Article by Vanmala Subramaniam, Growth Op Small and mid-sized cannabis companies say they are finding it increasingly hard to obtain basic credit facilities from some of Canada’s largest financial institutions amid heightened scrutiny on the struggling sector. “It seems that most charted banks do not want to entertain new applications for lines of credits, loans, or new bank accounts,” said ...

Article by Skyler Ash, Growth Op Alberta loves cannabis. Some argue it has become the centre of Canada when it comes to weed. As of December, 360 stores had applied for a cannabis license to the province’s Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis agency. “Alberta’s done a great job in building a network,” said Dave Bigoni, chief marketing officer at Canopy ...

Article by Jeff Lagerquist, Yahoo Finance Canada Canadian cannabis retail chains see themselves as the kingmakers of brands, and the growth engine driving the sector as more store locations broaden access to legal pot. Analysts expect a strong performance from pot shop chains in 2020, as producers seek to wedge pricier products into limited store space. However, the capital crunch of 2019 ...

Article by David Yasvinski, Growth Op A tumultuous year for cannabis in Canada has carried over into 2020 with news that Report on Business Cannabis Professional,TheGlobe and Mail’s marijuana publication, will stop publishing soon. “Cannabis Professional will be discontinued as a stand-alone product as of Feb. 1, 2020,” Lanna Crucefex, communications manager for TheGlobe and Mail, told The GrowthOp. “Instead, we will be ...

Article by Emma Spears, Growth Op Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is mulling putting disposable cannabis vape pens on the list of drugs and devices that qualify for a reimbursement program. The department has categorized vaporizers as medical devices for about five years. Veterans, as well as retired RCMP officers, may be reimbursed up to $300 for their purchase of a vape to ...

Article by Emma Spears, Growth Op A team of Ontario researchers have discovered that a cannabis-derived compound may be effective in killing drug-resistant bacteria. Microbiologists from Hamilton, Ont.’s McMaster University explored the potential antibiotic properties of five cannabis-derived compounds. They discovered that CBG (cannabigerol) — the lesser-known sibling of more popular cannabinoids such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) — was capable ...

Article by Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun More than 1.5 million British Columbians in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have no local retail access to recreational cannabis more than a year after weed was legalized for sale. “In B.C., municipalities have been given veto power over the rights that the federal government has given to Canadians, the right to regulated, ...

Article by David Yasvinski, Growth Op The Master Vapourizer has arrived. Figr is looking beyond Atlantic Canada, having just launched its new line of vaping products that will be available first at the Ontario Cannabis Store and then select retail locations across the country. “Our new vape pods and cartridges are designed to deliver the same experience our customers expect ...

Article by Sam Riches, Growth Op Three of Canada’s largest cannabis producers are facing multiple lawsuits in the United States, CBC is reporting. At least nine U.S. law firms are pursuing cases against Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Hexo Corp., CBC said, with allegations ranging from misleading investors to failing to disclose problems with their businesses. As stock prices soared leading ...

Article by Gilbert Ngabo, Toronto Star It cost the city more than $350,000 to install — and then reinstall — giant concrete slabs to block the entrance to four illegal cannabis shops in Toronto last summer. The city’s senior communications adviser Alex Burke said the total cost was $361,459.49, which included the costs of labour to install, remove and reinstall ...