Former Victoria police chief Frank Elsner, who resigned last week in the midst of a misconduct investigation, has launched a cannabis consulting business.

Elsner, who is facing six misconduct allegations, is the principal consultant for UMBRA Strategic Solutions, which will provide security consulting to marijuana businesses, according to a post on his Linked In profile.

A message signed by Elsner on the company’s website says: “After a great career in policing I started Umbra Strategic Solutions. I wanted to do something that I am passionate about while utilizing my knowledge, skills and abilities.”

Elsner writes that he has “come a long way” in his thinking about harm reduction, community wellness and the role police play.

A new industry is about to take root in Kelowna. Valens Agritech has just received approval from the federal government to grow commercial quantities of medical marijuana at its 17,000 square foot facility.

The company expects to soon start growing about 4,800 plants to produce about 2,000 kilograms of pot annually.

“As soon as we can assure everyone we’re 100 per cent ready to go we’ll start,” said CEO Tyler Robson. “So it’s almost imminent at this point.”

The company will first produce medical marijuana products and then move into the recreational market when marijuana is legalized, likely later this year.

Todd Veri envisions a network of 12 or more farms working together to grow marijuana outdoors.

An organic farmer in Nelson is hoping to create a marijuana farm co-op.

Organic farmer Todd Veri was inspired by the federal marijuana task force's report which said there will be a space for small to medium operations and organic product.

"I was expecting that we were going to get boxed out here in the Kootenays and then it was going to be all large agro-companies traded on the TSX and that such," he said.

Cannabis has been identified as a potential substitute for users of legal or illicit opioids, but a new Vancouver-based study shows the drug may also help reduce people’s cravings for another highly addictive substance: crack cocaine.

Scientists at the BC Centre on Substance Use tracked 122 people who consumed crack in and around Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside over a three-year period and found they reported using that drug less frequently when they opted to also consume cannabis.

USA

New York City
Parade Assembly: 11:00 a.m. | West 31st & Broadway, Koreatown, NYC
Parade Start Time: 12:30 p.m. | Parade will march to Union Square (Route South on Broadway)
Rally: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Union Square South Plaza
“The NYC Cannabis Parade is the longest running public expression of drug policy reform in New York City, with roots as far back as the early 70’s. This event have gone by many different monikers, but our purpose remains the same, to spread awareness throughout the world! In 1999, the Million Marijuana March brand exploded and has since turned into a annual event held in hundreds of cities across dozens of countries.”

Farmacy Dispensary is the first storefront cannabis retailer to receive a business licence from the City of Victoria.

Farmacy, on 3055 Scott St. near Hillside Avenue and Shelbourne Street, was inspected and determined to be complying with all rules under the city’s new regulatory scheme for pot shops.

Manager Andrew Gill could not be reached for comment, but the business posted a photo of the licence on social media and wrote: “We are now the first licensed dispensary in all of Victoria!! This is a huge step forward and we are very excited to be on the forefront of this progressive change.”

The fentanyl crisis is making its way back into the election campaign today.

The BC Liberal Party is promising to set aside all future marijuana revenue to provide help for those addicted to opioids and other drugs. This follows a call from a group of parents whose children have died during the ongoing overdose crisis that has killed hundreds of people across the province.

Continuing to ban pot shops with marijuana legalization on the horizon just helps organized crime, Kelowna city council will hear next week.

A would-be retailer of the drug says Kelowna will “suffer the consequences” if it moves forward with a plan to explicitly prevent the sale of marijuana in local shops.

“To keep cannabis out of the hands of children, and the profits out of the hands of criminals, regulating access to cannabis should be a high priority,” says information given to the city by Mark Conlin, on behalf of a firm called Starbuds.

“The status quo is no longer an option,” the company’s material states. “Choosing to do nothing means your community continues to suffer the consequences.”

Next month, thanks to entrepreneur and environmental activist Salimeh Tabrizi, M.Ed., more than 900 people will gather in Vancouver, B.C., to give thanks and offer protection to the cannabis plant.