Business
Failure to launch: What happened to Canada’s ‘cannabis strategy table?’
A proposed cannabis “strategy table” appears to be stuck in bureaucratic and political gridlock in Canada’s capital, more than a year after it was first announced.
In April 2022, the planned strategy table was unveiled in the country’s federal budget to provide a forum for government officials and cannabis industry executives to come together to discuss steps that could bolster the legal industry – this at a time when many companies were struggling financially.
The lack of open communication channels between the cannabis industry and the Canadian government comes at a pivotal time for the sector, with a majority of federally regulated companies unable to keep up with excise tax payments to the federal government, soaring profits at government-owned marijuana businesses and widespread failures among privately owned enterprises.
When the strategy table was announced, the industry embraced the opportunity for more open dialogue with the government, even though executives had been hoping – and lobbying for – more substantive reforms, particularly to the onerous taxation regime Canada imposed on cannabis producers.
However, the forum still hasn’t launched 13 months later. And the government in Ottawa won’t say what’s causing the delay.
Emails obtained by MJBizDaily via Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) law show that the senior bureaucrats involved the creation of the forum appeared to believe t was on schedule as far back as 10 months ago – in June 2022 – and even produced a list of proposed members.
Cannabis industry sources say the fact that talks have failed to start is symbolic of the hands-off approach the federal government has taken when it comes to supporting the sector.
The missing forum also comes as the most recent budget delivered by the federal government, in April 2023, made no meaningful commitment to solving government-imposed hurdles facing businesses.
Shane Morris, founder of Ottawa-based Morris and Associates Consulting, said the industry is in dire straits and needs urgent attention from the federal government.
“One would have hoped that considering the pressures the industry is currently under, it would have taken less than a year to get the table up and running,” he told MJBizDaily.
“The question now is, what is the point of the table, if a year later, it’s not operational yet?
“Plus, at this pace, it will take years to have any recommendations.”
The strategy table appeared to be a last-minute addition to the 2022 budget to give the impression the government was doing something, Morris suggested.
‘Impossible to understand’
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), a federal department responsible for regulating industry and supporting economic development, was tasked with launching the cannabis strategy table forum back in early 2022.
ISED wouldn’t directly answer MJBizDaily’s questions on the forum’s composition and when it might begin its work.
“Innovation, Science and Economic Development is undertaking economic analysis, gathering business intelligence, and actively building inter-industry and inter-government coordination and collaboration,” the department wrote in emailed responses to queries from MJBizDaily.
“These activities serve as recognition of the economic and business context of the sector, as well as the importance of building a sustainable legal cannabis sector to achieve the objectives set out in the Cannabis Act.
“Development of the cannabis strategy table is ongoing and updates will be provided publicly once they become available.”
ISED does not regulate the cannabis industry; that responsibility falls on a separate federal department, Health Canada.
Pierre Leclerc, director general of the business group Quebec Cannabis Industry Association (AQIC), said it’s “strange” the government is taking so long to get the forum up and running.
“It’s absolutely impossible to understand why it’s taking so long,” Leclerc said in a phone interview with MJBizDaily.
“I am getting impatient to be quite frank. Thirteen months is too long. They need to get this roundtable working ASAP, especially where the industry is right now. We can’t wait for this work to start any longer.”
This wouldn’t be Canada’s first economic strategy table, which brings industry and government together, but it appears to be the slowest to become operational.
Canada’s 2017 federal budget promised the creation of six economic strategy tables.
All six were launched within seven months.
The emails
MJBizDaily acquired hundreds of pages of emails from ISED via the ATIP law covering the period between early April 2022, when the planned strategy forum was announced, and the end of June, three months later.
Since the emails cover a short period of time, they don’t fully reveal why the forum has not yet been launched.
They do, however, paint a picture of a government department that appeared to be surprised it was given the task in the first place.
One email was sent on April 11 by Eric Costen, now senior assistant deputy minister, industry sector, at ISED, to Sheryl Groeneweg, director general for ISED’s Manufacturing and Life Sciences Branch.
“You may have seen that the budget included a bit of a surprise in the form of a ‘new cannabis strategy table’ to be led by ISED,” Costen wrote to Groeneweg.
Costen was a prominent figure in cannabis regulation over the past decade or so, having held positions such as executive director of the Office of Medical Cannabis, director general of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat.
He later headed up overdose crises and drug policy at the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch.
Much of the April 11 email is redacted.
“Obviously we need to scope out the work and potentially will have resources to bulk up the team (this is TBD). I’d like to have a brief meeting during the week to discuss the project and agree to some basic next steps,” Costen wrote.
The emails – hundreds of pages in length altogether – mostly deal with the early stages of organizing the strategy table forum and engaging dozens of bureaucrats across multiple ministries, including Health Canada.
Some of the emails contain insight into the thinking of influential bureaucrats such as Costen.
That’s relevant because the medical and recreational cannabis industries in Canada are heavily regulated, and even the smallest regulatory pivot has the potential to impact access for thousands of patients or revenue opportunities for legal businesses.
In an email dated May 30 to ISED senior policy adviser Paul O’Keefe and a number of other people, Costen shares his thoughts about a document titled, “Canadian Cannabis Sector Backgrounder.”
In his email, Costen identifies some of his “long standing pet issues” regarding the cannabis industry.
