In 2020 it’s possible to buy hemp rope, soap, shoes, and even beer. The question is, are these hemp products moving us to a more sustainable future?

The cannabis plant is composed of dozens of cannabinoids, with some being more popular among consumers and patients than others.

Historically, the most popular and well-known cannabinoid was tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The cannabinoid was first isolated by an Israeli scientist, Raphael Mechoulam, several decades ago.

In recent years another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), has risen in popularity among consumers and patients. Google search query data shows that CBD was searched more often than THC in recent.

With that being said, many consumers and medical cannabis patients still base their purchasing decisions on THC alone, which is unfortunate. 

It’s no secret that many Canadians enjoy cannabis, but it turns out those who live in Ontario might like it a little more than most.

Statistics Canada has released the breakdown of each province’s monthly cannabis spending, and Ontario has been showing some serious love to its cannabis retail industry.

According to StatsCan, $42.767 million in cannabis was sold in the province by retailers — a significant decrease from the $47.304 million it sold in April. This dip of over $5 million is one of several ups and downs experienced by Ontario’s cannabis industry sales figures.

Despite various efforts by numerous companies big and small in the U.S., education remains the biggest obstacle in the cannabis industry, a new survey conducted by Oasis Intelligence found.

The firm’s research showed that the majority of legal consumers still lack foundational knowledge about weed’s effects, risks and benefits. One explanation? The number one resource that customers use when seeking out information about cannabis and potential products is their friends.

In March, Canadian cannabis sales hit a new record with sales of 181.1 Canadian dollars, as reported by Statistics Canada. Concerns about the shortfall of cannabis due to the COVID-19 outbreak led customers to pile up their inventories. As a result, there was a sharp rise in marijuana sales. In April, cannabis sales came in at $180.1 million—0.6% down from the March sales.

The year 2020 may go down as the worst in memory, but not for cannabis beverage manufacturers.

According to a report by Prohibition Partners, the global cannabis drinks market will be worth $1.82 billion by the end of the year. That number is driven by consumers looking for cost-friendly relief from the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Why are so many obeying their thirst?

Depending on your relationship with your dad or the father figure in your life, cannabis may or may not be a comfortable topic of discussion— especially if you factor in his personal perspective on cannabis and cannabis consumption.

But cannabis entering more prominently into the discourse of the day, and with Father’s Day coming up to boot, now is a great time to break the ice once and for all and talk to your dad about his views on the matter.

Canadians seem to be easing off marijuana a bit, at least as far as the latest sales figures reveal. On Friday, Statistics Canada released its national retail sales data for April, revealing that purchases from licensed marijuana stores fell slightly (by 1%) on a month-over-month basis to land at around 180 million Canadian dollars ($132 million).

That reversed the previous month's trend, in which sales rose by nearly 20%. This can largely be attributed to stockpiling behavior stemming from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak that necessitated "stay in place" measures.

An Okanagan-based catering company is pairing cannabis with fine local food, similar to how many restaurants and catering companies offer wine pairings. 

Stratus Cannabis Catering operates in customers' homes, so as to offer a safe space for guests to consume cannabis, according to chef Brent Pillon, who co-owns the business with his wife Jenna.

When told of the arrangement, however, the province of B.C. advised caution, pointing out the sale of non-medical cannabis is only permitted by licensed retailers. It recommended anyone wishing to pursue this type of business consult a lawyer.

Pilon said each event starts with getting to know the people they're cooking for.