The Senate Liberals held an open caucus session on the legalization of marijuana, which featured presentations from Liberal MP Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice; Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police President Clive Weighill, representatives from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as well as lawyer and drug policy expert Eugene Oscapella.

According to the notice posted to the caucus website, “due to popular demand,” the event has already “reached capacity for public attendance,” but the audio will eventually be available online.

A Federal Court judge has struck down federal regulations restricting the rights of medical marijuana patients to grow their own cannabis.

In the ruling issued on Wednesday morning in Vancouver, Judge Michael Phelan ordered the Marihauna for Medical Purposes Regulations has no force and effect, but suspended the declaration for six months so that the government can come up with new rules.

The judge also ordered the injunction that has allowed thousands of Canadians with an authorization to use medical marijuana to grow marijuana will remain in effect.

VANCOUVER -- A Federal Court judge has struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation introduced by the former Conservative government that barred medical marijuana patients from growing their own cannabis.

Judge Michael Phelan found that the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, which required patients to buy from licensed producers, violated their charter rights.

In a written ruling issued Wednesday, he suspended the decision to strike down the law for six months, allowing the federal Liberal government time to create a new medical marijuana regime.

Phelan also extended a court injunction that allowed people who held licences to grow their own marijuana to continue until a further court order.

Federal Court decision expected at noon ET/9 a.m. PT in constitutional challenge to Conservative law

A Federal Court judge is expected to release a decision today on whether medical marijuana patients have the right to grow their own cannabis.

The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government violated their charter rights.

​The Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations were introduced in 2013 and required patients to buy cannabis from licensed producers instead of growing their own.

Canada’s licensed pot producers are pushing Ottawa to exempt patients from paying any sales tax on their products, which would give medical marijuana the same tax status as prescription drugs.

The Canadian Medical Cannabis Council, a trade group representing three commercial producers, argues the tax change would allow them to compete with illegal dispensaries, which have exploded in number across the country.

Philippe Lucas, executive director of the council, said he met with a policy adviser to Finance Minister Bill Morneau during prebudget consultations last week.

His group represents Tilray, Peace Naturals and Delta 9 Bio-Tech, which are among about two dozen commercial producers licensed to ship medical marijuana to patients through the mail.

Canada’s biggest drugstore chain is exploring the possibility of getting into medical-marijuana sales in a move that would dramatically alter the landscape of the new industry, bringing one of the country’s best-known retailers into the business.

Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. has held multiple meetings and phone conversations with licensed medical-marijuana producers across Canada over the past year about carrying a variety of brands in their drugstores, according to people involved in those conversations.

The chain, which has more than 1,300 locations across Canada, is also said to be in talks with suppliers about a generic line of the drug that would be sold under the drugstore’s own brand, according to people present during the conversations.

BREAKING: This story has been updated (click here)

Injunction has allowed those who already held licences to continue growing marijuana until the Federal Court decision

VANCOUVER – A Federal Court judge is expected to release a decision today on whether medical marijuana patients have the right to grow their own cannabis.

The constitutional challenge was launched by four British Columbia residents who argued that legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government violated their charter rights.

CANNABIS CULTURE – Liberal members of Canada’s Senate will host an open forum to discuss the legalization of marijuana tomorrow in Ottawa.

Unfortunately, most of the official “experts” slated to answer questions are former police officers and substance abuse workers.

The Liberal Senate Forum website’s introduction to the event:

B.C. Coroners Service says the baby died Friday of natural causes

The severely ill baby whose parents wanted to treat with cannabis oil has died, the B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed.

Mary Jane Pierce was born prematurely at 25 weeks with serious health problems, including brain bleeding, cerebral palsy and severe seizures.

Her parents, Justin Pierce and Michelle Arnold, had fought to treat her symptoms with cannabis oil, which they said had helped each of them with their own epilepsy issues. 

The B.C. Coroners Service said the baby girl died Friday at B.C. Children's Hospital. 

By Mike Bologna

Want to know the most important factor for being a respected professional in today’s legal cannabis industry? Reputation. This fledgling industry has a diverse range of market entrants and it is bringing together a unique mix of potential leaders, entering from unrelated sectors as well as the prohibition-era market. Regardless of a person’s background, everyone is coveting legitimacy and clout as the opportunities continue to expand.