For all the manufacturers in the cannabis industry – you’ve seen this rush before, so buckle your seat belt, because here we go again. Every company wants their new class products (extracts, edibles, and topicals) to be the first on store shelves by the end of this year. But, are you sacrificing quality in order to gain speed? It’s no secret that vapes (and their major concerns around consumer safety) are in the hot seat. The pressure is on for manufacturers to deliver a safe and reliable product in anticipation of December 2019, when sales in Canada will commence. Before we dive a little deep ..read more

Have you heard the word? Have you heard the new “buzzword”? PCP (also known as Preventive Control Plan) is swiftly making its way around the cannabis industry, and for good reason. It’s a critical component that all licensed processors of edibles and extracts must be mindful of and adhere to – which is especially true since cannabis legalization 2.0 (coming into effect on October 17th) is right around the corner. Let’s now take a closer look at the PCP and its significance to you and the success of your operation. What is a PCP? Preventive Control Plans are very detailed analyses, plans and re ..read more

One of Health Canada’s mandates in the legalization of cannabis is protecting the health of young people by restricting their access to cannabis products. The promotional sections of the Cannabis Act contain some specific restrictions to support this goal: Advertisements containing depictions of characters and animals and those that evoke glamour, vitality, risk, and daring, all of which could be considered appealing to youth are expressly prohibited. Subdivision A of Canada’s Cannabis Act, which lays out expectations for cannabis promotions, also contains a broader and less well-defined prohi ..read more

The prevalence of cannabis odour has been a concern for municipalities and their residents. Metro Vancouver has seen an influx of complaints and has moved to address this issue. Odour is one of the top municipal concerns when new licence applicants are trying to get a jurisdiction on board with their build plans, as such, odour control is often included in the applicant’s presentations to municipalities, and is also often the subject of spirited Q&A sessions with the public. Terpenes, the aromatic component of cannabis that connoisseurs appreciate – can also get a cannabis company in troub ..read more

Cannabis contains several phytocannabinoid compounds, including the well-known THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), and non-cannabinoid compounds, such as terpenoids and flavonoids. While structurally similar to THC, CBD is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid. CBD has been studied for its therapeutic treatment potential for neuropathic pain, cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, inflammation, and more.1-5 CBD’s regulatory status in Canada is the subject of much interest and debate, and there are differences between expectations and what ultimately came to pass. In November 2017 ..read more

On July 3, 2019, the government of Ontario announced plans to open 50 new cannabis retail stores across Ontario. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will hold a lottery on August 20, 2019 for 42 of the locations. The remaining eight stores will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to First Nations Reserves that have received Band Council approval in a process separate from the lottery. The announcement comes after the Ontario Minister of Finance, Vic Fedeli, presented the 2019/20 provincial budget last April offering an insight into a pre-qualification process that ..read more

The publication of the Regulations Amending the Cannabis Regulations (New Classes of Cannabis) in the Canada Gazette II on June 26th, 2019 finalizes the framework for edible cannabis products in Canada, but there are still many questions producers are asking themselves. Based on the regulations, commercial manufacturing of edible cannabis products falls under the Micro Processing and Standard Processing Licences. Those holding Processing Licences for cannabis oil from Health Canada can start manufacturing edible cannabis products now, and these products can be commercialized after the new regu ..read more

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) has re-opened its doors and is accepting new applications for Cannabis Retail Stores as per the Information Bulletin released May 30th, 2019. The AGLC decided to lift their moratorium on accepting new retail license applications and issuing new retail licenses as a result of “a steady increase in [their] cannabis supply.” The agency indicated that it currently has contracts with 26 licensed producers to meet the demands in Alberta and are ensuring that a consistent supply be maintained in order to support its economic development and the su ..read more

One of the interesting aspects of working in the Natural Health Product (NHP)/Cosmetic/Over-the-Counter (OTC or, non-prescription) space often comes down to classifying the product you hope to market. Similar products, such as varieties of toothpaste, can be subject to significantly different rules depending on what classification they fall under. If one toothpaste fights cavities with cetylpyridinium chloride, another uses sodium fluoride, and yet another claims only to clean your teeth, are these products honestly so different they warrant being subject to entirely different oversight, fees ..read more

On May 8, 2019, Health Canada announced they were changing the requirements for new cannabis facility licensing applications. This resulted in a lot of speculation on what this meant for the cannabis industry, with implications to those looking to get into the industry as well as those businesses currently in the application queue. The last five years of cannabis licensing in Canada has been turbulent and unpredictable at times, and this last round of regulation changes may feel much of the same. However, there is a silver lining to be seen with this recent round of updates. Over the years, th ..read more