“There is no such thing as ‘medical’ cannabis, there is only cannabis, which is sometimes used (for) medical purposes,” the former medical marijuana regulator wrote.
“Similarly, ‘recreational’ cannabis is a nonsensical term IMO – we’d hardly ever talk about recreational alcohol.”
On track?
By the end of June 2022, the senior bureaucrats overseeing the creation of the cannabis industry forum appeared to think it was on schedule.
A document dated June 16 and labeled “secret – draft” says the “launch” of the forum is “on track.”
However, no date is listed for an anticipated launch.
The “secret” document, most of which is redacted, describes the strategy table as “an opportunity for the government to hear from industry leaders and identify ways to work together to grow the legal cannabis sector in Canada.”
Another email appears to show the government had completed its list of “proposed” strategy table members as far back as June 2022.
Yet no list of strategy table members, proposed or otherwise, has been publicly disclosed.
The email, dated June 26, 2022, from Costen to his ISED colleagues, says: “Paul O is making a few last minute edits to a package for the minister with proposed members (redacted). The DM reviewed it last week and had only minor comments. The revised package should get routed up this week. The tricky part with this project is (redacted).”
“Paul O” is a likely reference to O’Keefe, the director at ISED, and “DM” refers to deputy minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Simon Kennedy.
‘Cannabis package’
A significant amount of time appears to have been spent creating the so-called “cannabis industry forum package” – an informational package also containing recommendations – for Kennedy and François-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science and industry.
The emails show the package wasn’t delivered until the second half of June, almost three months after the strategy table was announced in the budget.
Multiple versions are contained in the released emails.
A report titled, “Advice to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Development and Implementation Plan for a Cannabis Industry Forum” is marked “CONFIDENTIAL.”
Most of the report, including a section labeled “Next Steps,” is redacted.
The summary contained in the report notes that ISED:
- “is preparing to stand up an industry-government forum focused on the cannabis sector.”
- “Has license” to determine the form and scope of the forum.
Interestingly, one of the versions of the report states Health Canada is “currently launching a review of cannabis regulations, as dictated by legislation.”
However, the Cannabis Act – the federal law governing the cannabis industry – mandates a review of the law “and its administration” three years after coming into force.
It did not require a review of the regulations.
This is an important distinction, because the cannabis industry has been requesting a review of certain regulations for years – in particular, packaging rules – but to date, no substantive reform has been rolled out.
The federal government did not initiate the legislative review – which is a completely separate undertaking from the strategy table – until almost four years after the Cannabis Act entered into force – an apparent violation of its own law.
Also separately, Health Canada is conducting public consultations on potential amendments to the federal cannabis regulations.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-cannabis-strategy-table-stuck-in-political-gridlock/
Business
A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social
When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.
For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.
Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.
The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System
The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.
The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.
The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.
Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.
Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging
Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.
It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.
The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.
Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.
The Economic and Social Impact
The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.
It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?
A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started
The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.
Now the call is for bold next moves.
- Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
- Include CBD under Medicare coverage
- Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing
These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.
What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine
For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.
It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.
It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
Four marijuana companies, including a multistate operator, have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in which they allege the federal MJ prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act is no longer constitutional.
According to the complaint, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, retailer Canna Provisions, Treevit delivery service CEO Gyasi Sellers, cultivator Wiseacre Farm and MSO Verano Holdings Corp. are all harmed by “the federal government’s unconstitutional ban on cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing intrastate marijuana.”
Verano is headquartered in Chicago but has operations in Massachusetts; the other three operators are based in Massachusetts.
The lawsuit seeks a ruling that the “Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional as applied to the intrastate cultivation, manufacture, possession, and distribution of marijuana pursuant to state law.”
The companies want the case to go before the U.S. Supreme Court.
They hired prominent law firm Boies Schiller Flexner to represent them.
The New York-based firm’s principal is David Boies, whose former clients include Microsoft, former presidential candidate Al Gore and Elizabeth Holmes’ disgraced startup Theranos.
Similar challenges to the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) have failed.
One such challenge led to a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2005.
In Gonzalez vs. Raich, the highest court in the United States ruled in a 6-3 decision that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution gave Congress the power to outlaw marijuana federally, even though state laws allow the cultivation and sale of cannabis.
In the 18 years since that ruling, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use marijuana and the federal government has allowed a multibillion-dollar cannabis industry to thrive.
Since both Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice, currently headed by Garland, have declined to intervene in state-licensed marijuana markets, the key facts that led to the Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling “no longer apply,” Boies said in a statement Thursday.
“The Supreme Court has since made clear that the federal government lacks the authority to regulate purely intrastate commerce,” Boies said.
“Moreover, the facts on which those precedents are based are no longer true.”
Verano President Darren Weiss said in a statement the company is “prepared to bring this case all the way to the Supreme Court in order to align federal law with how Congress has acted for years.”
While the Biden administration’s push to reschedule marijuana would help solve marijuana operators’ federal tax woes, neither rescheduling nor modest Congressional reforms such as the SAFER Banking Act “solve the fundamental issue,” Weiss added.
“The application of the CSA to lawful state-run cannabis business is an unconstitutional overreach on state sovereignty that has led to decades of harm, failed businesses, lost jobs, and unsafe working conditions.”
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