News

Quick Hits: Cannabis news in brief

Published on April 24, 2026 by Pat Bulmer

Photo: Contributed

Cannabis news in brief: Red card for cannabis; No booze or weed in Banff; VCC tests new growing technique; Vaping healthier for your neighbours; Tilray traget OG smokers; Pure Sunfarms offers THC range; No quorum means no meeting; Manitoba takes a bigger share; Auxley buys its own shares

World Cup visitors should leave cannabis at home

Visitors coming to Canada this summer for the World Cup are being warned not to bring cannabis.

“Cannabis and illegal drugs are banned at the border, including edibles, extracts, topicals and CBD,” said the Canada Border Services Agency on X.

The post refers to government websites that say: “Entering or leaving Canada with cannabis is illegal: even if you are travelling to or from a municipality, state or country where cannabis has been legalized or decriminalized … Transporting cannabis across the border in any form – including any oils containing THC or cannabidiol (CBD) — without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada remains a serious criminal offence.”

Read the information for yourself at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/cannabis-eng.html or travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/drugs#toc0

Long-weekend cannabis ban for Banff campers

If cannabis or booze are on your camping menu, don’t plan on visiting Banff National Park during long weekends this summer.

Consumption of booze and pot will be prohibited in park campgrounds on the Victoria Day, August and Labour Day long weekends.

“Violation of this prohibition may result in immediate cancellation of your camping permit, eviction from the campground, or charges under the Canada National Parks Act; maximum penalty $25,000. Camping fees will not be refunded,” a bulletin warns.

VCC rolls out new growing method

A cannabis plant developed using a new growing system is hitting store shelves.

Roll-X is the Victoria Cannabis Company’s first “in-house bred cultivar,” the company said in a posting on X.

It comes in a seven-gram flower package or in a 10- or three-pack of 0.5-g pre-rolls.

“Living Soil Synganics is a cultivation approach that blends organic soil with mineral-based (synthetic) liquid nutrients or fertilizers,” the company explains on its website. “This method aims to combine the best of both worlds: the high yields and consistency of synthetic nutrient programs with the enhanced flavor, aroma, and plant resilience provided by organic practices.”

Indica-dominant Roll-X is described as a potent, aromatic smoke with 30+% THC and high terpene content.

Vaping pollutes less

Vaping is better for your neighbours than smoking a joint, a US study says.

The study by cannabis company Pax, found that vaping “reduces harmful combustion byproducts by up to 99% compared to joint smoke.”

“The study compared chemical emissions from combusted cannabis flower in a traditional joint to aerosol produced by the Pax Flow and Pax Trip vaporizers,” a news release said.

“Researchers analyzed 16 harmful or potentially harmful compounds commonly associated with combustion, including benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde.

Vaporization reduced these compounds by up to 99% compared to joint smoke. “Notably, levels of benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde from a single 0.75g joint exceeded recommended daily inhalation exposure limits, while those same compounds were dramatically lower or undetectable in vapor,” the release said.

Burning cannabis creates more heat — and chemical reactions — than vaping.

“Combustion produces harmful byproducts—whether it’s tobacco, wood, or cannabis,” said Richard Rucker, director of product integrity at Pax. “By heating cannabis without burning it, vaporization significantly reduces the formation of these toxic compounds.”

More information is available at pax.com/science.

New brand aimed at ‘seasoned’ users

Tilray is launching a new cannabis brand aimed at “seasoned, high‑tolerance consumers.”

“The vape and infused pre-roll categories have grown rapidly, but with that growth has come sameness,” declared the Canadian-American cannabis giant. “Portal was created to challenge that norm.”

“Portal is built around liquid diamonds, the highest potency THC-dominant cannabis concentrate, along with diamond‑coated flower and precision formulation,” Tilray’s announcement said.

Portal will launch with infused pre-rolls and liquid diamond vapes.

The Sloppy Troppy Diamond Coated 1g pre-roll is a sativa smoke coated in THCA diamonds and clocking in at over 40% THC, Tilray says.

The Sloppy Troppy Liquid Diamonds 510 cartridge is a sativa vape with 95–99% THC.

The Lunar Lychee Liquid Diamonds 510 cartridge is an indica vape, also with 95-99% THC.

Availability across the country varies.

Labels to offer potency range

Pure Sunfarms is trying out labelling with a THC potency range.

“Rather than presenting a single THC percentage, Pure Sunfarms’ updated packaging (for its Pink Kush flower) displays a potency range that reflects how the cultivar consistently performs over time,” parent company Village Farms said in a news release. “The change recognizes cannabis for what it is: an agricultural product with natural biological variation.”

The pilot program follows research into THC variability in cannabis plants. Last July, Village Farms’ scientists published peer-reviewed research in Scientific Reports that showed even a single plant can have different levels of potency.

“By measuring potency from the top, middle, and bottom of the plant … researchers observed significant variation in THC levels within individual plants and across different strains,” the company declared.

“The findings from this study suggest this practice of fixed-number labelling does not account for the biological variability inherent to cannabis plants and misrepresents the actual cannabinoid content a consumer experiences,” a news release said then.

“For years, the industry has been anchored to one fixed potency number,” said Orville Bovenschen, global president of operations for Village Farms, this month. “A range gives consumers a clearer, more honest expectation of what’s inside the bag.”

No quorum for shareholders’ meeting

Akanda Corp. was forced to delay a special shareholders’ meeting on March 31 because it didn’t have a quorum.

The company will try again in Toronto on April 27.

“A quorum … requires the presence, in person or by proxy, of at least two shareholders holding not less than 10% of the company’s outstanding shares entitled to vote,” a news release explained.

Akanda also announced it will proceed with a reverse stock split, which shareholders did approve at a Nov. 29 meeting. Every five shares in the company is to be traded in for one new share.

“This will reduce the number of outstanding common shares of the company from approximately 2.4 million to approximately 534.4 thousand,” a different news release said.

Akanda announced last year it was working to convert a hemp cultivation licence in BC to a full licence so it could produce a variety of THC products.

Manitoba raises markup

Manitoba’s government plans to make a little more revenue from cannabis.

Effective June 1, the provincial markup on wholesale cannabis products sold in Manitoba

will be raised to 13%, up from 11%, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said in a bulletin.

“Manitoba has one of the lowest cannabis markup, taxation rates, and fee structures in Canada,” the bulletin said.

Net revenue from the markup is returned to the province.

Cannabis suppliers will be able to adjust wholesale pricing of their products ahead of the markup hike.

Rates across the country are all over the map. BC’s markup is 15%. Other provinces may have lower markups, but make up for it with other fees.

Auxly buying back shares

Auxly Cannabis is buying some of its own shares.

Under a TSX-approved “normal course bid” (NCIB), Auxly will buy up to 68.9 million common shares and then cancel them.

The shares represent less than 5% of the company’s shares.

The purchase period will be for one year, and started April 20.

“The company believes that, from time to time, the market price of its common shares does not adequately reflect the company’s underlying value and prospects and that, at such times, the purchase of the company’s common shares represents an appropriate use of the company’s financial resources and will enhance shareholder value,” Auxly said in a news release.

As of April 7, 2026, the company had 1,405,038,794 shares issued, the release said.

“Over the last year, Auxly Cannabis shares have traded in a share price range of $0.07 to $0.19,” the Advanced Financial Network said on its website.