October 17th, the date when recreational cannabis became legal in Canada, signalled a turning point in policy approaches to the popular drug not only across the country, but around the world.

Canada is only the second country and first major economy to legalize marijuana. The world looks to us for guidance and clarity as drug policies in several other countries are also relaxing.

But without any real precedent, legalization in Canada has been marred with problems. Chief among these issues is a lack of viable product.

It took less than a week for the Trump administration to kill the considerable buzz created Jan. 1 when California’s broad marijuana legalization law took effect, creating the largest legal U.S. cannabis marketplace. Then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a policy shielding state-licensed medical marijuana operators from federal drug prosecutions. The move sent a chill through the nascent legal industry. But ultimately it had little impact because federal prosecutors around the country showed little interest in going after legal operators.

Sessions, a staunch marijuana opponent, later lost his job and the cannabis industry thrived in a hugely significant year for the legal pot movement , in the United States and beyond.

Here are some highlights:

Toronto-based Canada House Wellness Group Inc. (CSE: CHV) is capping off the year by announcing the company just received a full license from Health Canada to sell oil, seeds, dried flower, and fresh cannabis products for medical purposes.

The company previously held a provisional license to provide cannabis through wholly-owned subsidiary Abba Medix Corp.

Canada House additionally does business through the subsidiaries Knalysis Technologies and Canada House Clinics Inc., which was formerly branded as Marijuana For Trauma and focused on serving veterans.

In a region known for its harsh penalties for illegal drugs, Thailand is set to become the first nation in Southeast Asia to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, writes Richard C. Paddock of New York Times.

Thailand’s military government, which has called elections for the end of February, has backed medical usage, which must be approved by the nation’s monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

By a vote of 166 to 0, the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly approved legislation this week that would allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision. Thirteen members abstained.

The measure is expected to take effect next year.

The marijuana industry has been one of the most intriguing markets to watch and participate in throughout the year. With so many legislative changes on the way, it seems as though we are only in the beginning stages of massive growth in the market.

This year we saw the first G7 nation legalize marijuana for recreational use which was a major paradigm shift for the industry. Many states in the U.S. also were able to put in new legislation for cannabis laws which has created a new sentiment across the nation. With so much in the works, what are the biggest variables for the next year in cannabis?

Licensed cannabis producers are ramping up production to address shortages that have plagued the pot market since legalization in October, but the time required to grow the average marijuana plant means consumers likely have a few more weeks to wait.

Cannabis lives up to its nickname and grows like a weed, but the plant needs as many as 18 weeks to progress from seed to harvest before it even moves on to processing and packaging.

Licensed producer CannTrust walked The Canadian Press through their cultivation and processing facilities to get a close look at the process. Here are the various life stages of the cannabis plant: from seed to plant to processing and packaging.

Israel's parliament has unanimously approved a law to permit exports of medical marijuana, allowing Israel to tap the lucrative global market.

Israel will become the third country, after the Netherlands and Canada, to take its medical cannabis global.

The Israeli medical cannabis company iCAN predicts the global industry will reach $33 billion in the next five years, as stigma fades and demand grows for the few countries certified to export.

The law was approved late Tuesday, sending cannabis company shares rising by about 10 per cent.

The law was stalled for years over fears from security officials that medical marijuana would leak into the black market. To assuage concerns, the law empowers police to supervise licensing.

A Winnipeg-based cannabis producer is facing another round of recalls for marijuana sold in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Health Canada says 14 lots of dried cannabis produced by Bonify are part of the latest recall, due to either record-keeping or labelling issues.

With eight of the lots, Health Canada says there is a labelling error where the cannabinoid values and cannabinoid totals are reverse.

Health Canada says approximately 5,883 units of recalled product were sold between Oct. 22 and Dec. 20, 2018.

Earlier this month, the agency issued a recall of two strains of Bonify cannabis products that were being sold in three stores in Saskatchewan.

This has been a year of big gains for the marijuana industry, even if it's been quite the opposite for marijuana investors, who, in many instances, have seen their pot stocks fall by 25% or more this year. In particular, it's been a year of legitimacy for the cannabis industry. In October, Canada became the first industrialized country in the world, and only the second overall, to legalize recreational pot. Though it'll take a few years for growers to ramp up their production, this legalization validates the cannabis business model and paves the way for billions of dollars in added annual sales. We also witnessed a handful of U.S.

Statistics Canada says sales at cannabis stores in the two weeks after legalization totalled $43 million.

The agency started collecting data for in-store and online sales from cannabis retailers as of Oct. 17, when fresh or dried bud, oil, plants and seeds became legal for recreational use in the country.

The first set of data released Friday as part of the agency's broader monthly retail trade figures only encompassed two weeks, but will reflect a complete reference month in the future.

Statistics Canada says different retail structures in each province and territory affected cannabis availability across the country.