Cannabis fans won’t be able to buy and sport official merchandise displaying their favourite marijuana company’s logo if the Senate has its way.

The Senate has voted to change the Liberal government’s cannabis legalization bill so it prohibits cannabis “brand-stretching” — selling swag displaying cannabis company logos.

In a 34-28 vote, Senators passed a Conservative amendment put forward by Sen. Judith Seidman that deleted sections of the bill permitting that type of lateral advertising and promotion by cannabis companies — things like branded hats, t-shirts, smartphone cases, and other merchandise.

Plans to construct a marijuana research and development facility at the former Nortel site at 250 Sidney St. may not be up in smoke.

However, until the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) hears Toronto Capital’s appeal of Belleville city council’s decision to turn down a request for a zoning bylaw amendment that would have cleared the way to build the facility, it could take awhile to sort things out. No date has been scheduled for a hearing.

The Saskatchewan Government has named the 51 successfully qualified applicants to sell cannabis across the province.

“This represents the next step in the process of having a privately-operated cannabis retail system carefully regulated by SLGA,” Minister Responsible for SLGA Gene Makowsky said in a news release. “There was a lot of interest in the public Request for Proposal process, resulting in many new businesses that will invest in our province.”

The legalization of cannabis in Canada is right around the corner with the proposed Cannabis Act, Bill C-45, slated for a final Senate vote. The proposed Act will create an entirely new regulated industry which offers both significant opportunities and significant risks for businesses selling cannabis, cannabis accessories, or related services, and their directors and officers.

A 3-month consultation will be required before private or government stores and lounges can be opened.

Nunavummiut will not be able to grow cannabis in their homes, if the territory's Cannabis Act passes into law as it is currently proposed.

Bill 7 was introduced to the Legislative Assembly for a first reading on May 24. Next week, it is expected to receive a second reading — at which point it is likely the Minister of Finance, David Akeeagok, will speak to the bill.

The bill will likely then pass to a standing committee for further review.

The Cannabis Act was drafted based on what the territorial government heard during community consultations, according to Dan Carlson, assistant deputy minister for the Department of Finance.

As Canada’s Cannabis Act nears its final reading in the Senate, the last-minute fussing over its contents is heating up. This week, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology recommended amendments to the Cannabis Act that would empower provinces to ban home cultivation and establish mandatory THC limits on all cannabis products sold in the country.

The Standing Committee also rejected a number of amendments, some by a small margin, including a proposed nationwide ban on home cultivation.

The proposed amendments will be considered by the full Senate, which will vote in favour of or against the bill on June 7.

Government commits to allow private retail stores 6 months after legalization.

Private retail cannabis stores will be left out of the legal cannabis market in the Northwest Territories when the drug becomes legal, but the door is open for them to get in six months after that.

MLAs rejected an amendment to the territorial government's cannabis legislation Thursday that would have required the finance minister to keep the door open for private cannabis stores as soon as legalization happened.

But a so-called "compromise" motion presented following that vote did pass.

It allows the government to designate any store it deems "in the public interest" and calls for the development of criteria for judging public interest within six months of legalization.

The Newfoundland and Labrador legislature has now passed provincial cannabis legislation, including allowing adult residents 21 and over up to four cannabis plants at home, with a maximum of four plants per home.

It will come into effect only after the federal government passes its legislation, and with public notice.

But the exact details around growing at home, including if you can grow outdoors and under what conditions, will largely be determined in provincial regulations still to come.

The additional regulations are being crafted by civil servants, to be presented to the Liberal cabinet for consideration and final decisions.

Right now, a lot of questions remain.

Cathy McLeod's private member's bill in defense of landlords has gone down to defeat in the House of Commons.

The Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP's bill, C-330, would have required landlords consent before medical marijuana plants can be grown on their property.

She tells CFJC Today she was "terribly disappointed when the Liberals chose not to support it."

"What this means is that landlords still do not have protection. So, if someone with a medical authorization from Health Canada. The municipality will not know about it. They will have no ability to inspect for wiring issues, for fire hazards," McLeod says. "The landlord will have no ability to deal with it. Certainly, insurance tends to immediately delete coverage."

NLC will monitor licensed stores, but can challenge unlicensed shops.

Is there a shop in your neighbourhood currently selling weed?

Health Canada has not approved any storefront locations for over-the-counter medical cannabis sales in Newfoundland and Labrador. Recreational-use cannabis is not yet legal.

Multiple shops have set up with cannabis-related branding. In some cases, they promote informational services and referrals for medical marijuana users. In other cases, they have been identified by community members as dispensaries, intent on selling marijuana for recreational purposes (as opposed to specifically medical marijuana for prescriptions) prior to legalization.

Illegal activity is subject to police intervention.