Global Ganja Report

Cannabis industry leaders have announced certification standards to promote corporate responsibility. The move appears to be prompted by some embarrassing scandals in the young industry. Activists are meanwhile raising more far-reaching demands for drug war "reparations." 

Insurance companies in Canada are starting to cover medical marijuana, but high costs continue to be an impediment to access in the United States. Even in states that have legalized medicinal use of cannabis, the insurance industry will provide no coverage. Advocates are now starting to demand legislation to address this contradiction.

Nationwide cannabis shortages since Canada went legal last month are causing some provinces to rethink their distribution plans. Alberta has just announced that retail outlets will be barred from purchasing online but must place their orders manually to prevent the computerized system from being overwhelmed. Provincial authorities are struggling to break the logjam in the supply chain, and keep enough product in stock for those who purchase either online or from brick-and-mortar outlets.

On the first day of legal cannabis in Canada, many suppliers ran out of stock—pointing to challenges in meeting demand. Several provincial governments and private outlets turned to e-commerce company Shopify to help negotiate the initial tsunami of online sales.

Canada's postal unions are contemplating a nationwide walk-out—exactly as legal mail-order cannabis deliveries are set to begin. Talks are ongoing, but if the strike is not averted, cannabis consumers could be left high and dry—especially in those provinces that are relying mostly or entirely on home deliveries.

As legal cannabis finally becomes a reality in Canada, a policy patchwork across the country's provinces and ongoing political tussles have left many confused as to what the new system will actually look like. We break down some of the frequently asked questions. 

Police in Canada are actually anticipating more cannabis-related arrests after legalization, due to expected increases in driving while high and other such offenses. Meanwhile, Trudeau's promised expungement of prior cannabis-related criminal records does not appear to be imminent. And US immigration authorities say they will treat Canadians involved in the legal industry as "traffickers."

Canada is about to make history, with passage of its cannabis legalization bill imminent. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  is the man of the hour, shepherding the first Western industrialized country along a course that was nearly unthinkable a generation ago. But it was activist efforts that really brought Canada to this point—and advocates are still fighting to keep a place for small growers and vendors in the new system.