News

Quick Hits: Cannabis news in brief

Published on September 19, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Contributed

Cannabis news in brief: 200-packs of THC gels; Vapes with bluetooth; Curaleaf added to TSX; Avicanna launches CBD; Canopy Growth issues shares; Simply Solventless boosts sales team; High Tide closes sale; Cannara offers bonuses; Telehealth looks beyond cannabis; Pot breathalyzer showed off; MTL in Australia

Bigger bottles for softgels

Glacial Gold softgels now come in Costco-size bottles.

B.C.-based Nextleaf Solutions is launching a 200-pack of its cannabis softgels.

The softgels come in various potencies and combinations of THC, CBD and CBN. Previously, they were sold in bottles of 10, 50 or 100

“A softgel is a blend of cannabis oil and a carrier oil encapsulated in a gelatin casing,” Tokyo Smoke’s website explains.

“The introduction of the 200-pack format represents a first for Canadian cannabis retail,” Nextleaf says in a news release. “Glacial Gold is the top selling brand in Western Canada for softgels and consistently ranks among the top four brands in Ontario.”

“Our new 200-pack format supports consumer demand for value and consistency, allowing consumers to establish and maintain wellness routines with fewer reorders,” said Emma Andrews, CEO of Nextleaf.

The company has opened a new 2,500-square-foot distribution facility, one kilometre from its processing site in Coquitlam, B.C.

In the same news release, Nextleaf said it is fighting a wrongful dismissal suit from former CEO Paul Pedersen.

These vapes have bluetooth

The latest vapes being introduced in Germany are bluetooth compatible.

Storz & Bickel has unveiled a new lineup of vapourizers to be available worldwide. The company is a subsidiary of Canada’s Canopy Growth.

“The Veazy connects via Bluetooth to the Storz & Bickel web app, allowing users to fine-tune settings and personalize sessions directly from their phone or laptop,” the company said in a news release.

The vapes are lightweight (0.3 pounds), have a patented mini heater and one-button control with three pre-set temperatures.

They’re quick charging and heat up in about 40 seconds, the company said.

They come in a variety of colours — “Charming Pink, Inspiring Orange, Dynamic Blue and Alluring Black.”

At US$249, they’ll be available in more than 100 countries.

US cannabis company added to TSX index

An American cannabis company has been added to Canada’s most visible stock-market index.

Curaleaf Holdings has been added to the S&P/TSX Composite Index, as a representative of the health care-pharmaceuticals industry.

S&P Dow Jones announced the change following a quarterly review.

“The S&P/TSX Composite is the main measure of the Canadian stock market’s health.” It stood at 29,258.42 on Sept. 12.

Curaleaf trades under the symbol CURA.

“As the first U.S.-based cannabis operator to be included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index, the company is poised to gain increased visibility and credibility within one of North America’s premier equity benchmarks.” Stamford, Conn.-based Curaleaf said in a news release.

“This marks a pivotal moment for Curaleaf and represents a significant moment for mainstream normalization across the broader cannabis industry,” said Boris Jordan, chairman and CEO of Curaleaf. “Being recognized among some of the most influential stocks in North America, and as the only U.S.-based cannabis operator currently in this index, validates our sector’s growing legitimacy and long-term potential.”

Avicanna launches CBD topical in US

A Canadian company’s Colombian subsidiary is teaming up with a former basketball player to launch a new CBD wellness brand in the United States.

“Avicanna LATAM SAS and Harrington Wellness have collaborated over several years on the research and development of these CBD-based topicals inspired by the athletic and sports community,” Toronto-based Avicanna said as it announced the launch of the re+PLAY brand.

Harrington was founded by former NBA player Al Harrington.

“Initial product offerings include a 3% CBD localized cream and the 2% CBD and 1% CBG transdermal gel … The CBD and CBG used in the formulations were derived from USDA organic certified hemp,” the release said.

Avicanna also announced its majority-owned Colombian subsidiary Santa Marta Golden Hemp SAS completed the first export of Aureus-brand CBD-dominant cannabis flower to Switzerland.

