With signs in hand, a half-dozen people marched down Charlotte Street on Friday to the sounds of cheers and honking car horns from onlookers showing their support.

They were marching as part of an an event called 4/20, an annual celebration of cannabis culture where participants attempt to bring a wider understanding of marijuana to the public.

Muggy weather didn’t stop passersby from joining the group on its trek down to the Wentworth Park bandshell, and by the end of the march 16 people stood together in solidarity.

The 4/20 celebration is important for many users of marijuana as a way to show support for legalization for recreational use, but Sydney’s first Medical Marijuana March was focused on a different idea, says march organizer Cory Mombourquette.

Daniel Weinstock is the director of the Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University, and Andrew Potter is associate professor at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. They are the co-chairs of the coming conference Legalizing Marijuana in Canada: Policy Challenges

One of the first things medical students are taught is some version of the precept, “first do no harm.” It’s a good maxim for life in general, and, more specifically, for any policy maker looking to make significant changes to the existing order of things.

Users should be aware of cannabis risks, says pharmacists' association. Pharmacists on P.E.I. are reminding Islanders that just because marijuana will become legal doesn't mean there are no health risks. Erin MacKenzie, executive director of the PEI Pharmacists Association, said there are medications that can be problematic when combined with cannabis. "Certainly compounding drowsiness or the ability to make good judgments, those types of things would be compounded with other medications that have those risks as well," she said. Cannabis consumption can be particularly harmful for people under the age of 25 because it can interfere with their brain development, MacKenzie said.

Some boards hope the province will step in to provide more clarity on the issue.

With the prospect of legalized cannabis looming in Ontario, condominium boards throughout the GTA are rushing to figure out how to respond to a law that will permit residents to grow up to four plants inside their homes. 

"We don't want to set up a system where anyone can just grow four plants and then it becomes a problem of overpopulation across units," said Tim Gordanier, a condo board president.

There's about 240 units inside Gordanier's Corktown building. Like many homeowners in the city who share walls and common areas, Gordanier is concerned about how indoor cultivation could affect a building's structure and value.

Some Canadian marijuana sector companies are getting pushback against their marketing efforts from social media platforms and government officials as legalization of recreational pot looms and regulations are not yet final.

Lift & Co, which hosts industry events and offers cannabis education, has had its YouTube account suspended and Facebook ad account deactivated, with both companies citing a policy violation.

Lift CEO Matei Olaru said he believes its accounts were targeted in connection with the U.S. tech giants’ policies barring promotion of the sale of illegal, prescription or recreational drugs, even though medical marijuana is legal in Canada and recreational pot will soon follow suit.

'I'm just standing near a pile of spaghetti so I guess we are going to have the birds coming in soon'

Vancouver clean-up crews worked overnight to tidy Sunset Beach park after 4/20 celebrations attracted 40,000 revellers who left their mark on the football-sized field, a park board official said.

Every year, the marijuana protest party brings thousands to this site, but park board officials don't sanction it, and say they wish organizers would move 4/20 on to a spot that's more suitable, such as the PNE.

This was touted as the last 4/20 before legalization, as new rules about pot are expected by summer from Ottawa.

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development has approved funding for an eight month Cannabis Applied Science post-graduation certificate program at Loyalist College. The announcement was made on Thursday and capitalizes on the booming cannabis legalization. The program, which is the first of its kind in Canada will allow students to build on their degree or Ontario College diploma to build on skills to support cannabis product development, inform process optimization and address natural product quality, consistency and safety.

The Hydropothecary Corporation ("Hydropothecary" or the "Company") (TSX Venture:THCX) is pleased to sponsor the second anniversary Women Grow Toronto event, featuring Arlene Dickinson of CBC's Dragons' Den fame.

The marijuana landscape looks much different on this 420 day compared to 20 years ago.

April 20, 1998. It was only 20 years ago. But for the marijuana industry, it seems like ancient history. 

Every year, marijuana advocates celebrate cannabis culture on "420 day." Back in 1998, though, the celebration was much more countercultural than it will be today. In the world of 2018, marijuana isn't just more accepted. It's now a big (and legal) business. 

Just how much has changed between the 420 day of 20 years ago compared to now? A lot.

20 years ago

Barring any unforeseen roadblocks that may get thrown up as the weeks tick down to the advent of cannabis legalization in Canada, the legislation now looks relatively bulletproof, having passed a tight vote in the Red Chamber at second reading.