouver-2023
March 24-26, 2023
CannExpo
Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place Toronto ON https://cannexpo.ca
June 1-4, 2023
Lift & Co.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Toronto ON https://liftexpo.ca/toronto-2023
To submit an event for inclusion in the Cannabis Prospect Magazine calendar, email media@cannabisproonline.com
VOL. 4, ISSUE 6
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.
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
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
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Eteros Technologies USA, Inc., a global leader in cannabis harvesting equipment, acquired Bloom Automation, creating the first agricultural technology (Ag-tech) company focused on the post-harvest cannabis market. Founded in Canada in 2016, Eteros Technologies is now the premier manufacturer of cannabis automation equipment globally. As the parent company of the Triminator and Mobius brands, Eteros seeks to provide postharvest processing solutions for all levels of cannabis production. The acquisition of Bloom strengthens Eteros’ ability to deliver on that goal by bringing computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) to cannabis producers. “As competitive as the cannabis market is today, this is only expected to increase as the market matures. In cannabis, there are so many areas where producers use manual labor because they need human intelligence. At Eteros, we see a tremendous opportunity to implement Bloom AI into harvest automation to gain a competitive advantage,” said Aaron McKellar, CEO of Eteros.
As the next chapter in its story of rapid growth, expansion and Canadian market leadership, OEG Retail Cannabis (OEGRC) acquired 23 Tweed and Tokyo Smoke stores from Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to the retail locations, OEGRC also acquired the Tokyo Smoke brand from Canopy Growth as it continues to lead in customer experience, product quality, choice, value and loyalty programs. Following the close of this acquisition, OEGRC will be the sole owner of the Tokyo Smoke brand and trademark and all Tweed retail stores acquired as part of this transaction will be rebranded.
President Joe Biden announced he is taking executive action to pardon thousands of people federally convicted of cannabis possession. He also has tasked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with reviewing the plant’s status under federal law. According to a DOJ statement, the department “will expeditiously administer the President’s proclamation, which pardons individuals who engaged in simple possession of marijuana, restoring political, civil, and other rights to those convicted of that offense. In coming days, the Office of the Pardon Attorney will begin implementing a process to provide impacted individuals with certificates of pardon.” The pardons will (1) clear people convicted on federal charges of simple possession since it became a crime in the 1970s (2) affect people who were convicted under District of Columbia drug laws (3) not apply to people convicted of selling or distributing cannabis (4) remove obstacles for
people trying to get a job, find housing, apply to college or get federal benefits. President Biden will begin the process of working with the HHS to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug. This is the most significant achievement for the industry and NCIA’s government relations efforts since President Obama’s Department of Justice issued the “Cole Memo” in 2013.
The Green Organic Dutchman Completes Strategic Merger with BZAM Cannabis
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., a sustainable Canadian cannabis company and leading producer of premium, organically grown cannabis announced, it has completed the transaction whereby TGOD will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of BZAM Holdings Inc. from BZAM’s sole shareholder, in exchange for common shares (the “Combined Entity Shares”) of TGOD (the “Transaction”). The transaction results in the BZAM Shareholder holding an approximate 49.5% of the issued and outstanding combined entity shares, with the ability to earn additional combined entity shares subject to achievement of certain financial milestones in 2023.
Following the closing of the transaction, the Company is now led by Matt Milich as CEO, supported by Sean Bovingdon as CFO, Jordan Winnett as CCO and Michel Gagne as COO.
After 74 years of private ownership, the Morrison family sold 100% of its shares to the MFG Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), transitioning it to a 100% employeeowned company–an exciting move for the employees and a beneficial move for the local economy. Molded Fiber Glass Companies (MFG) was founded in 1948 by entrepreneur Robert S. Morrison (1909–2002) and has
grown to be one of the largest local employers in the area. MFG has prided itself on being an innovative, family-owned enterprise spanning four generations of the Morrison family for the past seven decades. When it opened its doors, a small creative team worked diligently to figure out the best way to mass-produce the first polyester resin and fiberglass products. In 1953, MFG was selected to manufacture fiberglass body parts for the new Chevrolet Corvette. This move put MFG on the map as a significant player in the market and launched a sequence of other “firsts”, including the creation of the first fiberglass boats, high-volume truck and tractor parts, bakery trays, concrete forms, and satellite dishes, to name a few. These early successes allowed MFG to spin off specialized divisions, like MFG Tray, to support the evergrowing popularity and demand for fiberglass.
Lift Cannabis Business Conference & Trade Show Expands to the U.S.
Lift Events & Experiences announced that it has expanded across North Amercia, announcing its debut U.S. show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, August 2 to Friday, August 4, 2023. Honouring the grassroots legacy of the cannabis industry, while serving its unique modern audiences, the inaugural U.S. show will feature live product on the show floor for attendees to see, touch and smell. A new look welcomes the new era for the shows, whil staying true to the well-regarded advocacy-oriented content, inclusive networking, irresistible activations and unmatched new product discovery opportunities for attendees. Must be 19+ to attend. No cannabis products are available for purchase at this event. For exhibitor and sponsorship enquiries, please visit liftexpo.ca/ exhibit-partner.
In a few short years, Great White North Growers has gone from a licensed producer of its house brand and 514 Cannabis to an sales powerhourse working with over 30 growers in the province to get its products in SDQC retail stores. We sat down with George Goulakos, Co-Founder and Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, to learn how the company came to be what is is today and the current state of the Quebec cannabis landscape.
How did Great White North Growers (GWNG) first get started?
Tell us the history of the firm. Its mission.
My partner Peter Schissler and I realized that there was a fantastic opportunity in this new exciting industry, and we decided to get in early. We applied in 2013 and received our licences in 2019. We always wanted to be a company with a conscience, mentoring the young and getting mentored by legacy people who have embraced legalization. Our mission is to be a proud Canadian company with strong values and a social conscience. The journey of obtaining a licence paled in comparison to the challenges that faced us at the start of legalization.
We were one of the first Licensed Producers (LPs) in Quebec to be granted all Health Canada (HC) licences and saw an oppor tunity to assist Quebec-based LPs and Micro Cultivators (Micros) bring their products to market. We are working with more than 30 Quebec-based producers. We are a debt free, nimble operation that responds quickly to new opportunities. Both Peter and I are handson operators.
