Social stigma of smoking inspires new ‘delivery’ methods.

Canadian entrepreneurs are busy developing a wide range of new ways to use recreational cannabis in a socially acceptable way — without having to roll or smoke a joint.

Cocktails, beer, coffee and tea — along with specially designed vape devices — are in the works. None will create the notorious stench or clouds of smoke associated with marijuana and they will offer non-smokers more choices, beyond the edible cannabis products already on the market.

A Conservative attempt to delay cannabis legalization was handily shot down in a 50 to 29 vote in the Senate on Monday night.

Conservative senators argued legalizing recreational marijuana could slow border travel, lead to an increase in Canadians turned away from the border for consuming a legal substance and even hurt Canada’s reputation and trade with the U.S.

Conservative Sen. Yonah Martin said legalization would be a “disastrous policy decision” that will “put us at odds” with the U.S.

But a majority in the upper chamber rejected that view and voted down Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos’ move to slow the passage of the bill until the government tables a report in Parliament outlining how it will deal with pot-related border issues.

Impaired driving enforcement, drafting bylaws and zoning changes are just some of the concerns officials have.

As cannabis legalization looms, municipalities across the country are trying to make sure they're prepared.

Mark Phillips, the chief administrative officer for the Town of Kentville, N.S., said the provincial and federal governments have laid out their own rules around marijuana consumption, but there are still many questions about how municipalities will enforce those laws and pay for the necessary policing.

City staff will also be on the front line since citizens will be more likely to call their town councillor or city helpline with questions or concerns, not the federal government.

"It's a bit of an unknown," Phillips told CBC News.

The bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada is up for a crucial vote at the last step in the legislative process this week, with uncertainty looming over what the final wording of the law will be.

Senators are set to vote on Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, at third reading in the Senate on Thursday, after studying it for six months. For those planning to follow the vote that day, rest up as it’s possible the vote could not happen until midnight. It could also be much earlier, but entirely depends on how many senators want to speak to the bill that day. Midnight would be the latest possible, as all sides agreed to vote on the bill by June 7 at the latest.

In just five days, Canada's Senate could alter the face of the legal cannabis industry throughout the world with its vote on bill C-45, which is best known as the Cannabis Act. If approved by the Senate, it would pave the way for Canada to become the first developed country in the world to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Four days from now, Canada's Senate is expected to make a game-changing judgment on bill C-45, which is better known as the Cannabis Act. If passed by the Senate, which is widely expected to happen, the Cannabis Act would be one step closer to becoming law and, in the process, legalizing adult-use marijuana for Canadians.

In becoming the first developed country in the world to legalize adult-use weed, Canada could be opening the door to $5 billion in added annual sales. This would come atop what the industry has already been generating from medical weed sales, as well as exports to countries where medical marijuana is legal.

The blunt truth about pot stocks

Canada's marijuana industry is taking the Field of Dreams approach. In the 1989 movie, the Iowa corn farmer played by Kevin Costner hears a whisper saying, "If you build it, he will come." The "it" referred to a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield. The "he" referred to deceased baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was kicked out of major league baseball because of his alleged participation in a scheme with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series games. This was known as the Black Sox scandal.

Wanna grow your own marijuana? This shop will teach you how.

The Seed Company by E.W. Gaze is gearing up for the advent of legal marijuana with workshops dedicated to teaching people how to grow weed at home.

Medical cannabis expert Chris Snellen and other experienced growers held what they believe to be the first ever growing course in Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday in St. John's,

At $85 a person, the session sold out quickly, said assistant manager Jackson McLean.

He said it wasn't just young people who attended either.

"A lot of them are older people who have medical issues that they need cannabis for, and they have some gardening experience, and they want to put those two things together and grow their own medicine," said Mclean.

New entrepreneur Shaun Baid is feeling excited about his prospects these days. Mr. Baid, a Calgary accountant who was laid off last year amid the energy sector downturn, is now working with three partners to open a cannabis retail store.

“It’s super exciting times, all across the country, but especially here in Alberta,” said Mr. Baid, chief financial officer of Kush Collective. “It feels like Alberta is where this whole gold rush is going to happen.”

That’s because Alberta’s NDP government has adopted a private model for cannabis retailers, following in the footsteps of the province’s private liquor retail model. (Online cannabis sales will be government-run in Alberta.)

Bob Kay feels a twinge of fear every day as he runs his business in Kelowna, B.C., but he charges forward knowing he’s helping people ease their pain.

For the past 10 years Kay has been operating a medical marijuana dispensary “in a legal limbo,” running the risk of a police raid as the country prepares for the legalization of recreational pot this summer.

Be Kind is a “compassion club,” he says, helping those with chronic pain and providing cannabis in various forms to those who are prescribed it through a health practitioner.

Viewers can go inside the operation as it’s featured in the new docu-series “Bud Empire,” premiering Tuesday on History.