The Canadian Senate has proposed several amendments to the government’s plan to legalise recreational cannabis use this year.

An amendment to entirely ban the possibility of growing marijuana at home was proposed was put forward. The Senate social affairs committee rejected that, but did vote in favour of another amendment which leaves the door open for provinces and territories to propose their own ban on the growing of “pot” at home.

Currently the proposed federal law C-45 would allow for the growing of up to five plants in a single dwelling.

Both Manitoba and Quebec have announced that they will prohibit any home grown marijuana.

A few days away from the adoption of the Canadian Cannabis Act, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) considers that the Canadian Senate is the last hope for delaying its implementation. "Despite the Trudeau government's multiple commitments to First Nations, Métis and Inuit, it is clearly indifferent to its obligations, particularly in the area of consultation. With regard to the legalization of cannabis, this offloading leads us to call on the sensitivity of the members of the upper house to delay the implementation of the Act," says Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL.

Original pot zoning bylaw fails, council to revisit issue in June.

With federal marijuana legalization looming on the horizon, Saskatoon City Council has voted against a zoning bylaw that would have set the rules around where marijuana vendors could place their shops.

The initial proposal stated that there would have to be a 160-metre separation distance between dispensaries and schools, parks, libraries and community centres. Stores in the Broadway area would receive a 60-metre buffer as an exemption.

However, a majority of councillors balked at the separation limit and voted against the bylaw.

Buffer zones around youth oriented facilities have been given initial approval as Moose Jaw City Council prepares for the eventual legalization of cannabis in Canada.

No cannabis shop will be allowed within 166m of any school and must stay at least 83m away from parks, daycares, the library or public recreation facilities but there is a small exemption for around Crescent Park where the buffer would be 60m in order to allow a portion of Main Street to be potentially used for a shop.

"We looked at the sensitive types of uses like schools, daycares, parks and libraries, areas where youth are congregating," explained Director of Planning Michelle Sanson. "We want to make sure that we are putting in some separation distances to accommodate those types of places."

Employee drug plans might soon cover cannabis. SunLife Financial is going to be the first Canadian health insurer to cover medical marijuana.

An advocacy group that says it’s a step in the right direction.

James O’Hara is the president and CEO of Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana (CFAMM). He says this is a proactive approach for a health unsurer to take.

“I think it’s something that’s a very, very positive step, and I think it will be widely adopted,” he says. “It’s a natural [next] step.”

Tilray Canada has launched its newest product, Tilray 2:100, a formulation of therapeutic cannabis oil containing a high concentration of cannabidiol (CBD), which may help treat Canadian patients with conditions like Dravet syndrome.

India Globalisation Capital has been trialling a therapy that can restore memory in mice, promising potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Canada is only weeks away from the original promised legalization date for recreational cannabis.

But while the federal and provincial governments have been working quickly to set the rules and put plans in motion, it seems the municipal governments have been left in the dark, at least according to one Ontario Mayor.

Mayor of the City of Brantford, Chris Friel, addressed an audience of cannabis industry professionals in a panel discussion at Lift & Co.’s Business Conference last week. He expressed visible frustration over how the municipalities have not been informed on or given the proper resources for legalization. 

“We are not ready,” said Friel. “If we don’t know what the regulations are, we don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Based on $143 million raise, MedMen appears to be the most valuable public U.S. marijuana company to date.

Shares of upscale U.S. marijuana retailer MM Enterprises USA LLC are expected to begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange Tuesday, following the reverse takeover of a Canadian shell company and a $143-million raise that gives the company an implied value of more than $2 billion.

MedMen, which will trade as MMEN after acquiring oil and gas shell Ladera Ventures Corp., is by far the largest company listed on the CSE, and is expected to be the most valuable public U.S. marijuana company to date.

In a matter of weeks, Canada will most likely legalize marijuana for recreational use. Expectations for a pot boom sent stocks soaring in 2017, and while enthusiasm ebbed early this year the index for cannabis stocks is up 71 percent from November last year.

Production of marijuana is expected to surge this year and companies are looking abroad for more investment.

“Cannabusiness” is one of the hottest market trends this year, but finding the right company can be challenging.

The industry is full of risky plays: growers who lack a market outlet, or distributors without access to sufficient product.