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.”

Pete Patterson loves to see people's reaction when he tells them he makes the machinery used to process marijuana.

Some are shocked and taken aback, after all, cannabis used to be an illegal drug.

Others are impressed and think it's cool Patterson is capitalizing on a thoroughly modern and lucrative business sector.

"When we first started Vitalis Extraction Technology, I used to cover my mouth and say what business I was in quietly," said Patterson, who is the company's co-founder and chief operating officer.

"Now, I'm very open about it. It's not taboo anymore. We don't touch the plant."

A large-scale East Ladner greenhouse sees big money in pot, even if it’s sold lower prices.

Health Canada this year gave the go-ahead for Emerald Health Therapeutics, a B.C.-based licensed producer of medical cannabis, to grow medical marijuana at the Village Farms greenhouse. The joint venture, called Pure Sunfarms, is planning to grow recreational cannabis in advance of its legalization later this year.

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In a news release this week, Village Farms’ CEO Michael DeGiglio calls cannabis production “truly transformational”.

A new trend could be emerging in the cannabis industry. Nanotechnology is starting to attract the attention of the cannabis industry, especially when it comes to medical marijuana and cannabinoid pharmaceuticals.

What is Nanotechnology?

With the sun setting on criminalized cannabis in Canada, one local dispensary owner is hoping he can come out of the shadows as legalization dawns.

Former municipal councillor and owner of 99 North Medical Cannabis Dispensary, Bryan Raiser is hoping to relocate to the old liquor store location, in Squamish Station Shopping Centre.

Raiser’s current location at the end of Second Avenue isn’t great for customer parking and isn’t central, he told The Chief.

The new location, at 1200 Hunter Place, has plenty of parking and is more visible.

Location in Squamish Station where Raiser hopes to relocate. - Google Maps

INVICTUS MD STRATEGIES CORP. ("Invictus" or the "Company") (TSXV: GENE; OTC: IVITF; FRA: 8IS1) is pleased to announce that Acreage Pharms Ltd. ("Acreage Pharms") has received its sales license from Health Canada pursuant to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) effective May 18, 2018.

Jessika Villano sells a potent array of dried cannabis, oils, salves and even bud-infused bath bombs at Buddha Barn Medicinal Society -- all grown and processed by small-scale British Columbia producers.

Villano doesn't want that to change when marijuana is legalized later this year, and she's among the proponents of local craft cannabis who are pushing the federal and provincial governments to ensure its survival.

"I believe in our sector," Villano said. "Our elected representatives need to take immediate steps to protect it or face the consequences of letting B.C. craft cannabis collapse."

Anyone with an interest in being part of Canada's legal cannabis industry knows it takes more than few fat stacks to start up a licensed growing facility or an ancillary business related to processing, hemp production, lab testing, or retail.

Lucky for entrepreneurs attending this year's International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC), the investment group behind one of Canada's largest licensed producers will provide an opportunity for them to pitch their ideas for a shot at an investment of up to $1,000,000.

The legalization of cannabis will create thousands of jobs, bring in billions of dollars and represent an added bonus for the tourism industry, economic and tourism leaders said at a cannabis legalization forum Thursday in Kelowna.

“Take away all the health issues, it’s a product and there’s an opportunity for economic development,” said Dan Rogers, executive director of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

Niche Canada, a not-for-profit organization established to assist in the transition to the legalization of cannabis, hosted the forum at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Cannabis legalization will create between 50,000 and 150,000 jobs across Canada, said David Purcell, director of emerging business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Encouraging news from Valens Groworks today, which announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Speakeasy Cannabis Club.

"This partnership with Speakeasy dovetails neatly with our expansion objectives. As a specialist in the extraction of cannabis, Valens creates some of the best oils in the world, with our proprietary process creating a product that is clear, transparent 100% cannabis oil,” said Valens chief executive officer, Tyler Robson.

As well, Speakeasy is going to source 2500-5000kg of cannabis per month for Valens.