Vic Neufeld says advertising is the biggest barrier for his company going forward.

As the bill that will introduce the legalization of cannabis in Canada gets noodled around in Ottawa, one marijuana mogul said there's only one major barrier he's watching.

"One very simple one, and that's advertising."

Vic Neufeld is the CEO of Aphria — one of Canada's largest cannabis producers with facilities located in Leamington, Ont. His company has been expanding its medicinal and recreational cannabis production abilities, so he's been watching closely as Bill C-45 makes its way through the Senate and back to the House. 

Legal recreational cannabis coming into effect in Canada has left a lot of employers feeling unprepared with how to deal with employees using marijuana at work.

Lorenzo Lisi and David Reiter, Partners at Aird & Berlis LLP spoke at the O’Cannabiz Conference and Expo in Toronto last week in a panel called Cannabis in the Workplace: Policies, Planning to Avoid Liability and Industry Stigma. The discussion provided insight on how to manage cannabis consumption in the workplace and how to accommodate those who require cannabis for medical use.

Survey asks public thoughts on cannabis, interest in trying pot products.

With the legalization of marijuana on the horizon, the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) wants to know what the community thinks about cannabis and its products through an online survey.

The public will have until the end of June to fill out the anonymous survey, which will ask people about their attitudes and knowledge of cannabis, cannabis use and impacts — and if they are interested in trying cannabis edibles.

Staff at the Municipality of Highlands East are preparing for changes coming once marijuana is legalized in Canada this summer.

CAO Shannon Hunter told council that a memo had been issued to staff regarding drug use in the workplace. That memo states that despite the changes to legislation, “employees are prohibited from consuming, possessing, selling or transferring cannabis (including any substances containing cannabis) in the workplace, which includes all of the municipality’s properties and vehicles.”

The municipality is also anticipating calls to the bylaw department by property owners about “smell and odour” from neighbours’ properties, or potentially  about people using marijuana in public places.

Ontario licensed producer INIDIVA Ltd. is one of the most innovative small to mid-cap companies currently awaiting recreational cannabis legalization in the second half of 2018.  INDIVA Ltd. is traded on the TSXv under the symbol NDVA, and has been expanding its scope of operations as it prepares to open for business.

A move to tell the Province of Ontario that Sault Ste. Marie doesn't want a cannabis store failed miserably.

In fact, only the mover of the resolution, Ward 2 Coun. Susan Myers, voted in favor of the resolution to go on record opposing the opening of a retail cannabis outline in Sault Ste. Marie.

Myers wanted council to go on record opposing the opening of a retail cannabis outlet in Sault Ste. Marie because of all the harmful effects drugs have on the community at large, and particularly youth.

Planetary Pride and SWW Farms CEO Rob Waddell released a statement to SaultOnline in response to the upcoming resolution (to be discussed at council on June 11th) put forth by Councillors Myers and Hollingsworth which seeks to ban retail cannabis stores in the Sault.

The statement reads as follows,

“The upcoming legalization of cannabis Bill C-45 for recreational usage is a step forward in policy for Canada, and the fear mongering motion put forth by Councillor Myers and supported by Councillor Hollingsworth is five steps backwards.

The Sault is one of 14 locations chosen for the new Ontario Cannabis Store.

City council in Sault Ste. Marie could give the cold shoulder Monday night to a legal pot shop planned for the city.

The Sault is one of 14 cities the Ontario Cannabis Store is looking to do business in later this summer, after the federal government legalizes marijuana.

City councillor Susan Myers has tabled a motion calling on Sault city council to oppose the province's plans.

She's worried legal recreational marijuana will only make the city's opiate problems—which got national news attention earlier this year— worse.

"It's a feeder to more serious drugs," says Myers.  

Will Doug Ford change the way recreational cannabis is going to be sold in Ontario?

That’s the question on the minds of Canadian marijuana executives after the Progressive Conservatives swept to power in Thursday’s election.

The rules governing marijuana retailing will vary by province, and Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals chose to place both online and in-store sales in the hands of the government, tasking the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) with the job.

But there is a sense in the cannabis industry that Mr. Ford, the PC Leader who has made no secret of his disdain for monopolies, could be open to pursuing other retailing models that involve the private sector.

The condo is slated to open for occupancy in 2021.

Canadians across the country are closely watching the countdown to the legalization of cannabis this summer, with many businesses clamouring to join the multi-billion dollar pot industry. 

A Toronto housing developer, however, is bucking the trend by selling the GTA's first "smokeless" condominium. 

"We know that smoke moves between units in buildings, it's impossible to prevent that," explained Heather Tremain, CEO of developer Options for Homes.

Tremain says the developer decided to go ahead with the idea after asking itself an important question.