How did you get into cannabis? Does your team come from a cannabis background or does it lend its expertise from other industries?
I was fortunate to be a broadcaster for 25 years with CFCF, a legacy CTV station in Montreal. I lived through the rise and fall of television, another regulated industry that was fast paced and full of change. Strong affiliates were gobbled up by the telcos, their identities sto len, history erased. My background in a fast-changing regulated industry has helped me tremendously. My partner Peter also has a diverse background in consulting, direct marketing, printing and publishing - always an entrepreneur. We were both at the right age and have a lot of experience to draw upon, so we’re not intimidated.
We were attracted by the opportunity and the challenges of this new Cannabis industry.
Where does GWNG stand today in terms of brands, products and other companies it represents in its portfolio?
We have two in-house brands: Great White North Growers and 514 Cannabis. 514 is the area code of Montreal – our home base. So representing that name puts pressure on us to produce the abso lute best products possible, since it’s fast-becoming Montreal’s local brand. Both brands are sold in Quebec and Alberta and we’re ex pecting to launch a few SKUs in Ontario and Saskatchewan in the coming months. We are fortunate to be working with a lot of great Quebec-based partners that represent more than forty SKUs at the SQDC and we’re starting to bring them across Canada.
Beyond the fact that Quebec cannabis markets operate under a public framework, what are some key provincial differences in terms of supply, distribution and regulations?
Every province has a slightly different model. In Quebec for instance, the sale of cannabis is restricted to adults of at least 21 years of age. Flower and extracts are limited to a maximum 30% THC. Vapes are not authorized and edibles are extremely restricted. Cannabis is not permitted to be grown at home either. Distribution of cannabis products at the retail level is handled by the Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQDC). This provincially run organization owns and oper ates all the retail locations (90) and deals directly with the general public and the LPs. LPs are responsible for delivering product to each location on a weekly basis. Our company is a founding mem ber of the AQIQ (Quebec Cannabis Industry Association) and we are in constant communication with the SQDC on how we can improve the industry together.
As a Quebec company, can you speak to the current Quebec cannabis market?
How do you see the market evolving as we head to 2023?
The Quebec market is strong, however growth has stalled lately, primarily due to a strike affecting roughly 23 of the 90 stores for the past several months. In the longer term, store counts will need to be increased to properly serve the market. On a positive note, we are starting to see more Cannabis 2.0 products being introduced. Quebec has been the most conservative province, pre ferring to start slowly, controlling all facets of retail distribution. We would like to have more stores and more variety in products, but the government has moved slowly and strategically. We do our best to work with the government and continue to be active with the association to bring positive change to the industry.
My understanding is that GWNG started with 514 cannabis but eventually grew to encompass more brands under one umbrella requiring expertise in the Quebec market. How did GWNG evolve from a firm investing in cannabis to operating as a sales agency for the Quebec market?
We entered the cannabis business with an open mind knowing that in all new industries, opportunities present themselves and that to succeed it would be important to be nim ble and pivot quickly. We created a turnkey cannabis logistics company offering packag ing solutions and delivery to all stores. We collaborate with our partners to determine
“We were one of the first Licensed Producers (LPs) in Quebec to be granted all Health Canada (HC) licenses and saw an opportunity to assist Quebec based LPs and Micro Cultivators (Micros) bring their products to market. We are currently working with over 30 Quebecbased producers.
pricing, format, etc. and consult with the SQDC as one voice. We are an open book so our partners feel at home here. We are navigating this overly complicated industry with lots of dialogue and brainstorming, to gether we are all stronger.
The fact that we are honed Quebec entrepreneurs has served us well as we are not intimidated with the logistics, commit ment and the nuances of the Quebec mar ketplace - it was the natural thing to do.
Does GWNG distribute its portfolio brands outside Quebec?
We have a few SKUs listed in Alberta and expect to be listed in Saskatchewan and Ontario in the near future. Our plan is to move strategically across the country with our portfolio of partner products.
We still have a lot of room to grow in Quebec but are incredibly happy to have chosen Alberta as the first province outside of Quebec to have products from the Great White North family. The fact that we have
some of the best Quebec producers in our group is also attractive to many retailers in other parts of Canada who want to offer a portfolio of premium Quebec strains to their clientele.
Can you speak of the vision you and the company want for GWNG, and what kind of experience you want to cultivate for LPs and processors in the Quebec market? What does the future hold for GWNG?
“Great White North Growers is a proud Que bec, Canadian company focused on excel lence in all that we do. We will continue to collaborate with the talented growers and processors in Quebec, believing that together we are stronger. We brainstorm, strategize, and learn from each other. We want to foster a sense of openness where our partners can interact among each other, while we provide them with our counsel. We are already seeing many of them share their experiences together and creating a sense of family - making us all the better for it. The future is exciting - we will continue to be an aggregator of Quebec cannabis companies offering synergies in buying, transport, culti vation and processing.
We will continue lobbying the various gov ernments for change and act as a gate keeper ensuring that all our partners deliver premium products to market. Lastly, we will continue to develop new products that res onate with the needs of Canadians, expand ing this business one step at time, just like our forefathers did.
At first glance, hearing phrases like ‘can nabis technology’ and ‘weed tech’ can be easily dismissed as buzz words, but take a deeper look and you’ll see how technology is transforming the way canna bis businesses are run. In order for companies to break into the legal cannabis market, they need ed to rapidly build operations in a digital-first en vironment. Today, knowing how to leverage and optimize technology is vital across all verticals of the cannabis industry. To that end, here are five ways technology is quietly transforming the in dustry, and how you can gain a competitive edge by taking advantage of them.
The cannabis land grab is now over in Canada. In Ontario alone, there are more than 1400 retail ers in the market, more than all of California com bined. Companies are now asking themselves how to stay profitable and increase market share. Naturally, this is going to lead to a shakeout that separates the highly-efficient operators from the laggards. The first step in getting ahead is hav ing an understanding of where you rank amongst your competitors. While you may know how well your business is doing, it can be a challenge to see how you fare against others in the market, especially in a niche industry still in its infancy. By using a platform that has access to market data and relevant KPIs, cannabis companies can eas ily compare themselves with their competitors and see where exactly improvements need to be made. This applies not only to retailers but also to licensed producers, manufacturers and compa nies with large stakes in the industry.
