Cannabis and other substance use can be a difficult subject for teachers to discuss with students. A group of Durham Region school boards are hoping to change that through improved staff training and by working to reduce the stigma. Albert Delitala reports.

Training designed to destigmatize the use of cannabis and other substances is coming to three school boards in Durham Region.

A new training guide, Understanding Substance Use, Stigma and Cannabis Vaping, is being rolled out to select educators within the Durham District School Board (DDSB), the Durham Catholic District School Board, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Canadian cannabis firm The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD) is celebrating its first medical cannabis shipment to Australia.

In September last year, TGOD inked a distribution agreement with LeafCann for Australian and New Zealand medical cannabis markets, where LeafCann will be the exclusive supplier of the company’s products in both countries.

While the first products were expected to be available to Australian patients by the end of the first quarter of this year, that didn’t eventuate for whatever reasons – and it’s not hard to think of a few.

In addition to challenges posed by the pandemic, anything related to cannabis tends to get bogged down by red tape.

Still, TGOD seems very happy with the way things have turned out.

Over $22 million worth of product at an unauthorized marijuana grow-op was seized by a joint task force in Niagara Region on Thursday, according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

OPP say raids happened at four locations on Oct.14 at two grow-ops and two residences in Vineland and St. Catharines.

Tilray, Inc. ("Tilray" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: TLRY; TSX: TLRY) announces the expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Blair MacNeil as President, Tilray Canada. In his new role, Blair will drive Tilray’s next stage of growth in Canada and oversee sales, marketing, and operations across medical and adult-use cannabis businesses. Blair will report to Jim Meiers, who has been appointed to Chief Operations Officer, Tilray, Inc.

The legal Canadian cannabis industry is about to turn 3, but don’t expect to see a lot of celebration among retailers and producers.

Legal marijuana has not turned out to be the big money maker investors were promised, neither has it produced consistently good products. Every aspect of the cannabis supply chain is a struggle: paper-thin margins; oversaturated retail; limited product innovation; lack of manufacturing efficiencies; and low brand loyalty are just a few of many problems.

In support of the historic third anniversary of the legalization of adult-use cannabis, the Cannabis Council of Canada (C3), the national organization of Canada’s licensed producers and processors, Cannabis Amnesty, Medical Cannabis Canada* (MCC), and NORML are releasing the “Not Done Yet Report Card.”  The “Not Done Yet Report Card” is an evaluation of cannabis legalization’s successes and challenges based on government objectives, industry outcomes, and cannabis community expectations. Topics covered include keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth, eliminating the illicit market, social justice and equity, access to medical cannabis, and industry viability.

Months after the end of his partnership with Canopy Growth Corp., Drake is getting back in the Cannabis game.

Bullrider did not reveal the size of Drake’s investment, but said he will act as a partner and strategic advisor.

“I’ve always viewed 40 as the expert when it comes to cannabis,” Drake said in a release.

“I’m very excited to invest, partner, and contribute to setting a new standard for a premium cannabis experience.”

40 credits the brand’s namesake strain, Afghani Bullrider, as a “life-changing product” that has helped him manage his multiple sclerosis symptoms.

A cannabis product label may clearly state indica or sativa, but a new scientific paper with a Canadian connection suggests the results may be more muddled, with the labels being “poor predictors of a sample’s genetics and chemistry.”

That may mean buyer beware for those specifically wanting sedating or uplifting effects . A purchaser may be expecting certain distinct aromas or psychoactive effects — based on the indica or sativa tag — but that’s not necessarily what they’re going to get.