News

Quick Hits: Cannabis news in brief

Published on May 30, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Adobe Stock/the oz.

Cannabis news in brief: ‘Ontario Grown’ badge; 20 new Glacial Gold products; Cannabis vs. pain; 162 kilos seized; Greenway changes greenhouse; Breathalyzer gains traction; CBD on the up and up 

‘Ontario-grown’ labels now permitted

Ontario is introducing an “Ontario Grown” logo producers can add to their cannabis labels.

“Starting in summer 2025, the OCS (Ontario Cannabis Store) will issue the badge, to be featured on certain products with a minimum 75 per cent grown-in-Ontario inputs, making it easier for retailers to identify and stock products that support Ontario’s and Canada’s economy,” a provincial budget document said.

The budget also included measures allowing stores to “improve their outside visibility.”

“These changes are intended to support legitimate local businesses by enhancing transparence and fostering a more welcoming environment for consumers while still protecting youth from exposure to cannabis,” the document said.

The budget also voiced support for a federal promise to “explore a transition from cannabis excise duty stamps specific to each province and territory to a single national stamp.”

In a post on X, the industry group Cannabis Council of Canada applauded the Ontario measures.

New Glacial Gold products coming out

B.C.-based Nextleaf Solutions is unveiling 20 new cannabis products under the Glacial Gold label — and entering the Quebec market.

The products, to launch in June, include including vapes, softgels, oils and infused prerolls.

“Glacial Gold has expanded deeper into minor cannabinoid formulations, with nearly half of new product listings containing CBG or CBN,” a news release said.

“I’m excited about the shift in trends we are noticing, including the groundswell from retailers and consumers seeking a more nuanced cannabis experience and diverse product selection,” said CEO Emma Andrews in the release.

The new products will be introduced in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. The Quebec entry is a THC/CBD oil, distributed by Quebec Craft Cannabis and available online.

Pain researchers to test cannabis product

Canadian medical cannabis company Avicanna is sponsoring a research trial to look at the effectiveness of oral cannabis extracts on osteoarthric pain.

The study will be conducted by Dr. Hance Clarke, medical director of the Pain Research Unit at the University of Toronto, and a clinician at the University Health Network. It’s expected to start in the fall, according to an Avicanna news release.

The study will be a “blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled” trial to see whether oral cannabinoids can improve pain management in patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis, the company says in a news release.

Avicanna will provide the CBD and THC capsules for the trial.

Quick Hits

🇬🇧 Legalize it: London, England, mayor backs report’s call for cannabis law reform (BBC)

🌎 Big bust: $4.8M worth of cannabis destined for Spain seized by CBSA in Montreal (Global)

🗣️ Tell all: How I built Canada’s biggest cannabis company (Canadian Business)

💤 Get Stoned, Snore Less: New survey shows cannabis can help with sleep apnea (Vice)

✈️ Bag it up: Is Canada’s legal weed tied to a smuggling epidemic abroad? (Toronto Star)

🇹🇭 Thai crackdown: Thailand vows to tighten control on cannabis after smuggling cases involving tourists soar (Associated Press)

☠️ Opinion: Punitive taxes are killing the legal cannabis industry (National Post)

Cannabis seized from Calgary home

Police seized more than 162 kilograms of illegal cannabis from a home in Calgary on April 30.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis enforcement unit and Calgary Police were involved in the raid.

Two B.C. residents were arrested and subsequently released. Charges are pending, the AGLC said in a May 14 news release.

The cannabis had an estimated value of $1.5 million, the AGLC said.

In 2024, the provincial government granted AGLC authority to investigate illegal cannabis operations.

“This initial seizure underscores AGLC’s firm commitment to addressing the illegal online cannabis market,” said chief regulatory officer Dave Berry.

Greenway making greenhouse changes

Greenway Cannabis has applied to Health Canada to make changes at its Leamington, Ont., greenhouse.

Greenway is seeking approval to open a new space that will be used for mid-stream propagation.

“We have found by giving our cuttings coming over from our nursery more time to become acclimated to the greenhouse environment before moving into the flowering stage, we receive higher production from our premium genetics,” said Greenway President Carl Mastronardi in a statement. “By having this new dedicated space, we can make sure that the plants remain in the most optimized environment for each stage of their development.”

“By doing this, the company believes it will be able to increase the amount of biomass the facility can throughput annually and should help Greenway move toward its goal of having six full crop rotations every year,” the statement said.

Greenway also reported cannabis prices appear to be rebounding from 2023 lows.

“The company’s revenue per gram has been steadily increasing for six straight quarters, from $0.84 to $1.58 per gram,” the statement said.

Greenway continues to be happy with the sales of its MillRite brand pre-rolls, the company said.

More distribution for breathalyzer

The BC manufacturer of a cannabis breathalyzer is making headway with an alcohol breathalyzer aimed at employers.

Alco Prevention Canada has agreed to distribute Cannabix Technologies’ BreathLogix alcohol breathalyzers.

Breathalyser Sales & Service Pty Ltd. will distribute the product in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Alco, based in Montreal, offers a range of electronic and single-use breathalyzers for sale or rent.

“The device is well suited for work sites, construction, bars, hotels, restaurants and other safety sensitive environments,” said Stephane Maurais, Alco general manager, of the Cannabix breathalyzer in a news release. “The device allows employees and patrons to self-test for breath alcohol, avoiding the cost of having to pay an administrator. This saves time and money for customers and makes workplace safety programs easier to deploy.”

The Australian distributor will target the mining, oil and gas, industrial, trucking and  warehousing industries.

Cannabix also announced its BreathLogix Workplace Series alcohol breathalyzer will be added to the U.S. Federal Register Conforming Products List for breath alcohol screen devices.

CBD propels market’s growth

Canada’s legal cannabis market is valued at US$3.25 billion and projected to reach US$5.79 billion by 2030, according to a report you can buy for $4,500.

“Growing awareness of the health benefits related to cannabis and CBD consumption for treating anxiety & seizures and reducing pain is projected to propel the market growth,” a news release promoting the report said.

“The rising number of clinical trials signifies the positive effects of utilizing cannabis for treating various medical conditions. For instance, in February 2024, researchers at the University of British Columbia introduced a first-of-its-kind clinical trial examining the potential of CBD as a treatment for bipolar depression,” the release continued.

If you order now, the report from Ireland-based Research and Markets, will be delivered in two business days.