Once you know where you stand, it’s time to put together a plan for where you want to go. A comprehensive data platform allows you to dig deeper into key metrics that are important to your specific segment.
For retailers, gross margin is a metric that matters. As shown in (Figure.1), most retailers in Ontario struggle to maintain margins over 40%. Optimizing the pricing of 250 SKUs on a daily ba sis while keeping tabs on the competition down the street is a near-impossible task for a retail employee, but is one that is well suited for a ma chine. Time is money after all, and companies win by using proven, readily available technology that integrates it into their decision-making processes.
If you’re a brand, having full visibility into where your category, brand and SKUs are per forming is critical. The ability to focus sales efforts on closing gaps in distribution while simultane ously reinforcing areas of strength is key to driv ing week-over-week sales performance.
Often what really sets winners apart from their competitors is simply being better at planning and forecasting. The cannabis industry is fast chang ing and complex with multiple sizes, strains, price bands and potencies. A great recent example is a dramatic shift in the vape category toward larger +1 g formats.
Being able to easily visualize all these di mensions and identify trends is critical in making both small and large pivots. If you are a retailer,
you want to be stocking up on the most popular products and ditching the duds because your sur vival depends on it. If you are a licensed producer you should be looking to stay ahead of the com petition and obtain category leadership. This may mean making difficult decisions about a product that has historically done well but is no longer flying off the shelves. Brands need to be able to make quick decisions on whether they should stop producing the product or find other ways to better market, price or improve it. It’s about “skat ing where the puck will be” and deciding on the appropriate actions as early as possible in the product life cycle.
One of the major benefits of cannabis technology platforms is being able to unlock and access all the data in one place. For most companies, it’s a continual challenge to combine, clean and con solidate data from multiple sources. Trying to up date and integrate multiple data sources can be a resource-intensive task that few can afford. Com panies benefit from a consistent single source of truth to make unbiased and unambiguous opera tional decisions quickly.
Adaptive technologies allow you to spend less of your time in email and Excel, whether it’s nor malizing data, finding insights or creating reports. Cannabis platforms are now fully integrated with leading-edge analytic tools such as Tableau, Looker and Power BI.
Everything’s calculated for you automatically, and in just a few clicks, presentation-ready reports are available. You get the power of a fully-fledged BI team at your fingertips at a fraction of the cost.
As the cannabis industry struggles to meet the ex pectations that investors had in 2018, companies need to find ways to drive operational efficiency and profitable growth. While the use of technol ogy isn’t new, it’s an opportunity to adopt proven technology platforms to solve the problems that plague other industries in a rapidly growing and relatively open ecosystem. The business drivers are simple: increase sales, margins and customer engagement, while reducing costs.
Tom Blackburn is the Founder and CEO of Turff Analytics, a cannabis platform that uses the latest technology to help cannabis companies stay ahead of their competition by delivering personalized data and analytics that are simple, seamless and secure. To get in touch with Tom and learn more about Turff, contact contact@turff.ca.
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By Jessica Brown
It’s said that it can be lonely at the top unless you bring your friends—or at least 10 mi cro-cultivators. That’s the foundation of Sit ka’s micro-park, a +10-acre plot of land that houses 10 of British Columbia’s best growers, with room for over 40 more.
Sitka is a Health Canada-licensed stan dard processor and producer with both adultuse and medical sales licences, as well as a recent extraction sales licence. This allows it to package and sell cannabis across the country and create cannabis derivatives such as con centrates from small batch, craft grown dried flower. Along with growing its own weed, Sitka partners with passionate, experienced cultiva tors to bring a wide range of small batch, craft product offerings to market.
Recognizable and often sold-out brands processed by Sitka include a collective of Sitka Legends (featuring legacy growers like QuadEssence and K n’ L Cannabis) and Gre enade (Sitka’s house brand) with two new brands, Kahoona and Glasshouse, coming up for extract enthusiasts.
Craft cannabis is an easy sell, but it isn’t an easy game. Canadians are ready to support quality bud, but small producers were largely absent immediately following federal legaliza tion. As The Cannabis Act stumbles into its fourth year, ready for review, small and medi um-sized companies are advocating for better legislation that is necessary to build a thriving and sustainable industry.
One of the major challenges with bringing craft cannabis to the market is the prohibitive
start-up costs, which are still often in the mil lions. Follow that with processing and market ing requirements and you’ve got a high barrier to entry that has left many long-time cultiva tors out of the legal landscape (never mind an excise tax policy that leaves many producers without profit—a topic for another article).
The micro-park is home to 10 micro-culti vators that were selected from more than 400 applicants. With a true dedication to bringing craft cannabis to Canada, Sitka focuses on partnering with growers with unique plant ge netics that have robust terpene profiles, highTHC, and big yields.
Its micro-park is Canada’s first and only combination micro-cultivation and small-batch processing facility. The property was the first site in BC to be rezoned for cannabis produc tion back in 2014 and has been licensed and operating under the Cannabis Act since 2019.
The micro-park leases state-of-the-art grow ing facilities to licensed craft cultivators. Each unit is approximately 4,250 to 6,000 sq. ft. and contains two to six boutique flower rooms, al lowing for up to 800 kg of craft cannabis to be grown annually per unit. Lessees are able to customize their grow rooms to accommodate their tried-and-true techniques—a key feature in honouring the craft legacy.
Sitka’s Field of Dreams model—build it, and they will grow—offers craft cultivators an easier entry to the market by handling the ini tial build and rezoning requirements up front and leasing out units that can be custom-fit ted, specifically designed to the growers’ pref erences and needs. This significantly reduces the start-up capital and red tape that can hin der establishing a business in the regulated cannabis space.
