MONCTON – Medical marijuana producer Organigram Holdings is making it first foray into the international cannabis market, buying a 25 per cent stake in the German company Alpha-Cannabis Germany (ACG).

The company will spend approximately $2.5-million in cash and $1.3-million in shares for the stake. Once the deal is finalized, Organigram will provide Alpha-Cannabis with dried cannabis flower and sweet leaf to be converted into extracts meant to supply the German medical cannabis market.

Under a clouded sky that threatens rain, cyclists, moms pushing strollers and riders on horseback traverse the gravel path that meets the end of Lochside Drive in Central Saanich.

The path looks onto a green pastoral land that rolls out like a carpet, a blank canvas of protected agricultural land.

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Developer turned potpreneur Shawn Galbraith looks at the 36-acre parcel and sees unlimited potential for growing Canada’s next cash crop: cannabis.

His vision is to develop the Stanhope Dairy Farm into 21 glass-and-metal, high-security greenhouses that could bring jobs and a windfall of taxes for the District of Central Saanich.

In advance of Ontario’s election on June 7, the Human Resources Professionals Association is setting out several recommendations for the province’s political parties, including more clarity around recreational marijuana rules.

In light of the drug’s impending legalization, the HRPA’s election suggestions call for setting a clear legal definition of impairment as well as the grounds under which an employer can test an employee for cannabis use. As well, the organization wants the government work with other provinces to co-ordinate the regulations in order to ensure organizations with a national workforce are able to follow policies and communicate effectively with employees.

The company chosen to supply legal cannabis to Newfoundland and Labrador has chosen a site for its local production facility, with an announcement planned for today.

An information note for the St. John's city council's planning and development committee shows the site is 390 Eastland Drive in the White Hills area of the city.

A news conference is scheduled at that address for today with representatives of Canopy Growth and Christopher Mitchelmore, minister of Tourism, Culture and Innovation.

According to the city, the property is owned by Baine Johnson Properties and is zoned for light industrial use.

At a meeting in early April, the city agreed to remove open space restrictions at the north end of the property.

Marijuana is beginning to account for a noticeable share of “Ontario’s Garden.”

During his state-of-the-county address this week, Mayor Charlie Luke said it is full steam ahead for industrial marijuana production in Norfolk County.

New capacity is being added all the time. Some is devoted to the medicinal market while others are preparing to produce recreational marijuana once it becomes legal in Canada this summer.

Mayor Luke delivered the annual state-of-the-county address during a breakfast meeting Wednesday at the Greens at Renton. The event was sponsored by the Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce.

In his speech, Luke shared progress reports on three operations representing millions of dollars in investment.

A new cannabis program is launching at Olds College, a community college specializing in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental stewardship.

In a statement on its website (“New Cannabis Production Program Launched” on May 1, 2018), the college says the new program is called Cannabis Production Program – Level 1.

Three 8-week online courses now available in both English and French.

A post secondary school based in Sudbury plans to capitalize on the emerging cannabis industry, which is expected to grow significantly once the federal government legalizes marijuana later this summer.

Collège Boréal has launched three online courses in cannabis training. The courses are each eight weeks long and are available in both English and French.

"With the cannabis industry obviously in a boom, and the upcoming legislation that's around the corner, there is a very high demand for trained professionals," Julie Nadeau, director of Contract Training said.

Online courses covering a range of topics in the cannabis industry will be offered through College Boreal in anticipation of the upcoming legalization of its sale and use in Canada.

“These courses will focus on the production, sale of and marketing of cannabis and the financing of a cannabis business,” the college said in a release. “Each course is given over an eight-week period.”

The cannabis plant has been used in medicine for thousands of years, the college noted, but it is also used recreationally.

“The purpose of these training courses is to allow people to be informed and to gain perspective while preparing for jobs in this emerging industry.”

At 4:20pm, thousands around the world will participate in a synchronized smoke-off.

A cloud of smoke is wafting across cities worldwide today with the celebration of 4/20 – the unofficial holiday of marijuana – culminating in a synchronized smoke at 4:20pm.

Held on April 20 annually, the digits 4/20 have become synonymous with cannabis culture, as the date is written in the North American calendar as 4/20.

In Canada, it’s the end of an era in some ways, as this will be the last celebration before marijuana is set to become legal. Last year, an estimated 40,000 people attended Vancouver’s 4/20 celebration, with even more expected this year.

Why did 4/20 become synonymous with marijuana?

Less fish, more 4/20 if one local entrepreneur has his way

Cannabis could be coming to the rescue of a Newfoundland fishing community that's been without an economic centre since Hurricane Igor laid waste to the area in 2010. 

Port Union's old Ocean Choice International fish plant could soon be used to plant marijuana. 

The disused building is in the final stages of a sale to local businessman Daniel Porter, who is planning to turn it into a cannabis growing facility for medicinal and recreational pot.

"This means the world to me," Porter said.

"I love that I can come home and create work and have an impact on the community … it affects people's lives and children's lives, and it creates a massive employment spinoff."