News

Quick Hits: Cannabis news in brief

Published on December 12, 2025 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Contributed

Cannabis news in brief: Under-agers hired to buy pot; stats show cannabis crime dropping; 42% THC pre-rolls drop; expo draws BC minister; Claybourne Gassers enter the fray; medical to boom; U.K.-bound weed intercepted; MediPharm in France; softgels catching on; even more Canna Cabana; Nova Scotians spend $36M on weed; Village Farms setback; pot advent sold out; SNDL share buyback; Aurora down under

Ontario to hire minors to catch dealers

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will use entrapment to try to catch cannabis shops selling to minors.

The AGCO is going to hire minors, 16-18, to go into shops and attempt to buy cannabis as part of its mystery shop program.

Retailers who fail to check identification or sell age-restricted products to minors will be cited for a violation under the Liquor Licence and Control Act or the Cannabis Licence Act, the agency says.

The AGCO’s Schedule of Monetary Penalties permits fines of up to $100,000 for selling cannabis or alcohol to minors. Retailers can face suspension or even lose their licence for serious or repeated violations.

Cannabis retailers are required to request identification from anyone appearing under 25. Similarly, liquor licensees must verify identification for any person who appears under 19 years of age.

Liquor authorities in various provinces use this method to catch retailers and pubs in the act of selling to minors.

Legalization cuts cannabis crime

It makes sense — legalize cannabis and cannabis-related crime will go down.

Now, the statistics prove it.

“After reaching a historic peak in 2011, police-reported drug crime has generally declined, driven by the decrease in cannabis offences,” says a new report from Statistics Canada.

“The rate of police-reported drug crime in 2024 was 56% lower than a decade earlier, in 2014,” the report said. Cannabis crimes were down 89% over the decade.

Non-medical cannabis was legalized in 2018.

“In 2014, there were nearly 70,000 cannabis offences in Canada, which accounted for two-thirds (66%) of all drug crime,” said the report, Trends in police-reported drug crime in Canada by Adam Cotter and Shana Conroy. “In 2024, cannabis offences accounted for a far smaller number (8,879) and proportion (17%) of all drug crime.

Cannabis crimes in 2024 were “most often related to importation and exportation (66%), while smaller proportions were related to possession (13%), distribution (7%), sale (7%), production (3%) and other crimes (4%).”

But more recently, cannabis offences climbed by 2,272 from 2023 to 2024. Most types of drug offences also increased after long-term declines, the report said.

New line of potent pre-rolls

Pre-rolls with 42% or more THC potency are being introduced under the Lord Jones label.

“The Lord Jones Live Resin Fusions pre-rolls are carefully curated, pairing single-sourced dried flower with complementary, terpene-rich pure live resin caviar … Every pre-roll is fitted with a reusable ceramic tip, which cools the smoke for an even smoother, elevated experience,” Cronos Group said in a flattering news release.

The new products are: Durban Kush x Citrus Sap, Hell Fire OG x Cali Gas, and Sour Diesel x Orange Velvet.

Lord Jones has a website at lordjones.ca.

Ag minister to speak at cannabis expo

BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and cannabis grower and expert Kevin Jodrey have been lined up to speak the opening event at the Grow Up Conference and Expo, Jan. 19-21 in Vancouver.

The event will bring together hundreds of industry professionals at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Popham and Jodrey will speak at an executive summit on Jan. 19.

On Jan. 20-21, the industry conference and expo will feature more than 100 speakers and exhibitors. There will be classes, competitions, networking, a kickoff party and lifetime achievement awards handed out.

Register at growupconference.com/vancouver.

New vape lineup

Canopy Growth has launched a new line of all-in-one vapes.

Claybourne Gassers represent that brand’s entry into the vape category.

There will be three 0.95g liquid diamond vapes: Infused Grape Gasolina (indica); Infused Blue Dream (sativa); and Infused Lemon Cherry G (hybrid).

“Each vape contains 92–98% THC, a digital display, variable voltage, and anti-burn, anti-clog technology, all housed in a rechargeable USB-C palm-style format,” the Smiths Falls, Ont. company said in a news release.

Claybourne has been a pre-roll brand up to now and is introducing new packaging in that area as well.

“Claybourne Frosted Flyers are also launching in a new variety 8-pack,” the company says. The package will feature popular indica, sativa and hybrid strains with 33–36% THC content, the company says.

