Statistics Canada recently released the conclusions of a yearlong study examining levels of various illicit drugs, and cannabis, in the wastewater of Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax.

The pilot test study drew samples of the water in the period between March 2018 and February 2019. The research, one StatsCan claims is “the largest ever conducted in North America in terms of population covered,” was carried out in collaboration with Yargeau Laboratory of McGill University’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

Ontario has released results of its second lottery selecting 42 operators hoping to run cannabis shops in the province.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said it received 4,684 applicants in the draw.

Unlike the first lottery held earlier this year, which faced criticism for not including a merit component, applications for the second draw were required to show evidence that they have secured retail space that could be used as a store if they are selected, and that they have enough capital to open it.

Those selected will have until Aug. 28 to pay licensing fees, and provide a letter of credit for $50,000 to the regulator.

A numbered company with the same Toronto address as the illegal cannabis dispensary CAFE, which has repeatedly been shut down by city officials and police, was a winner in Ontario's latest cannabis store lottery. 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced 42 lottery winners — 4,800 people or companies had expressed interest in opening a legal pot shop — that will now have the chance to open a legal store on Wednesday. The full list is at the bottom of this story.

Among the winners was 11180673 Canada Inc., based at 104 Harbord St., where one of CAFE's location is based. 

CannTrust Holdings Inc. (TRST.TO 3.58%), the Canadian pot company that’s plunged more than half this year after it breached regulations, said Ontario’s cannabis wholesaler is returning its products.

The Ontario Cannabis Store, the government corporation in charge of wholesale distribution to licensed retailers and operator of the province’s online store, has elected to return all or substantially all of CannTrust products because they are “non-conforming.” The products are valued at about $2.9 million, CannTrust said in a statement Monday.

Health Canada hasn’t ordered a recall of any products, according to CannTrust.

Indiva and TerrAscend partner to manufacture and process high-quality cannabis oil for TerrAscend patients and consumers

Last Friday was the entry deadline for Ontario’s second cannabis retail license lottery. Applicants won’t know until Tuesday whether they’re among the winners. Unfortunately, there’s much else they and provincial taxpayers don’t know, because the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) keeps it all secret.

OCS, also called the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp., is a provincial crown corporation under the Ministry of Finance. It holds a legal monopoly on online recreational cannabis sales in Ontario. It’s also the sole supplier to privately owned cannabis stores.

Whoever said that stoners were lazy had obviously never encountered any of the organizers for the upcoming Ontario Cannabis Festival in Kitchener. These dedicated marijuana enthusiasts are boasting that they will attempt to set a new record for the world's longest joint. It's actually a lot longer than you might think.

A breathalyzer that can detect both alcohol and cannabis has caught the attention of Y Combinator, a California-based start-up accelerator that has previously worked with Reddit, Dropbox and Airbnb.

Aphria is a medical and recreational cannabis company that wants to educate people about not only the benefits and safety of cannabis, but also their different strains for different feelings.

The Solei Discovery Centre, hosted by Aphria, is a cannabis education pop-up booth at the popular Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival.

It has been open all weekend and will be open today from 1:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Based out of Leamington, Aphria is a licensed producer of recreational and medical cannabis; Solei is the name of one of their brands.

Megan McCrae, the vice president of marketing, said being at one of the biggest music festivals in the province just makes sense.

Canopy Rivers (TSXV: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) announced that its portfolio company Radicle Medical Marijuana received approval from Health Canada to expand its production facility in Ontario.

The approval will help the company to effectively double its production, increasing its capacity to 6,000 kilograms per year. With the Health Canada approval, Radicle will have 40,000 sq. ft. dedicated to indoor hydroponic cultivation.