Medical cannabis patients who use the plant to treat conditions ranging from eczema to cancer are coming together this Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in front of Finance Minister Bill Morneau's downtown Toronto constituency office at 430 Parliament St., to call out the government's proposed plan to increase the already unfair and burdensome tax on medical cannabis. Unlike medical cannabis, most prescribed medications are not taxed, creating a situation where patients are choosing medications based on financial options rather than harm reduction and efficacy. [continues 408 words]
Another day, another Trudeau Liberal lie That fury you hear? The betrayal medical cannabis patients and activists feel after the federal government went back on yet another promise surrounding legal marijuana. Last Friday, the Department of Finance announced a federal tax proposal that could see an excise charge of $1/gram or 10% (whichever is higher) on both recreational and medical cannabis. According to Ottawa, the revenues will be shared equally between the feds, provinces and territories. So what are they smoking? The shady government is apparently 'concerned' users will lie to their doctors, pretend to be sick and navigate the complex workings of the medical cannabis system in order to save the extra 10% tax that would be reserved for recreational pot. [continues 482 words]
That fury you hear? The betrayal medical cannabis patients and activists feel after the federal government went back on yet another promise surrounding legal marijuana. Last Friday, the Department of Finance announced a federal tax proposal that could see an excise charge of $1/gram or 10% (whichever is higher) on both recreational and medical cannabis. According to Ottawa, the revenues will be shared equally between the feds, provinces and territories. So what are they smoking? The shady government is apparently 'concerned' users will lie to their doctors, pretend to be sick and navigate the complex workings of the medical cannabis system in order to save the extra 10% tax that would be reserved for recreational pot. [continues 482 words]
That fury you hear? The betrayal medical cannabis patients and activists feel after the federal government went back on yet another promise surrounding legal marijuana. Last Friday, the Department of Finance announced a federal tax proposal that could see an excise charge of $1/gram or 10% (whichever is higher) on both recreational and medical cannabis. According to Ottawa, the revenues will be shared equally between the feds, provinces and territories. So what are they smoking? The shady government is apparently 'concerned' users will lie to their doctors, pretend to be sick and navigate the complex workings of the medical cannabis system in order to save the extra 10% tax that would be reserved for recreational pot. [continues 480 words]
Weed aficionado Sarah Hanlon rates Wynne's pot plan The Liberals announced on Friday that legalization of cannabis sales will be modeled after their experience in alcohol. For Ontario tokers and industry leaders, giving the LCBO exclusive rights to cannabis sales was an expected and disappointing move from the province, underlining the power of the LCBO and Ontario Public Service Employees Union President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, over sound decision-making. Here's the 411. The Good The proposed minimum age to use, purchase and possess pot will be 19. [continues 389 words]
With legalization a little over a year away, many Canadians will be entering stoner society armed with little to no experience with weed. Once marijuana goes mainstream - will people know how to conduct themselves while getting acquainted with the herb? What are the mainstay manners of marijuana culture? 24 Hours sat down with long-time activist Tracy Curley and some fellow cannabis industry insiders and came up with ten solid suggestions for pothead politeness. 1 No peer pressure. Just like with an alcoholic drink or anything else, if someone does not want to partake, then leave it at that. [continues 660 words]
With a firm date on marijuana legalization, Toronto Police Services and councillors need to wake up and smell the reefer. The federal government will introduce legislation on April 10 that will legalize cannabis by July 1, 2018. According to the CBC, this past weekend, Bill Blair, head of the Legalization Task Force, outlined a plan for the Liberal caucus which basically says that the federal government will set health and safety standards but the provinces will get to decide where and how it will be sold. (Other developments: Ottawa will likely set a minimum age of 18 to buy marijuana but provinces can adjust that as well and the government will limit four plants per household to those who wish to grow their own herb.) [continues 521 words]
The weed world is a buzz after the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization released over 80 recommendations for how the government should regulate pot once it becomes legal here in Canada. The task force created their report based on consultations with current medical marijuana users, Indigenous communities, youth groups, experts and governmental bodies from across the country. The nine members of the Task Force, headed by Anne McLellan, also gained firsthand knowledge from places who have already legalized cannabis - travelling to Colorado and Washington State as well as receiving a detailed outline from the government in Uruguay (the only country to date that has a federal regulatory system for accessing cannabis). And, while yes these are just recommendations, this is virtually the ONLY information we have received from the government about how they may move forward with legalization other than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent announcement urging police to enforce the current marijuana laws - a stance that did not sit well for many. [continues 877 words]
