March sees sales in every province and territory rise

Canadian retail sales of cannabis jumped 10.7 per cent in March to reach an all-time high of just shy of $358.8 million, newly released figures from Statistics Canada show.

In February, almost every province, other than Ontario and Saskatchewan, saw a modest dip in sales, The GrowthOp reported at the time. That was reflected in the national total, which was down from about $346 million for January.

Entourage Health Corp. (TSX-V:ENTG) (OTCQX:ETRGF) (FSE:4WE) (“Entourage” or the “Company”), a Canadian producer and distributor of award-winning cannabis products and The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM), (“BBC”) maker of iconic, high-quality brands such as Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea, are pleased to announce the Canadian debut of ‘TeaPot’, a new line of cannabis-infused iced tea beverages. Developed and formulated alongside Boston Beer’s cannabis subsidiary BBCCC Inc., and Windsor-based Peak Processing Solutions (“Peak”), TeaPot is BBC’s first infused beverage offering which will be available in select Canadian provinces commencing July 2022.

MADD Canada says myths about safety risks are tough to dispel

Despite public awareness campaigns and law enforcement training to deter marijuana-impaired driving, a third of Canadians who've recently used cannabis say they've been behind the wheel after consuming, according to a new government survey.

The online survey, conducted in January 2022 by EKOS for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and recently posted online, says 33 per cent of Canadians who report having used cannabis within the previous year say that they have driven under the influence.

The survey says that among Canadians who have used cannabis at some point in their lives, about 26 per cent say they have hit the road after consuming.

The Valens Company Inc. (TSX: VLNS) (Nasdaq: VLNS) (the "Company" "The Valens Company" or "Valens"), a leading manufacturer of branded cannabis products, is pleased to provide an update on its recent recreational market share in Canada.

Some feel there are too many dispensaries in Ontario, Canada's most populous province.  But a new study suggests there is more room to grow.

Canada's cannabis market has seen better days. 

Over the last few weeks, multiple Canadian operators have released earnings reports showing sequential declines in revenue. 

Partly to blame is an oversaturated market that retailers say is driving down sales. 

The problem is so pronounced that even Canadian legislators have begun to take notice and some are even vowing to take action.

In Ontario for instance, Canada's most populous province, the Liberal Party has campaigned on a promise to crack down on the number of cannabis stores opening, according to the Ottawa City News. 

Before cannabis was legalized in Canada, this stock was soaring, as was its public profile.

It might sound strange now, but Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED) was once the hottest stock in Canada. Back in 2018, before legalization hit, the stock was soaring, as was its public profile. It seemed like every other day, you were hearing one story or another about the company’s meteoric rise. The $5 billion Constellation Brands deal, the expansion into Europe, the launch of Canada’s first Cannabis retail store. No matter where you looked, Canopy was always rising–in the stock market and in the public’s imagination.

Then, something changed.

Gaia Grow Corp. (the “Company” or “Gaia”) (CSE:GAIA) (Frankfurt:GG0) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, TruExtracts Laboratories (“TRU”), has received an amendment to its Health Canada licence that permits the company to supply extracts, edibles, and topicals directly to provincial distributors, retailers in select provinces, and licensed sellers of medical cannabis. 

Receipt of the sales amendment marks the final regulatory step required to launch sales operations of the Company's cannabis products, providing a path-to-market for anything manufactured at Tru’s facility. Tru intends to rapidly utilize the amended license to begin the process of distributing products to the Canadian market. 

FDA Warns Companies Selling Delta-8 Products. 

On May 4, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to five companies for selling products labeled as containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the first FDA action against companies for products containing delta-8 THC.

The offer represented "what may have been a substantial premium for shareholders at the time."

Management for HEXO Corp. was reportedly approached in November 2021 by Tilray Brands, Inc. to buy the Canadian pot producer, but opted to pass on the proposed deal.

According to The Deep Dive, the offer of $2 to $3 a share to acquire the whole company was rejected because it represented “less than sufficient value.”

“This was despite the firm trading at a high of just $2.35 during that same month, and a low of $1.30, with that offer representing what may have been a substantial premium for shareholders at the time,” the website reports.

Although the initial offer fell by the wayside, HEXO entered into an agreement with Tilray the following month.

Seed selection and planting location can play a big role in your plant's success, but it's the last few weeks when things get tricky

Planting season is upon us. And unless you live in Quebec or in Manitoba, cannabis might be among your seasonal crops.

Rob Baldwin, the vice president of cultivation and greenhouse operations at B.C.-based Pure Sunfarms recently spoke with The GrowthOp about the best practices for backyard and balcony gardeners.

At Sunfarms, Baldwin oversees the production of about 120 metric tonnes of cannabis annually. The company harvests every day.

Beyond the rotation of top-selling cultivars like Pink Kush, Death Bubba and Jet Fuel Gelato, Sunfarms also uses its genetics for white-labelling and growing for other brands, like Cookies.