CannabisLink.ca - Current Affairs 2025

(2025) - Current Affairs (20 items)

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Nov 25, 2025	Federal, provincial governments raked in more than $5.4B in cannabis tax revenue Ottawa and the provinces raked in more than $5.4 billion in cannabis tax revenue since the drug was legalized for recreational use in October 2018.
Nov 12, 2025	A house divided: Why Canada’s cannabis industry must speak with one voice "A house divided against itself cannot stand." With those words in 1858, Abraham Lincoln warned Americans of the peril that comes when a common cause is undermined by internal division. His warning went unheeded, and two years later, the United States was torn apart by a civil war that lasted five long years and claimed countless lives. More than a century and a half later, Canada’s cannabis industry faces its own test of unity, not in war, but in purpose. Unless we find common ground and speak with one voice, our sector risks weakening itself from within, just as external forces grow stronger around us.
Nov 5, 2025	Canadian cannabis producers disappointed by Budget 2025 proposals Some Canadian cannabis producers say they are unhappy with the federal government’s proposal to lower the price ceiling for medical cannabis reimbursements through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
Nov 4, 2025	Canada’s Budget 2025 includes goal of saving $4.4 billion in medical cannabis benefits “adjustment” Canada’s Budget 2025 includes measures to adjust medical cannabis benefits for the RCMP and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), with a goal of saving the government $4.4 billion over four years.
Oct 29, 2025	Cannabis is Mainstream, Public Support is Strong, and Canadians Want the Sector to Grow Seven years after cannabis was legalized in Canada, a new survey from Abacus Data conducted for Organigram Global reveals that cannabis has firmly taken root in Canadian society. Cannabis use is widespread across age groups, and the sector is broadly seen as a valuable contributor to the national economy. Most Canadians support the idea of modernizing regulations to help the industry grow-and critically, very few see any political downside to doing so.
Oct 8, 2025	BCGEU strike update: Here's the latest as all B.C. government liquor, cannabis stores close The union said all B.C. government liquor and cannabis stores are now behind picket lines, bringing the total number of workers on strike to nearly 25,000. ICBC driver licensing services are also impacted.
Oct 4, 2025	THC levels too high: Health Canada recalls cannabis products Health Canada is recalling a brand of cannabis gummy sold in several provinces, due to inaccurate levels of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, listed on the packaging.
Oct 3, 2025	B.C. public workers expand pickets again to more liquor, cannabis retail stores Striking BCGEU workers further expanded pickets at provincial liquor and cannabis stores on Friday, adding 20 more locations to the list, and the union says the escalation also included job action by front-line staff at several ministry offices.
Sep 30, 2025	DataMatrix: A game-changer for cannabis supply chains The Canadian cannabis industry has successfully adopted a new global barcode format, the GS1 DataMatrix. This shift is notable not only for its technological advancements but also because it was an industry-driven initiative rather than a regulatory mandate.
Sep 4, 2025	Health Canada continues to increase inspections of federal licence holders The number of Health Canada inspections of federally licensed cannabis facilities and licence holders increased in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, compared to previous years.
Sep 1, 2025	Canadian household spending on cannabis reaches nearly $2 billion Canadian household final consumption expenditures for cannabis reached a new high of over $1.7 billion in the second quarter of 2025, continuing an upward trend. The majority of that ($1.6 billion) was from the adult-use market, while $119 million came from the medical market.
Aug 12, 2025	Alberta cannabis store workers no longer required to submit criminal background checks Retail cannabis workers no longer require a criminal record check prior to employment, according to a policy change by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), with some industry experts saying the new policy is already making hiring easier.
Jul 2, 2025	Alberta rolls out new cannabis, liquor rules Alberta announced regulatory changes on Wednesday, saying they will support local liquor and cannabis businesses.
Jun 2, 2025	Canada’s cannabis sector contributes $9.1 billion to GDP in first three months of 2025 The most recent, seasonally adjusted figures from Statistics Canada show that the cannabis industry’s contribution to Canada’s GDP was $9.104 billion in the first three months of 2025. This is an increase from $8.3 billion in 2024.
May 16, 2025	Ford government to overhaul how cannabis stores look in Ontario The Ford government is set to loosen strict rules that force cannabis stores to cover their windows, offering a long-called-for change that the industry hopes will lead to better safety for its staff.
Apr 22, 2025	Legislation lifting ban on homegrown recreational cannabis in Manitoba takes effect next month Manitobans 19 and older can grow cannabis plants in their own homes for personal use starting May 1, according to the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA).
Mar 11, 2025	Alberta's new QR code system enhances cannabis transparency, a first for Canada A pilot project in Alberta is aiming to transform cannabis product transparency with Metrc’s Retail ID system. By simply scanning a QR code provided at purchase, consumers gain access to lab test results, certificates of analysis (COA), product name, image, cannabinoid, and terpenes, ensuring greater trust in legal cannabis products.
Mar 9, 2025	Legalizing cannabis was the best thing Trudeau did, Angus Reid poll affirms A new poll has shown that Canadians think legalizing cannabis was the greatest accomplishment of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government. Nine years gone by and that’s the best thing he managed to do for the country, according to the 1,850 people surveyed. That is so true!
Mar 6, 2025	Cannabis continues to be excluded from interprovincial trade discussions Most provinces, except for PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador, have signed an agreement to allow interprovincial alcohol sales directly to consumers. The cannabis industry has been asking for similar changes for years, but was not included in the conversation or subsequent announcement about lessening restrictions on cross-provincial alcohol sales.
Feb 26, 2025	Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis (Streamlining of Requirements) SOR/202 Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Health, makes the annexed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis (Streamlining of Requirements) under (a) subsection 139(1) of the Cannabis Act footnotea; and (b) subsection 30(1)footnoteb of the Food and Drugs Act footnotec.