Holy smokes! Veterans are getting punished for the acts of some shady medical marijuana companies. Last week, Vice News broke a story about the rising costs of medical marijuana for veterans and it shed light on the reasons for the drastic spike. The biggest? Some legal cannabis producers are milking the system and actively recruiting veterans in order to max out their orders with only the most expensive cannabis strains - knowing it's up to the government to foot the bill on veteran prescriptions. [continues 517 words]
TORONTO - Holy smokes! Veterans are getting punished for the acts of some shady medical marijuana companies. Last week, Vice News broke a story about the rising costs of medical marijuana for veterans and it shed light on the reasons for the drastic spike. The biggest? Some legal cannabis producers are milking the system and actively recruiting veterans in order to max out their orders with only the most expensive cannabis strains - knowing it's up to the government to foot the bill on veteran prescriptions. [continues 515 words]
Toronto Police Services executed three dispensary search warrants Wednesday night. Between the marijuana storefronts, Swed (3440 Lake Shore Blvd W.), Better Living (2791 Lake Shore Blvd W.) and The Corner Store (1128 The Queensway) only $24,000 of marijuana was seized. Six people ranging in age from 19 to 30 are now facing multiple criminal charges, including possession and possession of proceeds of crime. Pot's first franchise goes under. Activists Marc and Jodi Emery have expanded their weed empire, selling Canada's first recreational cannabis franchise in Peterborough late this summer - and just like their three Toronto locations, the pot shop has already run into trouble with the law. The George St. dispensary, which opened on September 9, has been raided twice in less than a month. [continues 578 words]
They took their own sweet time but the federal government has finally made necessary changes to the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR). People who sign up through the new Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR for short - oy! - so many acronyms!) can now grow their own weed or give one person the right to grow it for them. The amount of cannabis you can grow is small, regulated and dependent on the recommended dosages a patient should receive. [continues 506 words]
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Justin Loizos led a group of frustrated medical marijuana patients into a downtown intersection Friday for a smoke session, which shut down traffic. The group of about 30 protesters were diverse but united in their mission to be heard. The patients who gathered at the corner of Yonge and Bloor Sts. were protesting Bill 178, which groups medical marijuana in with tobacco products in the Ontario Smoke Free Act. This bill would prevent patients from medicating in many places and threatens the existence of cannabis lounges in the city. [continues 458 words]
Toronto will look a lot hazier before the weekend hits: Inside sources tell 24 Hours that traffic gridlock is about to get a whole lot more congested ... with smoke. Today, marijuana advocates and frustrated cannabis users are set to stage several smoke-ins at busy intersections around the downtown core to demonstrate the desperate need for safe spaces for marijuana users. It's been over a month since the Ontario government passed Bill 178, which added "prescribed substances" to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. [continues 121 words]
Pot activists promising smoke-ins Black Lives Matter's arguably successful sit-in at the Pride parade has now inspired the medical marijuana movement to use the same tactics. Advocates are vowing to hold smoke-ins at key corners in The Six. It's been about a month since the Ontario government passed Bill 178, which added "prescribed substances" to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. This addition prevents medical marijuana patients from medicating anywhere cigarettes are prohibited. And once this bill goes into effect, cannabis lounges in the city -- that have operated as community hubs for years -- become even more vulnerable under the new law. [continues 339 words]
We have all heard about the "grey" zone when it come to the green stuff ... so let me try to clear the air. Project Claudia will go down in history as a massive blunder for the Toronto Police Services. While officials remain ignorantly justified in the closure of almost 50 medical cannabis storefronts, the law firm representing the dispensaries thinks they have a case against the charges and the city. And I agree. On May 26, TPS raided a number of medical cannabis dispensaries, closing them down, taking their stock and charging their owners and employees. (TPS had even sent out notices to Vapor Lounges that don't sell any weed.) [continues 653 words]
"Herb is the healing of a nation." - Bob Marley Well, that didn't take long. Yep, just on schedule, the Ontario Liberals are going back on their word when it comes to their marijuana policy. It was only months ago medical cannabis users were relieved to hear their medication would not be lumped into the same province-wide ban that was happening to e-cigarettes at the time. People, who had been medicating publicly for years, were thrilled with the news. Until that all went up in smoke. [continues 534 words]
