Yan Boissonneault's daughter was turning blue.

Without warning, his baby had stopped breathing, and he frantically performed CPR while his friend James Gallagher called 911.

Years later, the men still become emotional remembering that day. Boissonneault learned that his daughter had a rare disorder that caused epilepsy, and when pharmaceutical medications failed to cure her seizures, he turned to CBD oil, a non-psychoactive substance in marijuana.

"It's been two years now and she hasn't had a seizure," Boissonneault said, standing next to rows of pungent marijuana plants under glowing white lights. "That's what got me involved in this. It's quite personal. ... The only profit it gives me is the joy of seeing my daughter smile."

A majority of Canadian provinces are reporting cannabis supply shortages, as Canada’s licensed cannabis producers and distributors grapple to keep up with the demand for commercial cannabis. Demand for Canada’s recreational cannabis comes from customers that were already acquiring cannabis from the illicit market, and the second source of demand comes from new customers who have never used cannabis but are ready to give it a try. Several warnings about a potential shortage were circulating in the media in the run-up to legalization, but not everyone was sure the problem would manifest.

Manitoba's cannabis regulator says stores in the province are following the rules of legalized recreational marijuana.

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba says no retailers have been fined and only two cautions have been issued since sales were legalized in October.

One caution was for a broken lock on a storage unit, which was fixed.

The other caution was given to a store that took delivery of cannabis before the shop's retail licence was issued.

Liz Stephenson, the authority's chief administrative officer, says there has been excellent co-operation from retailers.

She also says inspectors are visiting each store on a regular basis to ensure compliance with rules governing storage, signage and more.

On Dec. 9 Vancouver will host the largest cannabis conference in Canada since the federal government, on Oct. 17, legalized recreational marijuana use.

Dozens of industry experts will speak on the O’Cannabiz Conference and Expo’s many panels at the Parq Vancouver, during the event’s Dec. 9 through 11 run.

The Supreme Cannabis Co. Inc. (FIRE.V) is partnering with a cannabis company founded by hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa to bring the musician's premium pot brand to Canada, but plans to tweak the incoming product to avoid running afoul of Health Canada's marijuana marketing restrictions. 

Supreme Cannabis will  pay Khalifa, the stage name of Cameron Jibril Thomaz, $1 million in cash in addition to about 5.7 million shares in the Toronto-based pot producer in return for exclusive rights to distribute the musician's "Khalifa Kush" cannabis brand and provide consulting services for the next three years. 

A medical cannabis company is expanding its sales and production capabilities in southwestern Ontario.

AgMedica Biosience Inc. has acquired two new indoor processing facilities — one in Chatham and one in London. 

CEO Trevor Henry said the company is well-positioned if Health Canada approves the sale of cannabis-infused beverages or edibles.

"We're actually building a plane as we're flying it," he said. "But you know what, when you have confidence in your team, and you're moving through the regulatory hurdles very quickly, we think we're very well-positioned."

London's 10,000 square-foot location will be used for processing, packaging and bottling. The new 300,000 square-foot Chatham facility will be used for future cannabis-plant cultivation.

Marijuana producer 48North has applied for an outdoor cultivation licence — the only cannabis company to do since the government approved outdoor growing in the summer — to plant marijuana on its 40-hectare property outside of Brantford in one of the nation’s richest farm belts.

Company co-chief executive Jeannette VanderMarel, who hails from a family of apple producers, says she’s drawing on her agricultural background for the endeavour.

“Basically, I’m planning this like an orchard,” she said, adding work on the operation is well underway while the company awaits approval from Health Canada.

“I know that I need to work the ground this fall in order to have it ready for spring planting.”

Eighty years ago, the police chief on the Caughnawaga reserve across the St. Lawrence river from Montreal spent weeks supervising the picking, carting, and burning of 3,500 pounds of pot under order of the Department of Indian Affairs. “The leaves and seeds of the marijuana plant contain a drug police fear more than any other narcotic,” ominously warned the Montreal Gazette on September 29, 1938, adding cops considered it a “greater menace” than opium and cocaine because it “often brings on insanity.”

In October, Toronto's iconic cannabis culture shop announced a $10 million expansion plan that will allow them to become one of Ontario's premier marijuana retailers over the next several years.

While the shop is reportedly aiming to open 100 stores across Canada eventually, their more immediate plans are to open 50 in the next two years. Starting with the Greater Toronto Area and southern Ontario cities.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm an open lover of the little green leaf – and I've been a supporter of cannabis legalization long before I'd ever even tried the stuff. I think it's important that, as a society, we always keep in mind why laws have been put in place... but also when and why they can sometimes cease to benefit us as a nation.

It was a step in the right direction when the federal government decided to decisively move away from the so-called "war on drugs." Patients that require medicial marijuana can now access it more easily than ever, and those individuals that found themselves on the wrong side of the law can now openly and shamelessly participate in recreational use.