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    Cannabis as Non-Essential

    By

    As with many things over the past few weeks, nothing is permanent and the world is moving fast.

    Some challenging news: Cannabis retail in Ontario went from being an essential service to being a non-essential service- adding uncertainty to the sector as the era of social distancing moves on.

    Some good news: The Business Development Bank of Canada is going to (possibly) provide some emergency financing to the sector – where previously they said no to cannabis.

    In other news: Business of Cannabis will kick off Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink next Monday. Visit cannabisandtech.ca to sign up for the week’s live stream and webinars. And join us this Friday, as we have a bit of a preview Lunch+Learn with Liz Stahura, co-founder and president of BDS Analytics.

    Stay safe and stay distant.

    Read on…

    As noted above, cannabis retail is now a non-essential service (of course, unless you are the Province-run Ontario Cannabis Store, then your online store is good-to-go!). BUT, the BDC is now (apparently) going to provide financing to cannabis companies.

    Interestingly, Pineapple Express, the same day cannabis delivery company, got acquired last week by World-Class Extractions.  

    The past week saw two of the world’s largest (and related) cannabis companies cut staff. Acreage cut 120 jobs and Canopy Growth cut 200. Adding insult to the current challenges, New York state has pushed off legalization in 2020. 

    And some smaller folks are not immune:‍

    James E. Wagner Cultivation filed for creditor protection. So did CannTrust.

    Ending on a somewhat positive note, Supreme shipped their first order of medical cannabis to Israel last week. 

    Stay safe and be sure to sign up for cannabisandtech.ca to join the live streams and webinars. 

    Week Ahead

    TODAY
    10:00 am | Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by 
    LeafLink Interview with Krista Raymer + Leandra Reid of Vetrina GroupSTREAMING

    12:45 pm | Business of Cannabis Call In Live 

    Executive Director of NORML CanadaCaryma Sa’d answers questions.
    JOIN

    Tuesday, Apr. 7
    10:00 am | Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink Interview with Phil McDonald of HeadsetSTREAMING

    Benchmarks Update Newsletter 
    Last week’s Benchmarks Update: Canada Cannabis Spot Index

    Wednesday, Apr. 8
    10:00 am | Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink Interview with David Kerr, Gallagher
    STREAMING

    Thursday, Apr. 9
    10:00 am | Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink Interview with Evan Adcock, Verda Innovations
    STREAMING

    Job of the Week Newsletter presented by Cannabis At Work 

    Last week’s Job of the Week: Alternate Quality Assurance Person, Ottawa Area

    Friday, Apr. 10
    10:00 am | Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink Event Preview with Jay Rosenthal, Business of Cannabis
    STREAMING

    Noon Eastern | Friday Virtual Lunch+Learn with 
    Liz Stahura, Co-Founder + President, BDS Analytics
    JOIN

    NEXT WEEK
    Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink

    JOIN US

    Next Week

    Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, explore the tech of cannabis retail. Learn about the companies innovating in the cannabis retail tech space. As retail cannabis operations ramp up across North America, Business of Cannabis is convening a completely virtual event series:Cannabis + Technology | Retail Tech presented by LeafLink. JOIN US.

    Latest from BofC

    On Friday, Alison McMahon of Cannabis At Work joined Business of Cannabis for our weekly Friday Lunch+Learn to share her insights in the current state of employment in the cannabis sector. Watch the full rebroadcast.

    ‍Receive our newsletter to your inbox.

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