If there’s one thing the western stretch of the Danforth, a busy street in Toronto’s east end, suddenly isn’t short of, it’s cannabis stores.

First it was Canvas, a brightly lit store in a former diner, part of a small local chain. Then, ten minutes’ walk down the street, Friendly Stranger, owned by national chain Fire & Flower, opened up shop. Then Green Merchant, part of a small local chain, opened a store across the street from the Friendly Stranger.

Finally, Canopy Growth, owner of retail chain Tokyo Smoke, confirmed this week to CTVNews.ca that they plan to open a fourth store in the neighbourhood, just across from Canvas.

As Canadian operators race to strengthen their positions in the cannabis landscape, are international pursuits outside North America still top of mind?

The role that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have played in the expansion of Canadian companies across the globe has been monumental for the growth of the cannabis industry. Now the space has reached a critical point as the demands of the US market increase.

With the dominance of the US rising, how exactly do international plays beyond North America fit into the appetite for Canadian companies and investors alike?

A Canada Border Services Agency-led operation that involved police and customs officials on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border has netted well over a half-ton of cannabis and almost a half-million in cash.

Specifically, the authorities seized 556 kilograms of weed, $467,480 in Canadian currency, US$3,000, three loaded handguns with their magazines, and five vehicles, notes a statement this week from the CBSA.

For retailers of cannabis, 2020 likely marks a temporary high point, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.

Year-to-year sales of cannabis as measured in dollars roughly doubled in 2020, from about $148 million in December 2019 to $298 million in December 2020. It is important to point out that cannabis retailers currently account for a tiny share of overall retail following the legalization of cannabis sales in the fall of 2018. Retail sales in December 2020 alone totalled $53.4 billion and $606 billion for all of 2020.

Given all of the unexpected circumstances of 2020, virtually every company — in every industry — is undergoing some level of change. From rethinking how their businesses are run, to reevaluating which strategies are going to be effective moving forward, there’s a lot for business owners to think about in 2021.

The cannabis industry has not been exempt from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the development and distribution of new vaccines, many are still wondering what recovery could look like.

When Canada finally introduced the regulations that would allow edible and drinkable cannabis products in 2019, the industry was abuzz with excitement. A year after legalization, it seemed consumers would finally have access to infused snacks and beverages comparable to products found in legal states south of the border.

The rising tide of legal cannabis commerce is finally attracting the attention of so-called “Big Beer” corporations, and with good reason. Over the past seven years, home and craft brewers carved a niche for themselves by partnering with hemp farms and wholesale retailers with cannabis terpenes for sale to make infused beers — a novel and unique new line of products in a once oversaturated beer market.

Since 2017, Big Beer has slowly begun to test the waters of the infused beer space with the rollout of a number of tentative, experimental products.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. said its second-quarter revenue came in flat from the prior period, while missing expectations as the company sold less legal pot in the Canadian recreational market. 

Aurora said that it generated $67.7 million in revenue in its fiscal second quarter, little changed from the prior three-month period, but up 23 per cent from last year. The Edmonton-based company said its sales in the Canadian recreational cannabis market fell 17 per cent from the prior quarter to $28.6 million while its medical cannabis revenue rose 16 per cent to $38.9 million. 

"We made some decisions in the quarter that impact on revenue," said Miguel Martin, chief executive officer at Aurora, in an interview. 

A new analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) confirms what many have reported for months: COVID-19 has ratcheted up cannabis and alcohol use.