Companies are falling short when it comes to having comprehensive policies on substance use, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

The report, which is based on a review of about 800 companies, interviews with experts and responses to an online survey, aimed to analyze and provide a general overview of the state of workplace policies on substance use as Canada moves towards the legalization and regulation of cannabis this summer. It found that while most respondents had a specific policy on employee alcohol and drug use, there’s a particular gap when it comes to medical marijuana. It was the only substance that the majority (55 per cent) of respondents indicated wasn’t part of their organization’s policy on substance use.

The results of a survey published by Statistics Canada last week reveal some interesting information about how Canadians are consuming cannabis.

How many users? 

According to the data, which was gathered earlier this year as part of the National Cannabis Survey, approximately 4.2 million or 14 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over have used cannabis products in the last three months. Of them, about 56 percent said their use occurred on a daily or weekly basis. (The information comes ahead of the federal government’s implementation of Bill C-45, an act that will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to non-medical cannabis.)

Will legalization increase use? 

An unexpected drama played out at a conference centre in Toronto recently, beginning with a presentation about the future of medical marijuana and ending in insults, jeers and a minor Twitter storm. At the heart of the dispute was a question that producers and users of medical cannabis feel strongly about: Once recreational pot is legal, should there still be a separate medical marijuana system?

Dixie Brands Inc., a U.S. maker of marijuana beverages, is considering an initial public offering toward the end of this year or early next year as it seeks capital for expansion and acquisitions. The company, which hasn’t mandated bankers yet, is eyeing a listing in Canada, Chief Executive Officer Chuck Smith said Thursday in an interview on the sidelines of the Cannabis Invest U.K. conference in London. Dixie will have about $20 million in revenue this year and up to about $50-million in 2019, Smith said. “We need access to capital, we need liquidity because this growth is very expensive,” said Smith, who founded the company in 2009 and remains its majority shareholder. “We’re going to continue to acquire brands or innovate them.”

As we move toward the legalization of recreational cannabis, I thought it would be interesting to look at a recent case dealing with medical cannabis and the efforts of one person to get assistance from his province's workers' compensation board to contribute to the cost of the medical cannabis prescribed to him.

In case you haven’t noticed, the legal marijuana movement is creating quite the buzz on Wall Street. Since the start of 2016, a number of the largest pot companies by market cap have seen their share prices rise by more than 1,000%.

It has to do with a combination of rapidly growing sales, a consistent shift in the public’s opinion on cannabis, and a “marijuana first” expected out of Canada later this year.

But it’s not just sales growth that has investors excited. It’s the shift in consumer opinion toward cannabis.  With the public strongly behind the idea of legalization, investors expect sales growth throughout North America to continue climbing.

Investing in Canadian marijuana stocks two years ago would have been a dream for most investors.

Interpreting the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations can be tough. That’s why Herb has prepared this handy guide to help you pick the right licensed producer of medical cannabis for you.

People turn to medical cannabis for various reasons over the course of their lives. From a strained muscle to anxiety, Parkinson’s to fibromyalgia, cannabis can be an alternative therapy for a variety of health issues.

Interpreting the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations can be tough and can leave people feeling confused, regardless of whether they are an experienced cannabis consumer or simply wanting to learn how cannabis can fit into their life.

With one of the lowest valuations among its cannabis peers, Moncton, New Brunswick’s OrganiGram Holdings (TSXV:OGI) should be a good pick up, says Matt Bottomley, analyst for Canaccord Genuity, who on Tuesday reiterated his “Speculative Buy” recommendation and $5.50 price target. On Tuesday, OrganiGram released its financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended February 28, 2018, posting gross sales of $3.2 million, an increase of 123 per cent over its fiscal second quarter of 2017.

The highs and lows of legalized pot, from a real estate perspective.

After reaching an agreement with the City of Montreal, Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SSQ) shops are due to start business as early as this summer. The first 4 pot stores are planned near popular metro stations, and will open their doors as of July 1 after the federal legislation passes legalization.

Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company") is pleased to join the Victoria State Government in announcing the launch of the newest member of the Canopy Growth family, Spectrum Cannabis Australia ("Spectrum" or "Spectrum Australia").

Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Jaala Pulford, alongside Ben Quirin, Managing Director of Spectrum Australia, announced the Company will invest up to $16 millionAUD (~$16 million CAD) in the State of Victoria over the next four years to establish Spectrum's Asia-Pacific (APAC) headquarters and research and development facility.