Medical cannabis boom coming

The medical cannabis market will grow from US$14.6 billion worldwide today to $203.4 billion by 2034, a report says.

“The cannabidiol (CBD) market has witnessed remarkable growth, fueled by increasing consumer awareness of its potential health benefits and the ongoing legalization of cannabis-derived products in various regions,” Dublin-based Research and Markets said in a news release touting its latest report.

“The market’s rapid expansion is attributed to the broadening range of CBD-infused products, including oils, capsules, topicals, beverages, and edibles,” the release said. “CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, has gained popularity as a natural remedy for conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, and epilepsy.”

Many countries are allowing expansion of CBD products, but there are hurdles ahead, says the report, released around the same time the U.S. Congress added a potential hemp crackdown to its government-reopening bill.

“The market faces challenges such as regulatory uncertainty in some regions, inconsistent product quality, and limited scientific consensus on certain claims,” Research and Markets said.

“Despite these hurdles, the growing demand for natural health remedies, increasing investment in research and development, and expanding consumer interest in holistic wellness are expected to sustain the strong growth trajectory.”

The Cannabidiol Market Outlook 2025-2034: Market Share, and Growth Analysis is available for less than $4,000.

Illegal pot headed to UK snagged again

Another shipment of illegal cannabis headed for Britain has been intercepted.

Sixteen cardboard boxes carrying 218 kilograms of vacuum-sealed pot were seized by border officers.

The shipment, leaving from Saint John, N.B., was declared to be empty plastic bottles, and headed for a business in the United Kingdom, the Canada Border Services Agency said in a news release.

The CBSA’s Export Team in Halifax alerted New Brunswick officers to check out the shipment, which they did on Sept. 16.

“Border services officers detected 16 large cardboard boxes filled with suspected cannabis. A total of 399 packages of vacuum-sealed cannabis were seized, weighing 218 kilograms,” the CBSA said.

The cannabis was turned over to the RCMP.

Earlier in September, CBSA officers in Montreal seized two shipments hiding 2,723 kg of cannabis that were destined for the UK.

Also in September, officers in Halifax discovered four wood crates, filled with 1,479 packages of vacuum-sealed dried cannabis and weighing 801.5 kg also headed to the UK.

MediPharm ships pot to France

MediPharm Labs has made its first shipment to France.

“MediPharm’s completion of our first production order and subsequent shipment to France marks our entry into one of Europe’s most promising emerging medical cannabis markets,” said CEO David Pidduck in a news release.

The release doesn’t explain exactly what products were shipped. MediPharm’s specialty is cannabinoid pharmaceuticals.

“This milestone follows a production agreement with an international medicinal cannabis

organization,” the release said. “The French medicinal cannabis market is projected to experience significant growth over the coming years. Conservative estimates place the market at US$187.6 million by 2025, rising to US$213.3 million by 2030 under current regulatory conditions.

MediPharm says 56% of its revenue in the last quarter came from international medical cannabis sales. It manufactures its products in Barrie, Ont.

Softgels the hot new way to take your medicine

The global softgel capsules market is expected to be worth over $17 billion by 2034, increasing from $10.85 billion in 2026, a new report says.

“Rising shift towards gelatin-free capsules, technical innovation in softgel manufacturing, rising prevalence of chronic ailments globally, and rising demand for nutraceuticals are driving the growth of the market, Precedence Research said in a news release from Ottawa.

“ A soft gelatin capsule is a type of capsule that is generally used to contain medicine in the form of liquid or powder,” the company explained. “Softgels are ideal for liquid or semi-solid based formulations.

Medicine inside softgels may be Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, herbal extracts — or cannabis oils.

Europe has emerged as a leading region in the softgel market, the report says.

“The sealed shell of a softgel capsule effectively masks the unpleasant taste or odor of certain medications and supplements.”

The report cites the July launch of RSO Time Capsules — “Arizona’s first softgel format of Rick Simpson Oil.” Rick Simpson Oil is a cannabis oil said to have therapeutic benefits.

In Canada, Nextleaf Solutions’ Glacial Gold brand is big on softgels. The company recently introduced a 200-pack of softgels, which come in various combinations and potencies of THC, CBD and CBN.

More Canna Cabana stores

Canna Cabana is opening more stores — in Canada and Germany.

