Craft Cannabis Growers Say Better Bud Will Be Key To Thriving In The Legal Market
Publication: The Globe & Mail
Interest appears to be high for micro-licences. Vindica, a newly launched craft cannabis consultancy in the Toronto area, hasn’t even started marketing, yet co-founder Mathew Columbro has received between 30 and 40 calls through word of mouth in the last few weeks. Many are vegetable farmers looking to supplement revenues or black-market growers looking to go legal. In fact, one of the purposes of the micro-licences is to provide an avenue for illegal growers to join the legal market. While many illegal growers are keen to get into the legal system, it could be a tricky switch for some.
“These people have been making good money for a long time and doing it their way without having to follow any rules,” says Mr. Columbro. “That’s hard for a lot of people who have been operating a certain way. Now you have to tell them, ‘Here’s a book of rules that you have to follow.’”
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What You Need to Know About Canada’s Cannabis Act
Yesterday was a historic day for Canadians, as the Cannabis Act passed through the Senateafter two years of intense debate. The landmark decision makes Canada the first G-7 country to legalize cannabis recreationally, with the first legal stores expected to open by October 17th 2018.
The bill passed on a vote 52 to 29, with several opposing Senators cited concerns that legalization for non-medical cannabis violated the UN drug control treaties. Yet despite heated opposition, Bill C-45 is now making its way into law and is expected to come into effect 8-12 weeks after Royal Assent which is expected by the week’s end.
Independent Senator Tony Dean who sponsored the bill was elated celebrating the end of cannabis prohibition in Canada, “We have seen in the Senate tonight a historic vote that ends 90 years of prohibition of cannabis in this country, 90 years of needless criminalization, 90 years of a just-say-no approach to drugs that hasn’t worked.” Dean emphasized, “I’m proud of Canada today. This is progressive social policy.”
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