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Rastafari gain sacramental rights to cannabis in Antigua and Barbuda, celebrate freedom of worship

LIBERTA, Antigua (AP) — On the same ground where their enslaved ancestors were forced to plant sugar cane, Rastafari in this small island nation are now legally growing and ritualistically smoking cannabis.

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Cannabis price 'race to the bottom' in Canada hurts market's future

TORONTO - The head of Ontario's cannabis distributor says the "race to the bottom" happening with pot prices risks hurting the market's future.

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Minnesota governor signs bill to legalize marijuana, effective this summer

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) — Surrounded by dozens of people wearing green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.

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Canopy Growth signs deal with Indiva for Wana brand of edibles

SMITHS FALLS, Ont. - Cannabis company Canopy Growth Corp. has signed a deal with Indiva Ltd. for the exclusive rights and interests to manufacture, distribute and sell Wana branded edible products in Canada.

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Competition Bureau recommends changing THC limits for edibles, easing pot packaging

Canada's competition watchdog is putting its weight behind some longtime cannabis industry asks including easing restrictions on cannabis packaging and adjusting limits on how much of pot’s psychoactive component can be in edible products.

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Doctors concerned more people using cannabis during pregnancy

Researchers say an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to cannabis use by pregnant women is raising concerns about risks including preterm labour, low birth weight and negative effects on the baby's developing brain.

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Group plans to put legalization of medical marijuana on Nebraska ballot

A group led by a Nebraska state lawmaker plans to again try to put the question of legalizing medical marijuana before state voters in November 2024.

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Singapore hangs 2nd citizen in 3 weeks for trafficking cannabis

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore on Wednesday hanged another citizen for trafficking cannabis, the second in three weeks, as it clung firmly to the death penalty despite growing calls for the city-state to halt drug-related executions.

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Negotiators finalize details of bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House and Senate negotiators wrapped up work this week on the details of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota, setting the stage for final votes in the closing days of the legislative session.

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Kids, stay away from the Stoney Patch candies and Double-Stuf Stoneos

Illegal edible cannabis products are being sold in Canada that look very much like popular candies and goodies consumed by children.

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Canopy Growth to refile financial results after finding BioSteel 'material misstatements'

SMITHS FALLS, Ont. - Canopy Growth Corp. says it will refile three of its past quarterly financial statements after uncovering "material misstatements" linked to its BioSteel business.

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New Hampshire Senate rejects marijuana legalization bill, leaving state an outlier in New England

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Senate rejected a marijuana legalization bill Thursday, leaving it the only state in New England that makes smoking pot recreationally a crime.

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Connecticut seeks to rein in high TCH marijuana products

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — After discovering cannabis products are being sold in convenience and CBD stores across Connecticut with higher levels of THC than regulated dispensaries, legislators moved Tuesday to impose new restrictions on the amount of marijuana’s main intoxicating component in these products.

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Marijuana moonlighting: Oregon official quits due to pot job

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced her resignation amid sharp criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for having moonlighted as a highly-paid consultant to a marijuana business.

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Okanagan band member suing province over Vernon cannabis store raid

An Okanagan Indian Band member who set up a pot shop in downtown Vernon without provincial approval is suing the province for closing him down.

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Scooby doobie don't: Discarded joints pose hazards for dogs

NEW YORK (AP) — Bondi, an 8-month-old toy poodle, had just returned from a walk when he began stumbling. His head wobbled and soon he could barely stand, so his owner, Colleen Briggs, rushed him to the vet.

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Singapore executes man for helping buy 2 pounds of cannabis

HONG KONG (AP) — Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence.

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Ben & Jerry's co-founder starts nonprofit cannabis company

WILLISTON, Vt. (AP) — One of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's has gone from ice cream to cannabis with a social mission.

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iN VIDEO: Film explores B.C. woman's experience with magic mushrooms to ease cancer anxiety

Laurie Brooks never thought she'd one day use magic mushrooms and advocate for the ability of others to do the same.

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Kelowna cannabis company suing Indigenous Bloom alleging broken business deal

A Kelowna-based cannabis company is suing Indigenous Bloom alleging it wasn't paid $160,000 in share agreements.