“This also marks the 20th international market for Aureus-branded products and 23rd market for all Avicanna products,” the company said.

Canopy Growth issuing more shares

Canopy Growth plans to issue up to US$200 million worth of shares.

Shares will be offered “from time to time in concurrent public offerings in the United States and Canada,” the Smiths Falls, Ont.-based company said in a news release.

“Canopy Growth intends to use the net proceeds … for investments in businesses and/or to fund any potential future acquisitions and for working capital and general corporate purposes, including the potential repayment of indebtedness,” the release said.

SSC boosts sales department

Simply Solventless Concentrates is boosting its sales team.

The Calgary-based company with brands that include Astrolab, Frootyhooty, Roilty and Lamplighter has increased the sales department size from two to seven people and appointed a new vice-president of sales.

Emily Riehl has seven years of experience in the cannabis industry, the company says, rising from budtender to her current position.

“Prior to joining SSC, Emily was National Director of Sales, Key Accounts at Adastra Holdings Ltd., which holds the No. 1 spot in the concentrates category in Canada,” an SSC news release said.

Riehl’s bonuses include being awarded 250,000 stock options worth 35 cents per share. The options expire after five years. She can collect one-third now, one-third in a year and the rest after two years.

High Tide completes German purchase

Canadian cannabis company High Tide has completed its purchase of 51% of Germany’s Remexian Pharmaceutical GmbH.

High Tide is paying 26.4 million euros and has a five-year option to buy the other 49%.

“This transaction not only diversifies our revenue base beyond Canada but also creates a clear runway for expansion across Europe’s regulated cannabis markets,” said Raj Grover, CEO of the Calgary-based company.

Remexian is one of Germany’s top importers and distributors of medical cannabis.

Cannara offers stock bonuses

Employees and directors at Cannara Biotech are getting stock bonuses.

Eligible employees at the Quebec cannabis company will receive options that can be converted into shares at a rate of $1.44 a share. They will be paid out in equal monthly instalments over three years, according to a news release.

Board of directors members will receive units equal to one share, to be paid out after two years.

Making stock options redeemable over years is a way to encourage employees to stay with a company.

Telehealth plan moves beyond cannabis

A Canadian medical cannabis producer is expanding its telehealth offerings to include non-cannabis health products

Entourage Health Corp. said it is expanding its Starseed Medicinal telehealth platform to cover four new prescription categories: skin care, hair loss, topical pain relief and men’s sexual health.

Starseed patients obtain prescriptions by completing an online intake form, which is reviewed by a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Approved prescriptions are then accessed through the Prescriptions Tab in the patient’s Starseed account profile. There is no need for a scheduled appointment.

Patients can access the site at starseed.com.

“Starseed remains dedicated to its medical cannabis roots, with no changes to its existing cannabis offerings,” a press release says.

Breathalyzer on display at Denver show

A marijuana breathalyzer was on display this week at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Denver.

Vancouver-based Cannabix Technology also demonstrated its BreathLogix alcohol screening device that is marketed to employers.

The Cannabix Marijuana Breath Test looks for recent cannabis use rather than finding evidence of days- or weeks-old consumption.

The alcohol breathalyzer “can be integrated with doors, turnstiles, gates, facial recognition, fingerprint readers and motor vehicle key fleet management systems for pre-access alcohol testing,” the company said in a news release.

MTL launches medical brands in Australia

A Canadian cannabis company is launching a number of brands in Australia.

MTL Cannabis announced it will enter the Australian medical market with Sage n’ Sour, Strawberry n’ Mintz, Wes’ Coast Kush hash, East Coast Dank’z, Frosted Flakes, Larry and Peanut Butter Gelato, the company said in a news release. Consumers will obtain their cannabis through a pharmacy.

Australia’s medical cannabis market is to grow from $600 million in revenues in 2024 to more than $1.2 billion by 2028, according to Prohibition Partners’ fifth edition of The Global Cannabis Report, MTL said.