The new Canadian stores are in Ontario and Alberta.

A new store in Berlin, the first outside of Canada, has run into an unexpected temporary closure, parent company High Tide said in its latest news release, calling it an “operational matter.”

In announcing the store’s opening on Dec. 1, the company declared: “This flagship store represents the first step in High Tide’s broader European retail strategy, following its recent acquisition of Remexian Pharma GmbH, a licensed medical cannabis importer and distributor based in Germany.

“The Berlin opening reflects the company’s commitment to growing its European presence, which encompasses bricks-and-mortar retail, e-commerce, and medical cannabis distribution.”
In Canada, new Canna Cabanas will open in London, Ont., on Dec. 15, in Brampton on Dec. 20 and Calgary on Dec. 23.

In November, stores opened in Calgary, Scarborough, Kitchener and Nepean.

The openings will bring High Tide’s store count to 218 locations — with 91 in the company’s home province of Alberta, 94 in Ontario.

Nova Scotians spend $36M on pot

Cannabis grown in the province accounted for more than a quarter of pot sales in Nova Scotia from June to September.

The quarterly financial report of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation showed $36 million of cannabis products were sold in the second financial quarter, a 10% increase over the same quarter a year ago.

Sales of local products increased by 3.8% to $9.6 million, accounting for 26.7% of all sales.

The average price per gram for cannabis decreased by 3.0% to $5.72, the report said.

The rest of the report was all about liquor.

Village Farms to try again

Canadian cannabis company Village Farms has suffered a setback in Texas, but isn’t giving up.

The company announced its bid for a conditional medical licence was rejected. The company’s application will be considered again in April, the company said.

“We remain committed to supporting the Texas cannabis industry, as the outcome of Phase I awards has zero impact on our financial performance, outlook or strategy,” said company president Michael DeGiglio in a news release. “We’ve proven that we don’t need first mover advantage to be successful, and will continue pursuing other opportunities to activate our Texas assets for cannabinoid production in the future,”

Village Farms owns 2.2 million square feet (50 acres) of greenhouse assets in West Texas, which will be similar in size to its Delta, BC, greenhouses after a 2026 expansion. The company also owns 950 acres of unoccupied farmland in Texas.

Village Farms owns Pure Sunfarms in Canada and 80% of Quebec’s Rose LifeScience.

In the US, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Balanced Health Botanicals, is self-described as a leader in CBD and hemp-derived brands and e-commerce platforms.

Advent calendar sold out

Online cannabis retailer Herbal Dispatch’s 2025 Happy Hour Cannabis Advent Calendar has sold out.

The limited-edition multi-pack box featured 12 half-gram pre-rolls with THC levels up to 31%.

Each straight-cut pre-roll was sealed in its own tube and hidden behind a door.

Herbal Dispatch says it’ll try to produce more calendars next year.

SNDL renews share program

Cannabis and liquor giant SNDL Inc. has renewed a share repurchase program.

“The Share Repurchase Program authorizes the company to repurchase up to C$100 million of its outstanding common shares from time to time,” the company said in a news release. “The manner, timing, pricing and amount of any transactions will be subject to the discretion of SNDL and may be based upon market conditions.”

Conditions of the program are that “SNDL may only repurchase a maximum of approximately 24.5 million shares …representing 10% of the public float of the company.”

There is no minimum number of shares that must be purchased.

The program will run to Nov. 20, 2026.

Under the previous program, the Edmonton-based company bought back 9.4 million shares.

On Dec. 1, SNDL shares were going for US$1.72 on the NASDAQ exchange.

Aurora gets Aussie distributor

A Canadian company’s Australian subsidiary has signed up with a medical cannabis distributor.

Aurora Cannabis’ wholly-owned subsidiary, MedReleaf, is linking up with Leafio, a medical cannabis distributor.

Under the agreement, Aurora’s medical cannabis products will be distributed by Leafio to more than 4,000 pharmacies

“This strategic partnership will expand patient access to trusted, safe, and effective medical cannabis across Australia, while supporting healthcare professionals with educational resources. Leafio will serve as a wholesaler of Aurora’s leading portfolio of medical cannabis products under the MedReleaf, CraftPlant, Aurora, Whistler Cannabis Co. and IndiMed brands,” Edmonton-based Aurora said in a news release.