Phase 1 of the project hosts six growers across 10 licensed units, with phase 2 gear ing up to lease out an additional 25 move-in ready units by summer 2023. The first crops from phase 2 cultivators are anticipated to be released in early 2024. At full capacity, the micro-park will have 53 operational units and is projected to produce upwards of 40,000 kg of dried cannabis per year. Sitka produces 20,000 handmade pre-rolls per day, with plans to expand exponentially as new units become available. The micro-park’s founding tenants (or the Original Six, for truly Canadian moni
ker) produce between 50 and 70 kg of dried flower per month each. Premium cultivars are grown on a smaller scale, producing 25 to 35 kg batches every two months.
In an effort to bring the best genetics to the market and provide variety, each cultivator will cycle through up to eight cultivars per year. Sitka also has plans to expand its nursery with an ability to supply the micro-park with 60,000 mature plants per month. This will facilitate a faster turnover rate for grow cycles and ulti mately help bring products to market faster.
In addition to providing the facility struc ture, Sitka is also responsible for building out electrical and water infrastructure for all mi cro-cultivators. Depending on the season, Sit ka utilizes a roof rain catchment system or will truck in water during the drier months. Tenants pay approximately $9,000 CAD per month to lease a unit and share 65-70% of revenue from sales with Sitka.
Micro-cultivators are keen to partner with Sitka - who purchases cannabis from its ten ants, process it, package it, and sell it - partly because of the streamlined entry to the legal market, including lower costs and rezoning requirements, and also because of its knowl edge of market demands and relationships with provincial distributors. With Sitka manag ing the operations and distribution, growers at the micro-park are able to focus on what they do best—growing great craft weed.
This BC Bud’s for You Vancouver Island is known for its easy lifestyle, extensive beauty, and world-class cannabis. Based near Sooke—just a short drive from the province’s capital—Sitka is making sure that BC bud maintains an international reputation by helping legacy growers transition to the mainstream market.
Its deep knowledge of craft cannabis predates 2018’s federal legalization of the plant, a knowledge that guides its in its cultivation partnerships. By understanding consumer preferences based on historical and current insights, Sitka is able to bring cultivars to the retail space that satisfy both long-term and new tokers.
ends Quadessence and K n’ L, Sitka’s products are consistently picked up across the country (available in British Columbia, Alberta, Sas katchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Ter ritories and Yukon) and sell out quickly.
Following up on the success of Sitka Legends and Greenade, two new craft brands are get ting ready to roll out.
Kahoona will be making a splash (had to, sorry) with their Rip Tide and Tidal Wave SKUs. The THCa diamond-infused pre-rolls will fea ture a rotation of Sativa and Indica strains which will be labeled on the package so folks know exactly what they are buying and can easily identify the limited edition, single-strain, small batch releases.
Glasshouse, Sitka’s concentrate brand, will feature premium shatter that has been hydrocarbon processed from the micro-park’s craft flower. Staying true to the adage “qual ity in, quality out”, extract-heads can ex pect a super terpy, flavourful product made from some of the best flower in the country.
Buying cannabis isn’t what it used to be, leaving many nostalgic for big, glass jars that would stink up a room as you were handed a nug to sniff and squish. However, Sitka is com mitted to providing that bag appeal at home.
By regularly checking in with the mi cro-growers, Sitka is able to share distributor, retail and consumer insights that help direct strain and format selection to serve the legal market. Having established a recognizable brand with Greenade and with top-notch strains like G13 Triangle and Dragon Fruit Mints and Grease Monkey, through Sitka Leg
With skin in the game, Sitka wants to bring along as many talented growers as possible to support those that helped create this industry long before the government came to play and give consumers a truly great cannabis experi ence that reminds them of the good ol’ days.
Keeping up with tradition while forging a future for craft cannabis, Sitka is where leg ends grow.
For more information visit sitkalegends.com and visit ther instagram @sitka.legends.
“The micro-park is home to 10 micro-cultivators, who were selected from over 400 applicants. With a true dedication to bringing craft cannabis to Canada, Sitka focuses on partnering with growers with unique plant genetics that have robust terpene profiles, highTHC, and big yields.”
Truss Beverage announced the launch of House of Terpenes Canntinis, the first cannabis-infused cocktails in Canada. Crafted with award-winning mixologists from Quell, Canntinis will launch with two ‘cocktail’ flavours that are true-totaste offering a superior cocktail experience for those seeking a delicious alternative to alcohol:
Cranberry Citrus: Inspired by the timeless Cosmopolitan with notes of tart cranberry, lime, orange zest & terpineol.
Ginger Lime: Inspired by the beloved Mule with notes of ginger beer, lime and curcumene.
Each features 10mg THC each, Canntinis addresses the growing consumer demand for high-potency CIBs, accounting for 67%+ of all CIB sales in Canada.
Glitches – A first-of-its-kind high-potency chewable extract, delivering 10mg THC per piece. Available in two flavours: Pomegranate Berry (10 x 10mg) and Pineapple Coconut (5 x 10mg).
Ultra Grape Kush (3.5g flower) –A mix of MK Ultra and Elite Kush genetics, this proprietary indica cultivar delivers 20-26% THC and incredible grape and gas aromas.
Aurora patients will have access to the largest-ever selection of products and formats on Aurora Medical. Alongside more than 60 new products on the channel will be Aurora’s full portfolio of adultuse cannabis brands, including Being Quickstrips, Greybeard premium flower, a wider selection of pre-rolls, new concentrates such as hash and live resin diamonds and sauce, and a new offering of minor cannabinoid (CBN) oils.
Canopy Growth Corporation announced an extension of its Ace Valley brand portfolio with the launch of Lust Cherry Rose and Thrust Watermelon Goji. These two new, distinctly-flavoured, gummies are the first of their kind in the Canadian market, celebrating the intersection of cannabis and sex positivity by empowering consumers to enhance their personal experiences.
Ace Valley Lust Cherry Rose Gummies feature a juicy flavour, botanical extracts and are infused with 25mg of CBD and 2.5mg of THC per gummy, with the sweet, yet delicate, taste of cherry and rose blossoms. Each gummy also features a cool tingle on your tongue, activating your senses.
Ace Valley Thrust Watermelon Goji Gummies are infused with 5mg THC per gummy, each with a burst of watermelon and a tickle of goji berry flavour, along with a hint of naturally occurring caffeine.
