The national statistics offices says legalizing cannabis doesn't seem to have much changed how many people use the drug.

Figures released this morning from Statistics Canada show about 4.6 million people, or 15 per cent of Canadians over age 15, reported using cannabis in the last three months.

Statistics Canada says that nearly one in five Canadians, or 19 per cent, believe they will use cannabis in the next three months -- a higher figure than those who reported current use.

Nearly half of Canadian who reported using cannabis said they did so for non-medical reasons, while one-quarter say they used it for medicinal purposes.

Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Canada and 10 US states (with potentially more on the way), businesses are finding increasingly innovative ways to encourage consumers to part with their cash in their search for a lawful high.

Guest list? Check. Cake check? Check. Location? Check.
Weed at the wedding? Oh yes!

Looks like it’s not just Meghan Markle who can boast about having marijuana party bags at her (first) wedding. Now that cannabis is legal in Canada and some parts of the U.S., the demand for cannabis at weddings is on the rise.

It was Feb. 6, 1969 and the news story noted that more than a quarter of Calgary high school students had “smoked up,” as the kids used to say.

One of the experts also noted that “business men in the city have been caught smoking marijuana, but they were not arrested.”

While these respectable types didn’t suffer a penalty, “the guy with the hair that’s a bit longer” was more likely to get arrested, the expert said, adding 15 University of Calgary students had been arrested on pot-related charges in the previous 10 days. That expert, a U of C professor named L.E. Acker, also added he had tried pot — and liked it.

With the cannabis edibles market in Canada set to take off after the official retail legalization date, currently set for Oct. 17, 2019, we may soon be looking at our next $1-billion industry. According to the Canadian federal government, products such as cannabis-laced soda, chocolates, tea and other similar items should be cleared for sale by end of the year. And analysts are now suggesting that edibles—including beverages—will most likely be the hottest sellers in Canadian retail stores once they become available. However, one potential stumbling block is Canada’s current inventory shortage and delays in working out the regulations with the provinces, which may very well delay the sale of edibles. Bill Blair, Canada’s minister in charge of the legalization, warned on Jan.

We’ve witnessed how the cannabis industry has grown over the last couple years, and now that recreational legalization is in full effect, it’s time to begin looking towards the future.  In which direction is the cannabis industry headed?  Will we see mostly dried flower, or will cannabis edibles and concentrates dominate the marijuana market?  Many industry experts and investors believe that the next big thing will be cannabis edibles and derivative products.  Does this make sense?  Ontario Licensed Producer Indiva Ltd. seems to think so.

Canada’s minister for the Cannabis Act said Wednesday there is plenty of pot to go around. According to an official report, supply increased for the third consecutive month and represented far more inventory than the country is projected to sell in the coming months.

“Building on our considerable experience with medical cannabis, and with 147 Health Canada licensed producers, the data is clear: there remains sufficient supply to meet and exceed existing demand,” read the report.

Cannabis reform is quickly sweeping across the U.S.

Ten states and Washington, DC have now legalized marijuana for recreational use.

In addition, a total of 33 states have legalized it for medicinal use.

Now, it appears more states are jumping on the cannabis bandwagon, including West Virginia, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wyoming, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Connecticut.

However, that's just one key catalyst for the future growth of cannabis.

With optimism returning to the stock markets and a growing sense that U.S. marijuana laws are headed for an overhaul, many of Canada's largest cannabis companies have seen their share price soar since the start of the year.

The Canadian Marijuana Index, which tracks 20 large, publicly-traded cannabis firms, was trading at 723.74 at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, just about 60 per cent higher than its closing level on Dec. 31, 2018. However, that is still below a peak of 858.19 that it hit last October, days before legalization.

From October to December of last year, the index lost about half its value amid a stock market rout. As a fledgling industry, cannabis tends to see larger fluctuations in stock prices than you would see in more established industries.

One of Hamilton's premier craft beer brewers has its sights set on a new frontier: cannabis-infused drinks.

Collective Arts announced Monday that it plans to launch a line of cannabis and hemp-infused drinks in Canada and the U.S.

The group said in a statement the drinks will be sold under a sister company starting in late 2019, "pending anticipated government approvals for cannabis and hemp products."