Aurora Cannabis (NYSE:ACB,TSX:ACB) started shipping its cannabis softgel capsules for the Canadian medical and adult-use marijuana markets.

As quoted in the press release:

Aurora expects to commence exports to international markets in early 2019.

Smoking recreational cannabis is now legal in Canada for adults over 19 years old. According to Statistics Canada, 27 percent of people aged 15 to 24 and 13 per cent of people over 25 years old, use cannabis. That amounts to 4.6 million Canadians who currently consume products of the cannabis plant, which include marijuana and hashish.

Vancouver's reputation as the weed capital of the country is taking a hit after Statistics Canada released a new flush of data gleaned from studying sewage.

The report found that among five major Canadian cities, Vancouverites consume the least amount of pot per capita, based on the level of cannabis metabolites in samples of wastewater.

Halifax was found to have the highest rate of cannabis consumption per capita, at 1,310 micrograms per person per week, followed by Montreal at 976 micrograms, Toronto at 451 micrograms and Edmonton at 416 micrograms.

Vancouver registered just 288 microgram per person per week.

Constant back pain caused by a fall left Ash Basu in agony, so when his doctor suggested he see a cannabis specialist, he was intrigued.

The 64-year-old had no experience with marijuana, recreationally or otherwise, but had heard reports of the herb's pain-relieving potential and was eager to avoid opioids.

He was referred to a cannabis clinic and peppered the doctor with questions. He wasn't happy with what he heard.

"They didn't seem to have too much information," complains Basu, who was among several dozen seniors at a recent information session on medical marijuana in Toronto.

It was mid-summer, less than three months before Canada legalized recreational marijuana, and Vic Neufeld had a problem.

The chief executive officer of Aphria Inc. had just hired 50 people to work in the pot producer’s greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario and by the end of the first week all but eight had quit.

“Those are really hot, humid months and working in a greenhouse, as much cooling and airflow as we can provide, is still pretty darn hot in July and August,” Neufeld said in a phone interview.

While Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis is hoping more permits will be granted well before that, it’s a possibility it could take that long before the current number of licensed pot shops grows beyond the current 65, said commission spokeswoman Kaleigh Miller.

“We could get a huge amount of supply in six months, or it could be 18 months — it’s a huge flux time,” she said.

“Hopefully in the middle of that time, we’ll see a more normalized industry and supply … it’s out of our hands.”

Cannabis shortages remain in the wake of changes to the province’s supply system, said the AGLC and marijuana retailers.

A new study from Statistics Canada draws data from an unexpected source to suggest Halifax has the highest rate of cannabis consumption per capita among five urban centres across the country.

The national statistics agency launched its study in March, using a relatively new technology called wastewater-based epidemiology.

Researchers analyzed wastewater from 15 treatment plants across Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver to produce statistics on cannabis use.

The results suggest that between March and August, Halifax had the highest rate of consumption per capita, at 1,310 micrograms per person per week, with Montreal coming in second at 976.

Canadians eat or smoke anywhere between 400 to 1,600 tonnes of cannabis per year, according to a few months of sewage samples examined for the federal government.

The wide-ranging estimate, released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, is the first look at cannabis use through a new technique called wastewater-based epidemiology. The tests involve gauging traces of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, at 15 wastewater treatment plants in five different cities, including Vancouver.

After cannabis is metabolized in the body, traces of THC are left behind in human waste. Scientists collected wastewater on the second week of each month from March to August this year – before cannabis was legalized in Canada on Oct. 17.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service now has its first two Drager DrugTest 5000 drug testing devices for use in roadside checks of drivers suspected of being under the influence of marijuana or cocaine.

The units consist of a large bag containing mouth swab kits (necessary for drug impairment tests, in contrast to breathalyzer units used to test for suspected alcohol impairment), the Drager DrugTest 5000 device itself, an attached keyboard and a small printer.

Marijuana, long sneaked on to college and university campuses for use in bongs and joints, is now being grown legally at several academic institutions across the country.

Eight academic institutions have obtained licences from Health Canada to cultivate cannabis for scientific purposes, allowing them to closely study the drug that was legalized for recreational use in October.

Some received special licences a few months before legalization and will be moving to licences with fewer restrictions in the future. The University of Guelph is one of them.

Max Jones, an assistant professor in the department of agriculture, received cannabis plants several weeks ago after the school was granted a license in September.