PAX, a leading global cannabis brand, announced the launch of its fresh pressed Live Rosin with Natural Terpenes and THC for use with its PAX Era devices in Ontario. This disruptive product offers full flower, high quality and potency that builds on over a decade of innovation. PAX Live Rosin with Natural Terpenes and THC is available in the brand’s new 1G pods, expertly engineered with a ceramic atomizer for increased consistency and temperature control. PAX’s fresh pressed Live Rosin is full flower, 100% natural, and made without harsh solvents. Combined with natural terpenes and THC, it delivers a pure, potent vaporization experience with no combustion byproducts.
PAX’s initial lineup will feature three classic and contemporary cultivars at launch, including Blue Dream (Sativa), Blueberry OG (Indica), and Guava GLTO (Hybrid). Starting at $59.99 CAD for 1G, pods are available in dispensaries across Ontario.
By Malcolm Boyle, KC, Dominique Fontaine & Alex Warshick
Every employer has an employment contract with every employee - even when there’s “nothing in writing”. A well-drafted written employment contract is key to avoiding or re solving disputes throughout, and saving the employ er time and money at the end of the employment re lationship. However, it’s important to get the wording right; there are many legal technicalities, and courts scrutinize employment contracts closely, generally interpreting them to protect employees. It’s equal ly important to properly implement the contract; the terms must be set before the employee starts working, and the employer can’t unilaterally change the fundamental terms of the employment relation ship unless it gives the employee appropriate notice or “consideration” (something new of value in ex change). While employers should review each em ployment contract and make necessary adjustments for the circumstances, just about every employment contract should include these 10 terms.
1. Termination Clause. The COVID-19 pandemic il lustrated the value of including a termination clause in an employment contract, as COVID-19 shut busi nesses down, employers were forced to terminate employees’ employment – and some courts decided COVID-19’s economic impact extended the length of reasonable notice to which employees were enti tled. A termination clause is intended to displace an employee’s entitlement to “reasonable notice” upon termination without cause by setting out the employ ee’s notice entitlement. The law generally presumes an employer can terminate a contract of “indefinite duration” (versus fixed term) without cause by giv ing the employee “reasonable notice”, save some statutory exceptions. But “reasonable notice” is un certain because it’s individually assessed at the time of termination based on several factors. Employers can often rebut the “reasonable notice” presump tion, giving it and the employee certainty, with an enforceable termination clause. However, take care: courts interpret termination clauses very strictly and in employees’ favour, so precise wording ensuring all the legal requirements are satisfied is crucial to enforceability.
2. Temporary Layoff Clause. As a general rule, lay ing off an employee without the contractual right to do so amounts to constructive dismissal: a breach of a fundamental term of the employee’s employ ment allowing the employee to treat their employ ment as terminated without cause, and to claim the same entitlements as if the employer had expressly dismissed them: statutory notice or pay in lieu of notice, reasonable notice, severance (where appli cable), or reinstatement (in a unionized context). The COVID-19 pandemic similarly illustrated the value of a temporary layoff clause in an employment contract. While many employees accepted temporary layoffs during COVID-19, even in the absence of a contrac
tual clause, believing it to be the best alternative in the circumstances and hoping to be recalled, not all did so. Courts decided that those employees were constructively dismissed, and found the employers liable for notice. However, ensure the clause is com pliant with provincial employment standards legisla tion; each jurisdiction has different rules for lay-offs.
3. Probationary Period. A probationary period to determine whether the candidate is suitable for em ployment can be valuable, allowing the employer to terminate the employee’s employment during it without cause and without notice (or with minimal notice), provided the clause complies with the min imum notice required under employment standards laws.
4. Fixed Term. If the contract is for a fixed term, make that clear and specify the notice to which the employee is entitled upon early termination of the contract, or risk paying the remaining balance of the term.
5. Permitted / Prohibited Activities. The prolifer ation of “work from home” arrangements has led to another recent trend: “overemployment”, where employees work for multiple different employers, at the same time, and without the knowledge of any of the employers. An employer doesn’t automatically have cause to terminate a “moonlighting” employ ee. Make clear whether the employee is permitted to or prohibited from undertaking other activities, for or without pay, during their employment without the employer’s prior (ideally written) consent. Also consider whether to include a term requiring the employee to work from a particular jurisdiction, and requiring they seek approval (and, if approved, sign a revised contract) if they seek to move and work from another jurisdiction. Generally, employers must comply with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the employee is performing the work, so a remote em ployee’s permanent move to another jurisdiction could change the employer’s legal obligations.
6. Obsolescence Clause. While it’s always prefera ble to make changes to the employment contract in writing, an obsolescence clause stipulates the con tract continues to apply even if the employee’s role or compensation changes, with the intent of ensur ing it remains enforceable even if the employment relationship fundamentally changes between the dates it’s signed and the employment ends.
7. Severability & Interpretation Clause. “Legalese” that can save the day, a severability clause states any legally unenforceable term(s) of the contract are severed from it, without affecting the enforceability of the other contract terms. For example, it’s been used to sever an unenforceable probationary clause and leave an enforceable termination clause stand
ing. However, courts have interpreted even sep arate clauses dealing with termination with cause and termination without cause as a single clause, so a severability to clause won’t necessarily save a “without cause” termination clause if the “for cause” termination clause isn’t enforceable. For this reason, it’s helpful to also include an interpretation provi sion - sometimes called a “fail-safe” or “minimum entitlements” provision - that states the terms of the contract should be read consistently with applica ble employment standards legislation such that the employer will, in all instances, provide the employee with their minimum statutory entitlements.
8. Non-solicitation &/or Non-competition clause. Employers can often protect against financial loss with a non-solicitation &/or non-competition clause limiting an employee’s ability to compete and/or to solicit their (former) employer’s customers and em ployees. But non-competition clauses, in particular, are notoriously difficult to enforce: the employer must prove it protects a legitimate proprietary in terest and are reasonable in duration, geographic scope and the nature of the activities prohibited. And recently, Ontario amended its employment stan dards legislation to prohibit non-competition clauses except in very limited circumstances. Non-solicita tion clauses are less restrictive of employees’ ability to earn a living, often sufficient to protect the em ployer’s interests, and, provided they’re reasonable, generally easier to enforce.
