The Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty launched at the Global Marijuana March at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Saturday.

A group of Toronto lawyers, activists and entrepreneurs launched a petition Friday calling on the federal government to grant amnesty to people convicted of simple cannabis possession charges.

"If the federal government is going to legalize cannabis, then it doesn't make any sense for these convictions to stay on people's records," said criminal defence lawyer Annamaria Enenajor, the director of the Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty.

Q1/2018 could be the breakout quarter for cannabis licensed producer Cronos Group (TSXV:CRON, NASDAQ:CRON), says analyst Vaha Ajamian of Beacon Securities, who says that the cannabis space is going to take off during the months leading up to rec legalization, with Cronos leading the way.

In a note to clients on Friday, the analyst maintained his “Buy” rating but doubled his target price from $5.25 to $10.50 for CRON.

The federal Liberal government has underlined its intention to make recreational adult-use cannabis legal within a few months, despite concerns that the process is moving too fast.

But however long the lead-up period ends up being, legalization will mean one less black market item and one more industry brought into Canada’s formal economy, and that’s good for all Canadians, says former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge.

MLA Shane Thompson says communities want more distribution options.

MLAs made their final stop in a string of public consultations on draft cannabis legislation Thursday in Yellowknife, and some residents echoed concerns that have been brought up on previous stops over the last two weeks.

"This is a chance for business development," said Caroline Wawzonek, a lawyer and director with the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce. She said the chamber doesn't want distribution to be limited to liquor stores.

Chief planner recommends province choose where pot shops can go, but city says windows must be opaque.

The City of Winnipeg has decided not to create any new rules to govern where cannabis can be sold — but clear glass windows won't be allowed at weed stores.

A city working group on cannabis legalization has concluded provincial officials should approve where cannabis retailers can set up within Winnipeg when recreational cannabis use becomes legal, as it is expected to later this year.

In a report to council's property committee, City of Winnipeg chief planner Braden Smith said no new land-use rules are needed to govern where cannabis retailers can and cannot operate within the city.

Tip-A-Vista Wellness Foundation leads community dialogue with Eastern Health

Looking to talk cannabis?

There is an upcoming dialogue in Bonavista based on the pending legalization of marijuana.

The Tip-A-Vista Wellness Foundation, in partnership with Eastern Health’s Mental Health and Addictions program will be hosting a community dialogue as part of a national “Let’s Talk Cannabis” project.

Occurring in four different provinces, the talk is coordinated by the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) and is funded by Health Canada — Drug Treatment Fund.

Jack Greydanus expected to go on growing peppers at his greenhouse in Enniskillen Township, just like he had for more than a decade, and then a cannabis company came calling.

Today, he’s the “landlord” of Lambton County’s first cannabis greenhouse where High Park Farms, an affiliate of B.C.-based Tilray, said this week thousands of cannabis plants had arrived after a 36-hour trip from Vancouver Island.

The first harvest is expected in June, in anticipation of the legalization of recreational use of marijuana in Canada later this year, the company said.

Tilray, which also has a medical cannabis growing facility in British Columbia, has said it began looking in 2016 for a second site elsewhere in Canada, including locations around southern Ontario.

The irony of pleading his case on April 20 — 420 — was not lost on Canadian Rockies Agriculture’s chief executive when he appeared in front of Strathcona County’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

But Aaron Barr wouldn’t dare crack a joke at this point in what’s been a contentious debate in Josephburg.

As it stands, May 14 is the next date circled on Barr’s calendar, as his lawyers will continue to face off with Josephburg residents opposing the development of the approved medical marijuana production facility in rural Strathcona County.

The event will mark the final appeals hearing before the board, in a lengthy battle for Barr’s 74-acre facility.

A lot of fuss has been made about the forthcoming legalization of recreational cannabis by the government of Canada. The way Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government pursued the substance’s legalization allows all three levels of government to make some decisions about legalization processes in their jurisdictions — and that’s to say nothing about institutions like the University of Calgary, which is working to implement its own regulations regarding on-campus cannabis use.

Fire & Flower, a corporate retail cannabis store, announces that Tim Reid has been appointed as the Chair of the Saskatchewan Advisory Board.

In this role, Mr. Reid will assist Fire & Flower's board and executive management in launching recreational cannabis retail locations in the Saskatchewan market, once permitted.

Mr. Reid currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Regina Exhibition Association. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Reid was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Northlands and the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo in Fort McMurray. In 2013, Alberta Venture magazine named Mr. Reid one of the province's 50 most influential people.