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Wisconsin GOP lawmakers working on medical pot legalization

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — After years of opposition to any form of marijuana legalization in Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are now working privately to build support for a medical cannabis program that could win bipartisan backing and be enacted into law later this year, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press on Thursday.

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How 4/20 celebrations have changed in Kamloops, Okanagan

Advocates of cannabis have been gathering for 4/20 Day on April 20 every year for decades to celebrate marijuana culture and push to loosen laws banning the substance, lighting up at 4:20 p.m.

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Uber Eats launches cannabis delivery service in Vancouver, Victoria

VANCOUVER - A partnership between Uber Eats and cannabis resource company Leafly means some British Columbia residents are now able to order legal pot and have it delivered to their door.

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Pot shop robberies spur push to end restrictions on window displays

TORONTO - When Elisa Keay works at her Toronto cannabis store, the days feel long and dark — even when the sun is bright.

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Home invaders assaulted people who were not involved with Abbotsford grow-op

Two victims of a home invasions in B.C. had nothing to do with the marijuana grow-op on site.

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Supreme Court says Quebec's ban on homegrown cannabis plants is constitutional

OTTAWA - Quebec’s ban on possessing and cultivating cannabis plants for personal purposes is constitutional, Canada's high court ruled Friday.

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Compassion at Penticton cannabis shop goes up in smoke

Cannabis Cottage is in the heart of downtown Penticton so many of its customers are people living on the street.

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Cannabis company Phoena will wind down business under creditor protection

Phoena Holdings Inc. plans to wind down its business and has obtained creditor protection for a second time.

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Cannabis company Tilray to buy rival Hexo in all-share deal

Tilray Brands Inc. is buying fellow cannabis company Hexo Corp. in an all-share deal valued at US$56 million aimed at helping the business navigate a "challenging" cannabis market that has seen significant price compression.

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New York OKs 99 more pot shop licenses after court ruling

NEW YORK (AP) — New York regulators approved 99 new provisional licenses for recreational marijuana dispensaries Monday as they try to speed up the rollout of a legal market that had been impeded by a court ruling.

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SNDL to purchase four Dutch Love cannabis stores in $7.8 million deal

Calgary-based pot retailer SNDL Inc. says it is buying four Dutch Love cannabis stores from Lightbox Enterprises Ltd.

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Shoppers Drug Mart moves away from medical cannabis, will send patients to Avicanna

TORONTO - Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is moving away from its medical cannabis distribution business and preparing to transfer patients to a platform run by biopharmaceutical company Avicanna Inc.

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Health-care professionals fight decision to reject access to psilocybin for training

Canada violated the rights of hundreds of patients awaiting access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy when it rejected applications from health-care professionals to consume the restricted drug for training purposes, a lawyer for the workers argued in Federal Court on Tuesday.

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B.C. man evicted for medical cannabis use wins first round of human rights case

A disabled B.C. man who says he was kicked out of his basement suite for using medical marijuana has won the first round of a Human Rights Tribunal case.

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Cannabis 'price war' could cause 'significant' damage to industry: HEXO CEO

Hexo Corp.'s chief executive says he's seen a "price war" take shape over the last five months that could cause "significant" damage to Canada's cannabis industry.

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Meth-related ER visits on the rise in Ontario, following western Canada trend: study

Amphetamine-related visits to Ontario emergency departments have skyrocketed over the last two decades, a recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry says.

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Class-action lawsuit proposed for shareholders affected by Adastra cocaine claim

VANCOUVER - A Vancouver-based law firm says it has filed a proposed securities class-action lawsuit on behalf of anyone who acquired shares in a B.C. company that recently announced plans to commercialize cocaine.

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Oklahoma voters reject legalizing recreational marijuana

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors.

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North Carolina Senate backs legalizing pot for medical use

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Senate voted to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes, giving strong bipartisan support for the second year in a row to an idea that its supporters say would give relief to those with debilitating or life-ending illnesses.

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Phoena CEO Guyatt steps down, Melissen takes helm of pot company

VAUGHAN, Ont. - Phoena Inc. says chief executive Greg Guyatt has resigned.

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Cannabis companies weigh pricing strategies after OCS margin cut

TORONTO - Canopy Growth Corp. will hold its prices as licensed pot producers weigh whether to pass along to consumers the savings from the Ontario Cannabis Store's forthcoming margin decrease.

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Ontario Cannabis Store reducing price margins to help pot businesses compete

TORONTO - In a bid to help retailers compete with the illicit pot market, the Ontario Cannabis Store will lower its price margins this fall — but its chief executive warns the move won't solve all the industry's woes.

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Red states join push to legalize magic mushrooms for therapy

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Shawn Blymiller spent 10 years of feeling mostly numbed while prescribed traditional anti-depressants, trudging through his day-to-day life as a suburban Salt Lake City father of two kids balancing the obligations of family and work selling technology software.

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Afroman is returning to the Okanagan

American rapper Afroman has booked a show in Kelowna, marking his second Okanagan performance in under a year.

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Aurora Cannabis records $67.2 million net loss in second quarter

Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced Thursday that it has completed a transformation plan delivering $340 million in annualized savings since February 2020, but said it still incurred a $67.2 million net loss in its most recent quarter.

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Cannabis company Canopy Growth to lay off 800, close and consolidate some facilities

Canopy Growth Corp. will lay off 800 workers as part of a transformation plan that will see the company close a former Hershey chocolate plant it tookover and consolidate some of its cultivation operations.

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Banning guns for marijuana users unconstitutional: U.S. Federal Judge

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge in Oklahoma has ruled that a federal law prohibiting people who use marijuana from owning firearms is unconstitutional, the latest challenge to firearms regulations after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority set new standards for reviewing the nation’s gun laws.

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Legal recreational pot sales begin for Missouri adults

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Recreational marijuana sales in Missouri officially last week after the state health department unexpectedly began approving dispensary permits early.

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Ontario cannabis shop sales data circulating, provincial pot regulators investigate

TORONTO - Ontario cannabis stores are seeing their sales data shared among competitors without approval for at least the second time in a year, sparking concerns for shops competing in an already intense industry.

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Psychedelic churches in U.S. pushing boundaries of religion

HILDALE, Utah (AP) — The tea tasted bitter and earthy, but Lorenzo Gonzales drank it anyway. On that frigid night in remote Utah, he was hoping for a life-changing experience, which is how he found himself inside a tent with two dozen others waiting for the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca to kick in.

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Hong Kong bans CBD, label it a 'dangerous drug'

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong has banned CBD, categorizing it as a “dangerous drug" and mandating harsh penalties for its smuggling, production and possession, customs authorities announced.

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Cannabis company The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings changing name to BZAM

TORONTO - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. is changing its name to BZAM Ltd.

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Cannabis company Hexo regains compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement

GATINEAU, Que. - Hexo Corp. says the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC has informed the cannabis company that it has regained compliance with minimum bid price requirements.

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Flavoured cannabis marketing in U.S. criticized for targeting kids

NEW YORK (AP) — When New York's first licensed recreational marijuana outlet opened last month, the chief of the state's Office of Cannabis Management, Chris Alexander, proudly hoisted a tin of watermelon-flavoured gummies above the crowd.

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Cannabis company Organigram reports Q1 profit as revenue and margins improve

TORONTO - Organigram Holdings Inc. reported a profit in its latest quarter compared with a loss a year earlier as its revenue and margins improved.

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As under-the-table market grows, patients urge Ottawa to regulate magic mushrooms

OTTAWA - Thomas Hartle became one of the first Canadians to receive a federal exemption to treat symptoms of his stage-four colon cancer with magic mushrooms just a few years ago — and he was celebrated for it.

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750,000 B.C. residents in favour of public cannabis consumption: survey

VICTORIA - British Columbia has released results of public engagement on the possible approval of cannabis consumption spaces, such as at lounges, cafes, special events or other businesses where marijuana products are available for sale.

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Tilray CEO 'frustrated' with 'slow' march toward U.S. legalization, reports Q2 loss

Tilray Brands Inc. reported a second-quarter net loss of US$61.6 million in its most recent quarter as it temporarily slowed cannabis production because of the "longer-than-anticipated march toward legalization" in some markets.

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Aurora Cannabis closes sale of Aurora Polaris facility for $15M in gross proceeds

EDMONTON - Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it has closed the sale of its Aurora Polaris facility.

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Why this Summerland cannabis shop is up for sale

Call it a pipe dream with a sad ending.  

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As legal pot grows in U.S., more kids sickened by edibles at home

The number of young kids, especially toddlers, who accidentally ate marijuana-laced treats rose sharply over five years as pot became legal in more places in the U.S., according to a study published Tuesday.

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Recreational marijuana dispensaries on the rise in Vermont

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — In the first three months that Vermont has allowed the retail sale of marijuana for adult recreational use, the number of dispensaries around the state has grown from just three to about 25, with several more are expected to open soon.

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Shuswap family gets scare when dog ingests marijuana butt

A family in the Shuswap endured eight nerve-wracking hours on New Year’s Eve when their puppy got sick from ingesting a marijuana butt.

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Okanagan veteran jumping through hoops to obtain medical CBD

Chris Nuessler has access to all the CBD oil he wants, but the Summerland man insists he shouldn't have to jump through government hoops to obtain it for free.

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Summerland family awaiting Charlotte Web's Canadian arrival

The New Year can't come soon enough for Elaine Nuessler and her husband Chris. 

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Cannabis-infused figs in Quebec may be delicious, but black market still thriving

MONTREAL - Cauliflower, garden beet, reishi mushroom — these are some of the odd flavours of edibles for sale at Quebec's provincially owned cannabis stores.

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New York opens first legal cannabis dispensary

NEW YORK (AP) — The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on Thursday, opening up what is expected to be one of the country's most lucrative markets for cannabis — underscored by the dozens of unauthorized shops that have operated in the open for years.

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New York to open first legal pot dispensary by year's end

NEW YORK (AP) — The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York is set to open Dec. 29, marking a long-awaited launch of a cannabis industry that could become one of the country's most lucrative.

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Hexo reports $52.1M net loss in Q2, announces share consolidation

GATINEAU, Que. - Hexo Corp. says its most recent quarter delivered a $52.1 million net loss as the cannabis company purged unprofitable products and streamlined its business.

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Court case against ex-CannTrust leaders should prompt OSC 'soul-searching': experts

TORONTO - Legal experts say the acquittal of three former cannabis executives should prompt the Ontario Securities Commission to do some "deep soul searching."

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Former CannTrust leaders acquitted in unlicensed growing trial

TORONTO - An Ontario court has acquitted three former cannabis leaders charged with offences linked to unlicensed growing at a Niagara area greenhouse.

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OSC says no reasonable prospect of conviction in CannTrust case

TORONTO - The Ontario Securities Commission says it no longer has a reasonable prospect of convicting three former cannabis company leaders linked to securities offences at CannTrust Holdings Inc.

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RCMP bust multi-million dollar illegal cannabis mail order operation in B.C.

Three people were arrested in Surrey and White Rock in a B.C. RCMP investigation into a multi-million dollar illegal online mail order cannabis operation.

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Kamloops to consider drop in pot shop fees, highest in Thompson-Okanagan

Kamloops is the last big city in the Thompson-Okanagan region to drop its exorbitant cannabis business license fees.

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Feds change pot drink regulations allowing Canadians to buy more beverages at once

OTTAWA - The federal government has approved a change in how the cannabis content of beverages is calculated, pushing the number of standard-sized, canned pot drinks that can be bought at once from five to 48.

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CannTrust CEO was warned over illicit pot growing: former compliance worker

TORONTO - A former director of quality and compliance at CannTrust Holdings Inc. says he warned the company's chief executive that Health Canada could levy penalties if the firm grew cannabis in unlicensed rooms at its Niagara, Ont. facility.

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Former CannTrust compliance worker says unlicensed growing 'very openly' discussed

TORONTO - A former director of quality and compliance at CannTrust Holdings Inc. says the growth of cannabis in unlicensed rooms was "very openly discussed" at the pot company.

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Feds name doctors, academics and lawyer to Cannabis Act review panel

OTTAWA - The federal government has announced a panel of experts that will lead a statutory review of the country's Cannabis Act.

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CannTrust execs linked to unlicensed growing caused 'incredible' damage, court hears

TORONTO - A lawyer representing Ontario's securities regulator says three former executives whose cannabis company was caught growing pot in unlicensed rooms were in positions to disclose the improper growing but didn't.

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Thai marijuana boosters rally to keep drug decriminalized

BANGKOK (AP) — Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with marijuana motifs and handling out samples, around 200 backers of Thailand’s liberalized marijuana regulations rallied Tuesday at Government House in Bangkok to protest the possible rollback of the drug's recent decriminalization.

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New York issues first licenses for legal pot dispensaries

NEW YORK (AP) — New York issued its first 36 cannabis dispensary licenses on Monday, taking a monumental step in establishing a legal — and lucrative — marketplace for recreational marijuana.

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New York hasn't licensed any pot shops, yet they abound

NEW YORK (AP) — Eager, anxious and frustrated, Yuri Krupitsky is waiting to find out whether he'll get to open one of the first legal recreational marijuana shops in New York state.

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Walz says Minnesota Legislature could legalize pot in 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The chances for legalizing recreational marijuana in Minnesota got a huge boost from the Democratic sweep in the state’s elections, and Gov Tim Walz confirmed Friday that he told former Gov. Jesse Ventura that he thinks it could be one of the first bills he signs in the new year.

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Judge halts pot dispensary licenses in parts of New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York from issuing recreational marijuana dispensary licenses in Brooklyn and parts of upstate New York while a legal challenge to the state’s selection process is being considered.

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Colorado voters decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms

DENVER (AP) — Colorado voters have passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older and to create state-regulated “healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision.

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Aurora Cannabis CEO says company on track for profitability as it posts Q1 net loss

Aurora Cannabis Inc.'s chief executive insisted his company was on track to meet its profitability target even as it recorded a $51.9 million net loss and saw consumer pot net revenue fall 28 per cent from a year ago.

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Canopy Growth CEO hopeful for cannabis reforms after U.S. midterms

The head of Canopy Growth Corp. has high hopes for the U.S. Senate and potential cannabis legislation after Tuesday's midterm elections.

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Cannabis company Tilray to buy New York brewer Montauk Brewing Company

NEW YORK - Tilray Brands Inc. has acquired Montauk Brewing Company in a bid to expand its U.S. alcohol division.

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U.S. CBD company Charlotte's Web signs deal with Canadian cannabis company Tilray

LEAMINGTON, Ont. - Charlotte's Web Holdings Inc. has signed a deal with Tilray Brands Inc. for the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of Charlotte's Web CBD hemp extract products in Canada.

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Kelowna cannabis company gets creditor protection

Kelowna-based cannabis company Flowr has been granted creditor protection after reporting heavy losses for the last 18 months.

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B.C. child taken to hospital after getting cannabis candy: Police

Richmond RCMP is urging parents to double-check the candy their kids collected on Halloween after a child inadvertently consumed a cannabis candy.

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Canopy warns Nasdaq objects to plans for U.S. holding company, could delist pot firm

SMITHS FALLS, Ont. - Canopy Growth Corp. is warning a U.S. holding company it wants to set up could be delisted from the Nasdaq stock exchange, which is objecting to some of its plans.

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Canopy Growth looks to grow U.S. business with new holding company structure

Canopy Growth Corp.'s share price surged more than 27 per cent as it announced it will fast track its plans for the U.S. market with the creation of a new U.S.-domiciled company meant to hold its cannabis investments made south of the border.

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Cronos Group, former exec agree to pay fines as part of SEC, OSC settlements

TORONTO - Cronos Group Inc. and one of its former executives signed settlements Monday with U.S. and Canadian regulators that accused them of filing inaccurate financial statements.

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The Green Organic Dutchman signs deal to merge with BZAM Cannabis

TORONTO - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TGOD) has signed a deal to merge with BZAM Holdings, a privately owned cannabis company.

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Province cracks down on Indigenous pot shop in South Okanagan

The authorities took action against an unlicensed pot shop in the South Okanagan this morning.

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Former CannTrust leaders plead not guilty to securities offences

TORONTO - Three former CannTrust Holdings Inc. leaders have pleaded not guilty to quasi-criminal charges related to thousands of kilograms of cannabis found growing in unlicensed rooms operated by the company.

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Uber Eats to process cannabis deliveries in Toronto through new Leafly partnership

Toronto cannabis shoppers will be able to request cannabis deliveries through Uber Eats starting Monday.

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