9. Protection of Intellectual Property, Confiden tiality & Non-Disclosure. Intellectual property (IP) and confidential information can be an employer’s biggest asset. Safeguard them with protection of in tellectual property, confidentiality & non-disclosure clauses that addresses who owns any IP the em ployee develops, defines what it covers and what’s confidential, requires the employee to acknowledge how they will or did gain it, and continues the obliga tion post-termination.
10. Entire Agreement Clause. Another “legalese” clause valuable in a dispute, an entire agreement clause states the written contract is the complete and only contract and supersedes any prior agree ments the employer and employee might have made about the employment to mitigate against a claim there are contract terms in addition to those in the last written employment contract.
Malcolm Boyle, KC, Dominique Fontaine and Alex Warshick are Labour & Employment Lawyers at McInnes Cooper.
This article is information only; it is not legal advice. McInnes Cooper excludes all liability for anything contained in or any use of this article. © McInnes Cooper, 2016. All rights reserved.
r e t a i l & b r a n d d i s c o v e r y z o n e s
c o n n e c t i n g b u d t e n d e r s , g r o w e r s & c o n s u m e r s w i t h w i t h c a n n a b i s r e t a i l e r s & b r a n d s !
r e g i s t e r t o d a y a t l i f t e x p o . c a
c o n f e r e n c e & t r a d e s h o w
By Joel Stevens
Working in cannabis often feels like a never-ending deluge of products, knowledge and constantly chang ing regulations. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the retail level. Regard less of what province you work in or your posi tion in cannabis retail, eventually routine sets in. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information at any given time, or the endless number of tasks that need to be accom plished on any given day. But it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Finding ways to stay motivat ed and productive is key to any retail business’s success. That said, here are five ways cannabis retailers can increase productivity, for them selves and their teams:
While no one will disagree that budtenders are some of the hardest, passionate workers in the cannabis industry, sometimes it takes a little in centive to get your employees motivated. As the old adage goes, you catch more flies with hon ey than you do with vinegar. While rewards like gift cards and cash incentives will always reign supreme, consider the numerous ways you can passively reward your employees with almost little to no effort on your part. Does your current online platform offer rewards for completing training courses? Do your employees receive free or discounted cannabis product samples from participating brands? Do your budtenders get perks for giving product reviews, feedback and sharing their thoughts with the cannabis community? Whether it’s learning about new products on their downtime or keeping up with the latest training, consider the passive ways in which you can incentivize your employees.
While frontline operations in dealing directly with your customers is the cornerstone to any successful business, just as important (if not more so) are all tedious tasks every retailer encounters maintaining a successful cannabis store. These back-office chores come in many varieties: course scheduling, progress tracking, document management and store/chain com
munications to staff on a timely basis with the ability to confirm the message was read, just to name a few. It’s not glamourous or sexy. It’s a necessary evil that every cannabis retailer has to deal with in order to run an effective oper ating business. Make sure you have a software provider that’s able to disseminate information quickly and effectively to all levels of staff in your business, especially your front-line sales team at the point of sale. Also make sure your team has easy access to this type of information on any device at any time.
CENTRALIZE YOUR PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE
When it comes to product knowledge not all sources are created equal. Where you get your info on new and existing products is just as important as the information itself. The aver age budtender gets this from various sources: the brand’s website, their provincial wholesal er, apps like Leafly & Weedmaps, Reddit or by directly interacting with their sales rep (mostly likely via email). Between the sheer number of LPs, brands and hundreds of new SKUs that come through the pipeline any given month, it’s impossible to ask your budtenders to keep track of every single SKU. But they should learn about the new products you are bringing into stock. One easy solution is to centralize all of your product knowledge from a single source such as BudBrain, which is searchable so you find what you are looking for easily and quickly. Make sure you have an online platform that stores an ex tensive list of sell-sheets, strain cards and other product knowledge & brand information to save your employees time and money in the long-run. It is all about doing a great job serving custom ers with relevant information.
ONBOARD NEW EMPLOYEES QUICKLY & EFFECTIVELY
Consider the following scenario: you’re a sin gle-store or multi-store cannabis retailer with a fairly regular turnover of employees. What is your gameplan when it comes to onboarding and training? No one will argue that it takes a lot of time and effort to onboard new employ ees. While hands-on education will always be key for any new employees, so too is ongoing
online training in the absence of a training-lead colleague in the store. A document manage ment system enables staff to access new hire on-boarding documents, human-resource pol icies, internal communications and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). All this is import ant for both employer and employee, to ensure consistent training and knowledge across your business.
It’s one thing to train a new employee as to the policies and procedures of a retail store already in place, it’s another matter to provide consis tent, ongoing training to your team over time. Whether it’s professional development courses, cannabis education training or extensive materi als on certain cannabis and accessory products, having your budtenders being able to have easy access to these materials is crucial for you and your team to be up-to-date in the latest prod uct knowledge in the cannabis space. Equally important is the ability to coordinate ongoing workshops, seminars and other related training. Make sure you are using a software platform that proactively manages the scheduling and assignment of your team’s training as well as one that’s able to track their learning progress.
The cannabis industry is ever-changing, with dozens of new products being released every month. It’s impossible to be up-to-date on ev erything 100% of the time. No cannabis man agement software is perfect and there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, but if your cannabis store is lagging behind one or more of the reasons listed previously, maybe it’s time to consider upgrading or outright switching to a technology platform capable of making your operations more productive and efficient.
Joel Stevens is the founder of BudBrain.ca. Joel founded & operated three Bud Heaven cannabis stores in Muskoka, Ontario and sold them in the summer of 2022. Prior, Joel was VP, General Manager of Open Fields Distribution (Saskatchewan) and VP, Purchasing for Fire & Flower retail stores.
By Christina Michael, The Entourage Co.
On August 15, 2022, the B.C. Li quor Distribution Brand (BCLDB) launched the nation’s first Direct De livery program with intention to lev el the playing field authorizing nurseries and small-scale cultivators to produce up to 3,000 kilograms of cannabis annually and direct de liver to retailers. This first of its kind program is one step closer toward revitalizing B.C.’s lega cy to having a legal cannabis market rooted in strengthened relationships between growers and retailers. Working together is vital for the future of the industry to provide the best and freshest cannabis (as well as cannabis-derived products) to B.C. residents and visitors pur chasing B.C. bud legally for the first time.
