Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s federal and provincial governments earned $186 million in tax revenues from direct sales of cannabis in the first 5-1/2 months of legalization, Statistics Canada data showed on Wednesday, after two major provinces cut their revenue forecasts. Statistics Canada found Ottawa collected a combined $55 million in revenue via federal excise […] Read more

Cannabis tax revenue below projections in early months

Cannabis edibles clear for legal launch before year-end
Reading Time: 2 minutes Food products containing cannabis are expected to be on the retail market by mid-December at the earliest under new federal regulations announced Friday. Health Canada on Friday announced amendments to the Cannabis Regulations will be published June 26 to come into force Oct. 17, laying out rules for legal production and sale of edible cannabis, […] Read more

Canada’s realized net farm income way down in 2018
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stagnant farm cash receipts against significant increases in feed, fuel and interest costs have led to Canada’s biggest decline in realized net farm income in over a decade. That’s according to Statistics Canada, which on Tuesday released full-year farm income data for 2018, pegging realized net farm income for the year at $3.9 billion, down […] Read more

Grow facilities now required up front for new cannabis producers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Growers and processors seeking federal licenses to produce and/or process cannabis in Canada will now have to have their proposed sites “fully built” before they even apply. Health Canada announced Wednesday that the change takes effect immediately, saying it would better line up the cannabis sector with the approach the department already follows for approvals […] Read more

Aurora Cannabis to buy up all of processor Hempco
Reading Time: 2 minutes Edmonton cannabis company Aurora Cannabis is set to buy up the balance it doesn’t already own in hemp processing firm Hempco Food and Fiber. Aurora announced Tuesday it will pay $1.04 a share for the remaining shares of Vancouver-based Hempco, which makes and sells Planet Hemp hemp-based foods and Praise hemp-based supplements for dogs and […] Read more

Ontario chamber makes recommendations to boost cannabis sector
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters –The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) on Thursday made several recommendations that address issues affecting the province’s booming marijuana industry, including having a common excise stamp to help cannabis makers ship their products smoothly. The industry body also recommended bolstering Health Canada, the country’s health regulator, so that it can issue licenses to facilities […] Read more

Farm groups see something for everyone in federal budget
Reading Time: 4 minutes Response so far from farm and agribusiness organizations to Tuesday’s pre-election budget suggests the federal government has managed to find at least one line item for everyone in the ag sector. Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget pledges compensation for supply-managed sectors facing financial hits from international trade pacts, funding for a new federal food policy […] Read more

Input Capital to consider company sale, merger, cannabis
Reading Time: 2 minutes Possible options including a sale, merger or moving into the cannabis business are now on the table for “commodity streaming” canola firm Input Capital Corp. Regina-based Input, which trades publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange, announced Wednesday its board has launched a “comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.” The review, which will […] Read more

U.S. firm launches second hostile bid for pot producer Aphria
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. cannabis retailer Green Growth Brands said on Tuesday it would make a second all-stock takeover bid for Aphria, valuing the Canadian pot producer at about $2.35 billion. Several companies are looking to partner with or buy pot firms to explore opportunities in the Canadian cannabis sector after the country legalized recreational use […] Read more

Ontario marijuana producer Aphria’s CEO to step down
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Canadian pot producer Aphria’s co-founder and CEO Vic Neufeld is stepping down, at a time the company is facing questions about its deals in Latin America and a recent slump in its shares. The Leamington, Ont. company also said its marijuana sales nearly doubled in the second quarter driving overall revenue to $21.7 […] Read more