With the legalization of recreational cannabis looming on the horizon, the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), joined by the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP), appeared today before the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to discuss Bill C-45. Pharmacists are asking the Senate to include more support for patients who use medical cannabis by ensuring that there is a clear differentiation between the recreational and medical cannabis streams, with incentives for patients to remain in the medical cannabis stream.

A year and a half ago, the Trudeau government rolled back the amount of medical marijuana that it would cover for veterans from 10 grams a day to three.

But that cut may not have been deep enough for at least one member of the Senate sub-committee on Veterans Affairs.

Sen. David Adams Richards said he questioned the maximum daily amount of medical cannabis allotted to vets suffering from conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. His concern comes on the heels of testimony by James MacKillop, the director of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medical Cannabis Research at McMaster University.

Less than a month away from the federal government vote on the cannabis bill, it’s looking like the legalization of cannabis across Canada will be delayed—although that isn’t being confirmed by Prime Minister Trudeau.

Facing recommendations from three of the Senate committees that changes be made to Bill C-45 before its roll out this summer, such as limits being placed upon the quantity of marijuana that can be kept in homes as well as reserving 20% of production licenses for producers on Indigenous land, Trudeau has only said that “the current system hurts Canadians,” and “Legalization is not an event, it’s a process…and that process will continue.”

Issue doesn't always line up with party preference.

Ontario voters are split over where they think cannabis should be sold when it is legalized later this summer.

CBC's Vote Compass survey asked respondents whether they thought only government-run stores should be able to sell marijuana.

The results showed that 27 per cent strongly agreed with that statement, while 24 per cent strongly disagreed. A further 18 per cent only somewhat agreed with government-only stores, while 19 per cent somewhat disagreed. Just 12 per cent were neutral on the idea.

Western Canada’s premiers are calling on Ottawa to do more to help their provinces enforce drug-impaired driving laws after the legalization of marijuana this year.

A final communiqué issued on Wednesday at the western premiers meeting in Yellowknife also urged the federal government to expedite the approval of a saliva-screening device so police forces across the country can procure the equipment and train their officers accordingly.

The pay gap between future provincial cannabis store workers and existing early childhood workers shows misplaced priorities, says an opposition MLA.

Clerks at P.E.I.’s four cannabis stores will be paid more than early childhood educators in Early Years Centers (EYC), an issue that Rustico-Emerald MLA Brad Trivers took the province to task over during Wednesday’s question period.

Job postings for P.E.I.’s cannabis stores advertise hourly wages ranging from $18.70 to $20.35 for clerks, $22.44 to $25.49 for senior clerks and $25.91 to $36.23 for managers.

Trivers said early childhood educators in the EYCs are paid less than that, making between $15.30 and $17.22 an hour last year while directors were paid around $21.42.

Canada’s medical cannabis industry is making a push in the Senate to ban large-scale outdoor cannabis cultivation.

Allan Rewak, the executive director of the Cannabis Canada Council, an industry association that represents licensed producers of medical marijuana, urged senators Wednesday to prohibit large-scale outdoor cultivation in the government’s pot legalization legislation.

He said allowing it presents a “heightened degree of risk for diversion into the illegal market place.” It also raises concerns about the dangers of unintentional exposure to agricultural pesticides and cross-pollination.

Bruce Linton, the head of Canopy Growth Corp., agreed. He said outdoor cultivation “may have a future sometime, but I don’t think it’s today.”

A corporate cannabis retailer plans an expansion of 35 stores in BC following federal legislation.

Edmonton-based cannabis retailer Fire and Flower has begun planning a vast expansion into B.C. to follow the federal regulation decision next month.

Fire and Flower plans to set up 35 B.C.-based retailers with one location in Vernon.

Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations Nathan Mison visited Vernon today to meet with the municipality. He says the goal is to make sure that the company understand the goals of each individual community.

“I think it’s really important not to push municipalities further than what they want to achieve,” says Mison. “We want to be a good neighbour and a steward of the environment [each retailer] lives in.”

The federal government says cannabis will be legal later this summer. But how legal?

If the federal government's plans come to pass, Yukon will join the rest of Canada later this summer in implementing new marijuana laws.

While many people expect it will then be easier to purchase and use marijuana, it won't exactly be a free-for-all. The cannabis industry will be far more regulated than alcohol, for instance.

Here are some of the knowns and unknowns about Yukon's plans for legal pot. 

How legal is it?

Yukon's Cannabis Control and Regulation Act will allow people to legally use marijuana products in their homes or the homes of others who have consented to the use — but nowhere else.

City councillors agree to random selection for deciding who gets a permit to sell cannabis.

Cannabis retailers hoping to set up shop in Edmonton will have to bank on the luck of the draw.

The city's urban planning committee voted in favour of a lottery system Tuesday to choose who will get a development permit to sell pot.

Councillors Michael Walters said the random selection process puts small and big companies on the same playing field.  

"What we're trying to do is create a sense of fairness," Walters said after the decision. "There's a lot of interest in setting up cannabis business in Edmonton, from a variety of proponents from a variety of capacities."