The program is a slow roll so far with high hopes for the province’s licensed nurseries, micro-cultivators and B.C.-based brands to gain momentum in 2023. For many community members working diligently to create the best way forward, it’s about using old-school meth ods in a new logistical framework, coupled with a slew of new rules to follow as well.
After speaking with notable growers, brands and independent retailers in B.C. the key takeaway is a unified intention to continu ously deliver and receive fresh drops with little, if any, disruption, while improving cash flow for the industry holistically. Village Bloomery, one of Vancouver’s burgeoning independent retail ers, is one store owner actively ordering via direct delivery. Long-time cannabis advocate and co-founder of Village Bloomery, Andrea Dobbs, shares her experience so far and hopes for the future, “It’s been really validating getting back in touch with people who are close to the plant. There’s a sense of camaraderie in order ing direct. It is going to take some time to allo cate the bulk of our buying directly over to the growers. I never want to be in a place where my supply chain can simply pull the plug.”
Ryan Graham, owner of Bluewater Cannabis, who operates locations in Penticton and Oliver, was an early adopter of the program and looks forward to new products on its shelves in 2023, “‘The [B.C.] strike showed us that this industry unfortunately is far too dependent and at the mercy of the LDB. Direct Delivery is a game changer, one we have absolutely embraced. The incredible efforts from the small LPs and
passion getting product to store throughout this province like Kayla Mann from Cake & Cav iar driving days on end throughout B.C to keep retailers afloat is so incredibly amazing!! It’s what this industry should be about the people, the relationships, the collaboration and finally partnerships.”
Dylan King, co-founder and CEO Pistol and Paris, a licensed producer operating out of Agassiz, British Columbia, expects to receive its processing license any day now, allowing it to laser focus on B.C. for 2023. “Being able to buy flower that was processed days before it ends up in consumers’ hands is the freshest possible product, just like back in the legacy days.” This is a priority for King and his team, along with acknowledging how massive a par adigm direct delivery is for both growers and retailers.
He plans on delivering twice a week in the lower mainland and, in some cases, will go as far as same-day deliveries if retailers are in a pinch and need product immediately. “[Prior to legalization] when we filled orders, we used to scramble getting buyers filled up, so they didn’t miss their ‘TP’, which was the legacy term meaning transportation.”
He goes on to say that he hopes B.C. transitions to a 100% direct delivery program, mitigating rapid transportation vehicles (RTVs), product sitting in warehouses with uncon trolled temperatures, and a better respect for the overall product. According to King, when compared with the new delivery program, the process is long and arduous, “when I get a purchase order then deliver the flower in to be warehoused, only for my products to then be delivered to a retailer, it takes over a month and there’s a ton of moving parts.”
It’s understandable that, while the current process for ordering directly from the BCLDB is convenient, with intentions like King and many other B.C. cannabis producers, direct delivery will shape consumer demand for fresh prod ucts and will undoubtedly increase over time. It’s commitment, passion and community spirit that will bring B.C. bud back to life. King also wants retailers to watch for his Pistol and Paris van and helicopter making deliveries starting 2023. “It’s coming and BC is our focus!”
Here are some of the key eligibility criteria that must be met to be eligible for participation in the LDB Direct Delivery Program. Full eligibility criteria can be found at the Terms and Conditions section below.
» The raw materials for the products produced by a processor for direct delivery must be directly sourced from eligible licensed cannabis cultivators located in the province of British Columbia.
» Subject to some exceptions as fully described under the Terms and Conditions tab below, to be eligible for the LDB Direct Delivery Program, BC cannabis cultivators must produce less than 3,000 kg of dried, unpackaged cannabis on an annual basis (calendar year).
» The annual production volume of cultivation sites under common ownership may be counted towards the total production volume cap. See the details related to the definition and calculation for annual production volume in the related sections below.
» The eligible BC cultivator must be registered for the program with the LDB prior to a direct delivery product registration request being made. The cultivator will be asked for documentation to show that they remain eligible for the program on an annual basis or as otherwise required.
» For each product submitted by the processor, the raw materials must be directly and solely sourced from an eligible BC cultivator and the cultivator must be declared at the time of registration.
» There are different categories of direct delivery participation with different terms and conditions applicable to each. Applicable categories include: Standard Direct Delivery, Section 119 Indigenous Nations Direct Delivery, and Production Retail Store Direct Delivery. Cultivators must declare the direct delivery category or categories that they intend to participate under at the time of registration.
As of late October cannabis consumers in Toronto are allowed to order cannabis products thanks to a partnership between Uber Eats, the online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in 2014, and Leafly, an online cannabis marketplace and information resource. According to Leafly, this is the first time a cannabis delivery will be available on a major third-party delivery platform worldwide.
For its first quarter that ended June 18, 2022, the activities of the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) generated $54 million for the Québec government. The company reported net income of $20.5 million for the quarter. To that can be added the $33.5 million in tax revenue resulting from its operations in the form of consumer and excise taxes, bringing the total to $54 million. The SQDC’s overall sales for the period from March 27 to June 18, 2022, reached $139 million, compared with $136.5 million for the first quarter of the preceding fiscal year. A total of 25,050 kg of cannabis was legally sold during the period.
Fire & Flower Holdings Corp.’s subsidiary has received permission from regulatory authorities to operate a cross-docking pot logistics and distribution facility in Manitoba.The cannabis retailer said that its subsidiary Open Fields Distribution or 10926671 Canada Ltd. has received its licence from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba. With the licence in hand, the facility has begun to offer distribution and logistics services to licensed producers in the province. The company says it has gathered logistics expertise after acquiring Pineapple Express Delivery in early 2022.
Creso Pharma Ltd. welcomed the purchase orders Canadian subsidiary, Mernova Medicinal Inc., has received from leading Saskatchewan-based cannabis wholesale distributor Weed Pool Cannabis Co-operative. The two purchase orders, valued at US$279,256, are for Mernova’s Ritual Green dried cannabis flower products and its pre-roll joint range, sold under the Ritual Sticks brand. They are the largest orders Mernova has ever secured for Saskatchewan and the largest individual order received from any market outside Nova Scotia since the unit’s inception.
