Grow Life 420

Ontario-based Canopy Growth Corp., says it will close five of its cannabis growing locations as it looks to get back in the black.

The recreational cannabis giant says it will close its facilities in St. John’s, N.L., and Fredericton, N.B., Edmonton, Alta., and Bowmanville, Ont., as well as its outdoor cannabis growing operations in Saskatchewan.

Approximately 220 people are expected to be laid off as part of the decision, the company confirmed in a press release Wednesday.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it is indefinitely pausing operations at one of its Alberta facilities and laying off a few dozen staff.

The Edmonton-based cannabis company says the pause will occur at its Aurora Sun property in Medicine Hat, where it will layoff about 30 workers.

Aurora spokeswoman Michelle Lefler says that the moves are expected to be complete around Dec. 18.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

They’re considered essential but you will not find anyone inside pot shops in Toronto and Peel Region, the provinces two lockdown zones.

“All we’re asking for is an opportunity to do right by our customers in the community, have a consistent playing field and, you know, honestly, if the government was running cannabis stores, I wonder if they’d be open today like the liquor and beer stores,” said Sam Vanverveer, the vice-president at Sessions Cannabis in Toronto.

The cannabis industry is reaching out to the province asking elected officials to reconsider shuttering storefronts. Only curbside pickup and delivery is available during the 28-day lockdown period — unlike the LCBO, which is also deemed essential where a customer can walk into a retail store.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

A Saskatoon man is calling for Health Canada to approve medicinal cannabis products for therapeutic use so he won’t go hungry.

Aaron Unger said it’s a much better way to deal with his chronic pain than to use opioid-based medication, which he was previously prescribed and says he’s afraid to use again.

“I believe that if I go back on opioids, I will die of an overdose,” he told Global News.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says an update on the future of Cannabis NB will be coming soon.

“An update on the Cannabis NB RFP process will be available after the new government is sworn in,” Higgs said in a statement on Tuesday.

Higgs likely means a decision will come by the time his new cabinet is sworn-in. The results of the election earlier this month, in which Higgs and the PCs earned a majority government, mean Higgs’ government was never technically out of power.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

Two years since recreational use of marijuana was legalized across the country, Manitoba’s cannabis authority is exploring the possibility of providing licensing to allow businesses like restaurants and spas to offer cannabis products.

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba is launching numerous campaigns geared toward gauging the interest of businesses and consumers in expanding the availability of cannabis products.

As part of the initiative, the LGCA is working with Leger, a market research and analytics firm, to survey a sample of Manitobans about authorizing licensed cannabis consumption spaces.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

Ontario’s private cannabis stores will have to give up offering delivery and curbside pickup next week — and they’re not happy about it.

The stores were allowed to start offering both services in April under a temporary emergency order the Ontario government issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the province is working on extending its state of emergency until July 24, orders that allowed delivery and curbside pickup won’t continue and the services will have to cease on July 15.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says co-founder Terry Booth has retired from the company’s board of directors.

Booth stepped down as chief executive in February, but had remained a member of the board of the cannabis company.

Michael Singer, Aurora’s executive chairman and interim CEO, says Booth helped set the table for the company to lead in Canada and around the world.

– Read the entire article at Global News.

Manitoba could see new players in the local cannabis market, after Crown Services minister Jeff Wharton announced Friday that the province’s pot retail application process will be open to all prospective retailers.

“We are pleased to open the market further by allowing more retailers to apply for retail licences,” said Wharton.

“This move will enable local entrepreneurs to create jobs and support Manitoba’s economy, which is a critical step as we work toward rebuilding Manitoba in the wake of COVID-19.”

– Read the entire article at Global News.