Toronto begins to look at dispensary regulations, US FDA learns about the MMPR, Canadian researchers in Poland, a possible task force announcement and more.

It’s a big week for those focussed on cannabis and cannabis policy in Canada. Several meetings and expected announcements, as well as one possible discussion are lined up for this last week in June.

The frustration of 9:53 p.m. is well known in Ontario. It's the time where glancing at a watch or phone is accompanied by a heartbroken sigh and softly uttered four-letter expletive. Your dinner party is down to its last bottle of wine, some friends just surprised you from out of town, you're just a responsible adult that had to work late. But you certainly aren't allowed to enjoy a glass of wine in any of these circumstances according to Ontario's incredibly outdated alcohol and "social responsibility" laws.

A month after police raids on storefront medicinal marijuana dispensaries, dozens continue to sell pot across Toronto including some raided outlets that have reopened.

“We understand the illegality of what we’re doing,” says Katey Asaph of Eden Medicinal Society on Queen St. W., which resumed sales to those with proof of an ailment or injury a few days after the May 26 raids that saw staff, including Asaph, hit with Criminal Code drug trafficking charges.

“There will always be a chance (of another raid) going forward, but we continue to remain open to provide a safe and comfortable space so that our clients can rely on us for cannabis access.”

Ontario is working on regulations for the recreational marijuana market ahead of the federal government's plan to introduce a legalization bill in spring 2017. But one activist thinks the province's regulations could cost taxpayers a tremendous amount of money, while inadvertently keeping the black market for cannabis in business.

On June 18, the Toronto Star reported that Ontario's ministries of finance and health have struck a working group with the province's attorney general to draft a framework for regulations.

Mike Dixon wants to send plants to Mars. Growing crops in space is the best way to provide proper nutrition to the crew on a long-duration mission, this University of Guelph researcher believes—but because there’s no manned mission to Mars scheduled at the moment, it’s hard to get funding for this type of research.

In the meantime, he and a growing number of other botanists are studying a plant where there’s plenty of funding right now, in Canada anyway: cannabis.

Bill Blair, the federal government’s lead on legalizing marijuana, has been quietly meeting with advocates for the illegal pot shops springing up across the country, hearing their arguments for how regulating the sector could help eliminate the black market.

For those of us who have spent the time studying spirituality, meditation, yoga and various other hippy-dippy ways of being content in the moment, you know what these things can do to improve your quality of life considerably. If you also happen to be a marijuana enthusiast, then you are aware that it’s a whole lot easier to find your Chi when you’ve had some Chiba.

Marijuana dispensary owners, clerks and landlords got their first day in court Wednesday, with several calling it a waste of time and money as Canada moves toward full pot legalization.

More than a dozen people appeared at Old City Hall on provincial charges of contravening Toronto’s zoning bylaw that states only federal licensed marijuana distributors, who mail or courier pot, can operate in the city and only in industrial parts of Toronto.

Most accused received disclosure of the case against them and a date to return for trial in August on the charges that carry a maximum fine of $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations.

Canada's medical marijuana industry has recently become a battleground between the nation's "gray market" dispensaries - illegal storefronts selling marijuana in cities like Vancouver and Toronto - and licensed producers such as Tilray and OrganiGram

Virginia Maria Vidal started medicating with marijuana in 2003, after the birth of triplets left her with post-natal discomfort. She ran into trouble over the years, once being arrested, charged, and eventually acquitted of possessing 19 grams of pot. Even after obtaining a licence to use medical marijuana, the 45-year-old mother of six and caregiver to a grandparent with dementia found the smoke to be a nuisance and embarrassing. So she ground it into tea instead.