Alberta Municipalities, or ABMunis, is passing the resolution on to the Alberta government, adding to a growing list of similar concerns raised by other cities and towns in Canada. The resolution, sponsored by the Village of Duchess and adopted in September, calls on the federal government to place a “reasonable limit on the number of plants that can be grown in a residential property or within property in a residential zoned district to preserve the health and safety of our communities.” The language of the resolution mirrors resolutions passed by other municipalities and municipal groups such as the RMA (Rural Municipalities of Alberta) and argues federal regulations that can allow large plant counts are a potential threat to community health and safety.
Of the current 361 micro licence holders in Canada, British Columbia is currently home to the most, with 84, followed by Ontario with 81, and Quebec with 80. Of the 361 micro licences currently listed as active, micro cultivation is the most common with 226. Another 44 are micro-processing licences, and 91 are listed as micro-processing and micro-cultivation sites. Thirty-one of these have a medical sales licence, as well.
Middle and high school students are being educated about the risks of impaired driving and empowered to protect themselves and their peers through a powerful new education program from MADD Canada and Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission (PEI Liquor). PEI Liquor is bringing the sober driving message to thousands of students by directly sponsoring 20 presentations.
The NSLC released its second quarter financial results (July 4, 2022October 2, 2022), reporting a 5.7% increase in earnings for a total of $82.8 million. Total sales for the quarter were up 5.2% to $239.4 million with an increase in both cannabis and beverage alcohol sales. There was an 8.3% increase in cannabis sales to $28.8 million.
A recent study by researchers in Newfoundland and Labrador shows some changes in youth use rates and perceptions of cannabis one year after legalization. The study, published in October in The Journal of Adolescent Health (JAH), concludes that cannabis legalization in Canada was associated with a greater perception of cannabis harm among young people, but also easier access to cannabis. Although researchers say there is evidence that legalization was associated with an increase in cannabis initiation rates among young Canadians, there was also no significant increase in the overall prevalence of cannabis use among youths. It concluded that additional policy measures are needed to curb youth cannabis initiation and their access to cannabis, but also notes a possible increase in cessation among existing users.
Cannabis NB is expanding the retail model in New Brunswick to include private retail stores. Private retail is part of Cannabis NB’s model evolution strategy which will provide more convenience to consumers and better access to safe legal products for New Brunswickers. Private retail stores will not be Cannabis NB stores, and will be owned and operated privately under their own brands. They will be legal and licensed to sell cannabis in New Brunswick, and will offer a full portfolio of legal, regulated products across all categories, sourced from Cannabis NB.
Cannabis NB has expanded its store network to include new stores in Saint John and Moncton, New Brunswick. The Saint John location at 20 Plaza Ave opened Sept. 30, and the Moncton location at 50 Granite Drive opened Thursday, Oct. 6.
The Yukon Liquor Corporation’s Cannabis Yukon website has bowed out of selling cannabis products to citizens in the territory, completing its plan to leave marijuana e-commerce to private licensees. The website will now be repurposed to provide wholesale purchasing options to licensed retailers in the territory, notes a statement from the government. With the announcement, private retailers will now operate all cannabis retail locations, as well as online sales and delivery. / In early November the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) passed Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, to address various administrative matters, among them to formalize the name for the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
Innovative Canadian tech startup, Djot, unveiled the latest design of its industry-leading Djot Dispenser; the newly-designed dispensing technology delivers personalized and precise cannabis dosing at the touch of a button. The patented Djot Dispenser, dubbed the “Keurig of cannabis” precisely delivers doses of one to 10mg of watersoluble THC and CBD concentrate into any beverage for a truly tailored cannabis experience. The disruptive technology eliminates concerns of smoke and vapour inhalation and offers added discretion for health and wellness consumers. The latest Djot Dispenser design features new sleek, bevelled contours with a larger display screen, streamlined button functionality, ergonomic rubber casing, and safety passcode. The easy-to-use device is complete with new light indicators displaying when the device is calibrated and ready to use. The Djot Dispenser is set to launch in Q1 of 2023. For more information, please visit www.Djot.com.
Cannabis Compounding Rooms are designed to meet ISO 5 - ISO 8. The structural framework is of aircraft anodized aluminum with clear vinyl curtains providing access to the gowning room on front of unit. The curtains can be strips or solid depending on restriction of access in clear or opaque white vinyl. Fan powered HEPA filter and fluorescent lighting modules along with blank ceiling tiles are positioned into a ceiling grid system and optional entry airlocks can be incorporated into the design. The HEPA filter modules have power cords and speed controls and can operate on 115v or 220v power. Please visit HEMCO www.CannabisLabSolutions.com or call 800-779-4362.
The M+ Trimming System by Greenbroz Inc. allows a precise processing rate of 30 pounds per hour. The system integrates several features to maximize the trimming process, including metered feeding of the Rise Conveyor, automatic doors for unloading the product, and programmable custom recipes for strains. The M+ operates using GreenBroz’s patented rolling blades that don’t damage trichomes or over-trim flower. Human touchpoints are minimized, eliminating contamination risk and ensuring consistency. Made from surgical stainless steel and food-grade materials to prevent microbial growth, this machine reduces cleaning time and ensures it meets GMP standards. It can be combined with other GreenBroz equipment such as Precision Sorter or Model G Precision Grinder to create complete end-to-end solutions. For more information visit www.greenbroz.com.
Restek’s new 100 ppm Canadian pesticide certified reference material (CRM) kits contain the 96 compounds required by Canadian cannabis regulations, streamlining standard preparation and saving your laboratory valuable time and money. Restek’s ISO-accredited lab manufactures and maintains an inventory of two highly stable independent lots, with verified lot-to-lot agreement, providing you with the highest degree of certainty in measurements. Deactivated glass vials are included with every standard for storage of unused portions with minimal compound degradation. For more information click here: https://www.mandel.ca/ rsk-32592
Working with our Members we are pushing for urgent change to ensure the financial viabilty of our sector. Learn more about our current priorities or apply to join at cannabis-council.ca.
