A doctor in Alberta has been found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to follow the provincial college of physicians’ standards of practice for authorizing access to cannabis for medical purposes. 

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) found that Dr. Gaylord Wardell did not follow certain standards the College has in place for authorizing access to medical cannabis for someone. 

Although a four-person CPSA Hearing Tribunal found that several charges against the doctor were not proven, they did find one charge amounted to unprofessional conduct. 

Conference aims to promote crop

Hemp could become the next big crop in Alberta now that big processing plants have arrived, say advocates at an upcoming conference.

About 200 people will gather at the Edmonton International Airport’s Renaissance Hotel April 21 for the Exploring the World of Hemp Opportunities conference.

Hemp is an emerging industry which could create jobs and diversify Alberta’s economy, said St. Albert resident Perry Kinkaide, who organized this conference on behalf of the Alberta Hemp Alliance.

“Everyone is ‘high’ on the value of hemp seed and hemp oils as a nutritional food source,” he noted, and researchers are finding new uses for hemp fibres in fabrics, plastics, and airplane components.

Calgary cannabis store owners are pushing for changes to Health Canada's rules on product displays in an effort to make the businesses safer for staff and patrons.  

The film on windows that covers most cannabis stores is not mandated, but it is one way for them to comply with sections 29 and 30 in the federal Cannabis Act, which prohibits the display of cannabis or cannabis accessories where a young person can see them from street level.

The issue with the coverings, as Justin Woo points out, is the blocked windows act as a cover for thieves when they rob the stores. 

"Someone can come into the store and they have more time to do what they want," said Woo, who owns four Bud Bar locations.

Window coverings are the "biggest issue that we have," says Calgary Police Service

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) is looking at ways to combat thefts and crimes in the province’s 700+ licensed dispensaries.

While the window coverings are not mandatory, products cannot be visible to youth from outside storefronts.

Stores say window coverings give cover for robbers to assault staff, steal product

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) is looking at possible changes to its rules around product displays in cannabis stores as Calgary experiences a rise in crimes targeting the retailers. 

Stores around the city are complaining that the window coverings seen at many locations are providing cover for robbers to assault staff and steal. 

"This has been a major concern for us since the beginning. We took our window coverings down because of it," said Ashley Newman, founder of Queen of Bud. 

Cannabis will be grown in three greenhouses on property near Blissful Beach community

A cannabis production facility has been approved in Lacombe County near Blissful Beach on Sylvan Lake.

The county’s municipal planning commission unanimously approved a three-year development permit for father and son cannabis producers Kim and Ben Schmitt.

For the past three years, the Schmitts have been producing cannabis under a Health Canada Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes licence, which does not require municipal approval.

However, they want to branch into production of recreational cannabis, which does require a sign off from the county.

Summer festival-goers can now have legal cannabis delivered to them as they enjoy the music, says a lobbyist for the licensed industry.

In what’s being called a first for Canada, live event fans will be allowed to have cannabis beverages, edibles and other distilled pot products couriered to them in festivals’ designated areas, said Nathan Mison, president of Diplomat Consulting.

“This is a big deal — Alberta has been very willing to have unique and beneficial conversations on this,” said Mison, formerly a cannabis retailer.

The Company Also Opens New Retail Cannabis Store in Waterloo, Ontario

AGLC's cannabis sales website will go up in smoke on March 8

Alberta is changing how cannabis can be sold online as of March 8 — and some stores are scrambling to prepare.

A legal change, passed by the legislature last year, will see Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) shut down the online orders section of its website. This will open the online market to private sellers.

High Tide, which runs 58 Canna Cabana stores in Alberta and already sells cannabis online in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, is anxious to expand its online reach in the province.