A collective of Canadian organizations will present an open letter to the provincial and federal justice ministers tomorrow morning (May 18) to sound the alarm on regulations that would stifle the country’s craft cannabis industry.

“The timing is good right now because it’s right in the middle of the B.C. Legislative process. We think there is still time to make these changes and make it possible for the B.C. cannabis sector to survive,” says Michael Davis, spokesperson for the Ethical Cannabis Producers Association.

NPA councillor wants cannabis at pot shops to come from Health Canada-approved producers.

You may have heard that NPA Coun. Melissa De Genova introduced a motion at city council this week in an effort to take a bite out of organized crime’s involvement in marijuana dispensaries.

You probably didn’t hear that her motion went up in smoke…for now.

You probably didn’t hear because you were not in the council chamber at 10 p.m. Wednesday, or watching the livestream from your computer when debate on the motion came to a halt after De Genova’s NPA colleague, Hector Bremner, voted against extending the meeting beyond 10 bells.

As a rule, council has to be unanimous in wanting to go beyond 10 p.m.

Why did Bremner do it?

The process of making pot-production and sales a legitimate industry can best be described as “hurry up and wait,” said the City of Vernon manager of economic development and tourism.

Kevin Poole says the regulatory framework for a legalized cannabis industry being developed by federal and provincial governments has raised many cost issues for their civic counterparts, and has raised questions ranging from how to train and educate the industry workforce to tourism marketing opportunities.

“This industry will be about creating partnerships and right now the provincial government is a bit slow out of the gate on developing a framework for how this is going to unfold,” Poole said.

Namaste Technologies Inc., the owner of online stores that sell vaporizers and bongs, is taking unusual steps to stabilize its share price and thwart an attack on its business by short-sellers.

The small Vancouver company is asking its investors to promise that they won’t sell their shares over the next three months. And as a thanks for those who show proof that they held their shares, Namaste says it’s going to throw a big party at the end of the summer.

Namaste investors have had little to celebrate of late. The stock fell 2.35 per cent on Thursday to $1.66, well below its late December peak of $4.40 amid a sector-wide sell-off.

The City of Langford wants recreational cannabis retailers in the municipality to help cover the costs of regulation, enforcement and education around the drug. 

Langford has previously been hostile to the idea of dispensaries, but council is now accepting proposals for up to five recreational stores to operate when marijuana becomes legal later this year. 

The city says applicants must detail the direct financial contributions they plan to make to policing and administration.

Researchers develop faster test for cannabis quality.

With pot legalization on its way, producers are increasingly looking for quick and accurate means of determining the potency and quality of their plants.

Researchers at UBC’s Okanagan campus have developed a new method of measuring phytocannabinoids—the primary bioactive molecules in cannabis—that will lead to faster, safer and more accurate information for producers, regulators and consumers alike.

Affinor Growers Ltd. (“Affinor Growers”) (CSE:AFI) (OTC:RSSFF) (Frankfurt:1AF) is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive license agreement , with a later stage Licensed Producer Applicant in British Columbia. The license represents royalties of 3% of all products grown using the patented technology and gives the exclusive rights for Vancouver Island for Fruits, Vegetables and Marijuana once the Health Canada license is achieved, to grow, process, import and export Marijuana.

Greenhouse grower Village Farms International (TSX:VFF) may not be a cannabis space household name like Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis, but the BC-based company should be getting more respect based on its proven crop-growing chops, says Russell Stanley of Echelon Wealth Partners.

In a research report on Tuesday, the analyst maintained his “Speculative Buy” rating and C$13.00 target price for VFF, representing a projected return of 123 per cent.

Cannabis Growth Opportunity Corporation (CSE:CGOC), a cannabis investment company, is shaking up its portfolio again by reaching a deal to put C$2mln into Whistler Medical Marijuana, one of the first 10 licensed producers of Medical Marijuana and cannabis oil in Canada.

Up to $1,000,000 of seed capital to support aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs.

Canopy Rivers Corporation ("Canopy Rivers", or the "Company") is excited to help foster growth in the Canadian cannabis landscape by hosting a pitch day for cannabis entrepreneurs ahead of impending adult use legalization. In accordance with the proposed regulations underneath the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) and the new "micro" class of licenses, the Company is offering up to $1,000,000 of seed capital to support a diverse range of aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs.