Canadians who currently use cannabis expect to buy nearly two-thirds of their pot from legal retailers once recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada, a new survey suggests.

Moreover, respondents to the survey say they expect to buy cannabis more often and are prepared to pay more for the legal product, generating up to $4.34 billion in total sales next year.

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The findings were drawn from an online survey of 1,500 Canadians, conducted by Asking Canadians from March 6-20.

It was commissioned by accounting giant Deloitte, which provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services for its clients.

Social stigma of smoking inspires new ‘delivery’ methods.

Canadian entrepreneurs are busy developing a wide range of new ways to use recreational cannabis in a socially acceptable way — without having to roll or smoke a joint.

Cocktails, beer, coffee and tea — along with specially designed vape devices — are in the works. None will create the notorious stench or clouds of smoke associated with marijuana and they will offer non-smokers more choices, beyond the edible cannabis products already on the market.

A Conservative attempt to delay cannabis legalization was handily shot down in a 50 to 29 vote in the Senate on Monday night.

Conservative senators argued legalizing recreational marijuana could slow border travel, lead to an increase in Canadians turned away from the border for consuming a legal substance and even hurt Canada’s reputation and trade with the U.S.

Conservative Sen. Yonah Martin said legalization would be a “disastrous policy decision” that will “put us at odds” with the U.S.

But a majority in the upper chamber rejected that view and voted down Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos’ move to slow the passage of the bill until the government tables a report in Parliament outlining how it will deal with pot-related border issues.

As legalization of marijuana approaches in Canada, 51 cannabis retail applicants in Saskatchewan are under review.

The province will look at each application and decide whether to grant permits to legally sell marijuana to the public once it is legalized later this fall.

Allen and Denise Kilback in the R.M. of Edenwold were granted a permit. The couple owns the Happy Hour Liquor Store in Pilot Butte. They hope to make a pot shop that is similar. The Kilbacks have visited stores in the United States, and want their store to provide a world class, safe feeling.

"It’s going to be a high end dispensary. Where people are going to want to come to, and feel safe, and have excellent customer service,” Kilback said.

Flourish CAO Michael Smith appearing before Belleville’s Planning Committee, June 4, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)

A proposal to develop a medical marijuana production facility in Belleville’s Northeast Industrial Park has passed the first hurdle.

Global Citrus Group plans to develop a 200,000 square foot facility on University Avenue, in the former Exxon Mobil building.

CAO of Flourish, Michael Smith, told Belleville’s Planning Committee Monday night this company will focus on medicine for women in terms of relieving menapausal pains and sleep-related PMS.

Smith said there would be 45 to 50 jobs before the end of 2018 and 200 jobs by 2019 in the grow and extraction facility, and an estimated $250 million business by 2020.

Impaired driving enforcement, drafting bylaws and zoning changes are just some of the concerns officials have.

As cannabis legalization looms, municipalities across the country are trying to make sure they're prepared.

Mark Phillips, the chief administrative officer for the Town of Kentville, N.S., said the provincial and federal governments have laid out their own rules around marijuana consumption, but there are still many questions about how municipalities will enforce those laws and pay for the necessary policing.

City staff will also be on the front line since citizens will be more likely to call their town councillor or city helpline with questions or concerns, not the federal government.

"It's a bit of an unknown," Phillips told CBC News.

A proposed ban on the use of cannabis brand elements on T-shirts and other swag would make it more difficult to stamp out the black market after legalization and have "significant" unintended consequences, licensed producers said Monday.

The Senate is set to make a final vote Thursday on an amended Bill C-45 before it goes back to the House of Commons for approval. The amendments include one that would prohibit the use of cannabis brand elements on promotional items that are not marijuana or marijuana accessories.

From "a made in Canada approach," to "joints in the toaster oven," here are some memorable snippets and commentary of note on Bill C-45 and the federal plan for legalized marijuana:

"We are choosing to legalize marijuana because the current system is failing Canadians… Everywhere around the world people are grappling with a failed war on drugs. People are very interested with the leadership that Canada is showing in terms of figuring out how to better protect our kids and pull away the profits from criminals and organized crime." -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons, May 10, 2017.

The bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada is up for a crucial vote at the last step in the legislative process this week, with uncertainty looming over what the final wording of the law will be.

Senators are set to vote on Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, at third reading in the Senate on Thursday, after studying it for six months. For those planning to follow the vote that day, rest up as it’s possible the vote could not happen until midnight. It could also be much earlier, but entirely depends on how many senators want to speak to the bill that day. Midnight would be the latest possible, as all sides agreed to vote on the bill by June 7 at the latest.

Right now every industry in Canada is asking itself the same question — how can we re-formulate our products to somehow include cannabis?

These conversations have permeated boardrooms in the lighting industry, large-scale cultivation, finance, and almost every other sector under the sun.

Food and beverage production is no different. Companies everywhere are considering the idea of throwing a little marijuana in their mixture to capitalize on the inevitable wave of excitement after cannabis gets legalized.