(FireAndFlower.com)

Couche-Tard takes stake in cannabis retailer

One of Canada’s biggest convenience store operators is moving ahead on its stated goal of getting into the retail cannabis business. Edmonton-based cannabis retailer Fire + Flower announced Wednesday it has issued a $25.99 million debenture, convertible to a 9.9 per cent ownership stake, to Quebec’s Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Laval-based firm said its planned investment […] Read more



Signage on a Tweed retail outlet in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Weed leader Canopy Growth ousts co-CEO

Corrected, Aug. 27, 2019 — Reuters — Canopy Growth Corp. fired founder and co-CEO Bruce Linton, a surprise move that comes just a week after the Canadian cannabis producer’s largest shareholder expressed disappointment over its loss-making streak. The world’s largest pot company announced earlier in the day that Linton was stepping down, leaving Mark Zekulin […] Read more

Signage on a Tweed retail outlet in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canopy Growth Q4 revenue beats as cannabis sales soar

Reuters — Pot producer Canopy Growth reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue on Thursday, as efforts to strengthen its retail operations paid off and increased production capacity resulted in higher sales following Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis. Marijuana companies in Canada have been pouring cash into their businesses to open stores and expand operations as the list […] Read more


Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton applauds after handing Ian Power and Nikki Rose, who were first in line to purchase the first legal recreational marijuana after midnight, their purchases at a Tweed retail store in St John’s, N.L. on Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Wattie)

Cannabis tax revenue below projections in early months

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

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Cannabis edibles clear for legal launch before year-end

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

There’s been a massive rush of investors into cannabis, resulting in suddenly very well capitalized, large companies with money to throw at production systems.

Editorial: Food, fibre…and fun?

We haven’t done a lot of cannabis coverage here at Farmtario, despite the massive public and investor interest in the sector. I’ve thought a lot about it and I expect the impact of cannabis production on mainstream agriculture will be peripheral at best – other than where it has sucked production facilities (especially greenhouses) away […] Read more


(Country Guide file photo)

Canada’s realized net farm income way down in 2018

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

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Grow facilities now required up front for new cannabis producers

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