We talk about the excise tax and the changes needed, Ghost Drops is fighting Health Canada, a new lobbying group for cannabis, two people on every shift in Victoria cannabis stores and we stop on Cultivar Corner, brought to you by Up In Smoke, we sample from Rocky Mountain Cannabis their delicious sativa, Red Congolese.
We talk about the excise tax and the changes needed, Ghost Drops is fighting Health Canada, a new lobbying group for cannabis, two people on every shift in Victoria cannabis stores and we stop on Cultivar Corner, brought to you by Up In Smoke, we sample from Rocky Mountain Cannabis their delicious sativa, Red Congolese.
Rocky Mountain Cannabis Red Congolese
Ghost drops fights Health Canada
00;00;01;22 - 00;00;08;29
Ian
From a studio high above the clouds of the Okanagan Valley. This is the cannabis potcast.
00;00;09;01 - 00;00;19;12
Ian
Exploring the world of Canadian cannabis culture. One toke at a time. Now is your host and Bud tender Gary Johnston.
00;00;19;15 - 00;00;41;10
Gary Johnston
If I'm reading this correctly, this is the perfect time for me to say welcome to the Cannabis Podcast. Maybe this is, in fact your first time or maybe this is your 20th time in either case. I'm especially happy to have you here. We are going to be spending the next 30 minutes talking about a plan that I'm absolutely passionate about, and that is cannabis.
00;00;41;12 - 00;01;06;09
Gary Johnston
I suspect you may have some involvement or some interest in that with yourself as well. Now, before we get too much further, let me remind you this potcastis intended for those who have legal consumption age in your jurisdiction and is intended purely for entertainment and perhaps educational purposes. You should always consume your cannabis responsibly. And in this episode, 211 of the Cannabis Podcast, we're going to look at a couple of stories.
00;01;06;11 - 00;01;31;25
Gary Johnston
Ghost drops is fighting the fact that they have been fined for selling. Victoria has decided that you must have two people on staff every time you have a cannabis store open. And in Windsor, there's shutting down illegal cannabis stores. Plus, we're going to stop on Cultivar Corner, brought to you by up in Smoke. And today we're doing Rocky Mountain cannabis, red Congolese Delicious sativa.
00;01;31;27 - 00;01;39;26
Gary Johnston
All of that and more on episode 211 of the Cannabis Podcast.
00;01;39;28 - 00;02;03;03
Gary Johnston
I always want to be sure to thank you for coming by to listen to the Cannabis Podcast. I'm absolutely thrilled that you're here. Every time you're here. And I also tell you, if you want to make a comment on the show, just send a note to info at Cannabis podcast.com. And if you'd like to go to buy me a coffee.com/cannabis potcastand you like what you hear, and if you're so inclined, you can buy me a doobie.
00;02;03;07 - 00;02;28;15
Gary Johnston
Now let's get to the stories and we pick this story up from the album Starts here. It was written by Pat Bulmer. A collection of craft cannabis products will help support a new advocacy organization. The Cannabis Culture Craft Collection Multipack, featuring flower from Sweetgrass, 91 octane, see Stone Banjo and Sol Spring Magic Love Haze will be unveiled in Vancouver on May 24th.
00;02;28;18 - 00;02;57;09
Gary Johnston
Part of the proceeds from the product sale will support Fair Cannabis and launched by cannabis activist Jody Jez Rumsey and Cannabis Culture, among others. Retailers in Bud Tenders were invited to attend the launch at CC Lounge on West Hastings High. Cannabis axes. The Fair Cannabis advocates for tax reforms that align with other industries. Despite the legality, the legalization of cannabis, there remain few legal spaces where adults can consume it socially.
00;02;57;13 - 00;03;23;23
Gary Johnston
The lack of cannabis lounges denies consumers a safe, regulated space to gather and partake. Fair cannabis is pushing for regulatory reforms to protect patient rights, reduce stigma and ensure that medical cannabis remains accessible and affordable for those who need it most. Business barriers small businesses, particularly those run by cannabis entrepreneurs, are struggling under the weight of complex regulations and excessive licensing fees.
00;03;23;26 - 00;03;51;11
Gary Johnston
Drug testing. Outdated workplace drug testing policies failed to reflect the realities of cannabis use in a legalized environment, unfairly penalizing employees who may use cannabis responsibly outside of work hours. Fair cannabis calls for a reexamination of drug testing protocols. Cannabis substitution help opioid addicts. Cannabis has shown great promise as a safer alternative for people struggling with opioid addiction.
00;03;51;14 - 00;04;16;19
Gary Johnston
Federal cannabis supports initiatives that promote cannabis as a substitute therapy to combat the opioid crisis. Each campaign on the Fair Cannabis website includes a Take Action section offering concrete ways for supporters to make a difference, early said. After winning the April 28th federal election, Fair Cannabis called on Mark Carney to finally fix the flawed cannabis system that has left so many Canadians behind.
00;04;16;21 - 00;04;46;03
Gary Johnston
Setting the six priorities for immediate cannabis reform, Prime Minister Carney now has the chance to do what the last government did not fix this broken system and finally legalize cannabis the right way. Cannabis culture magazine has been around for 30 years, and in 2009, the magazine went on to an online only format. It also operates pot TV and now You know about the new organization lobbying for cannabis.
00;04;46;06 - 00;04;50;15
Ian
And the cannabis infused studio In the Clouds. This is the cannabis podcast.
00;04;50;17 - 00;05;20;13
Gary Johnston
The story we're picking up from the outset, aka it was written by Pat Bulmer. Having at least two employees on duty at all times will continue to be a requirement for Victoria cannabis stores. A motion to review staffing regulations was rejected soundly by City council. Objections from the UFC 1518, which represents a majority of the city's cannabis workers, turned the tide in the meeting, the union said removing the two employee rule would weaken worker safety standards.
00;05;20;15 - 00;05;41;29
Gary Johnston
The union also asked council to make sure the union and workers would be consulted if the review went ahead. We know how labor feels about this. In fact, one of the comments I received is arguably a race to the bottom on worker protections, said Councilor Susan Kim. I feel those of us who received the Victoria Labor Council endorsement should take this very seriously.
00;05;42;01 - 00;06;15;16
Gary Johnston
Councilors were also concerned about how much staff time would be taken out by a review. In the end, when the motions two sponsors voted to defeat the idea. In their motion, councilors Jeremy Corrado and Matt Dill wrote. In recent years, retail cannabis stores have struggled financially and some in the Greater Victoria area have closed. The initial public safety concerns have not materialized, and the stores are generally not magnets for criminality or disorder, raising questions about the continued necessity of the two employee rule, which can drive up costs for small business owners.
00;06;15;18 - 00;06;39;18
Gary Johnston
Only Councilor Chris Coleman supported the motion. All this really does is ask for a report back. We're not changing into legislation at the moment. In 2016, Victoria implemented cannabis business regulations that required two staff members to be working at all times. In 2022, the regulations were moved into the business license bylaw where they will remain. And that's interesting.
00;06;39;18 - 00;06;47;03
Gary Johnston
You're still stuck with two people working near cannabis stores every day.
00;06;47;06 - 00;07;17;04
Gary Johnston
We pick this story up from the outside. Written by Pat Palmer. Our study confirms excise taxes are the problem. A new study confirms that excise taxes are dragging down the cannabis industry. Deloitte Canada conducted the study for the Cannabis Council of Canada. The report confirms what Canada cannabis producers have long expressed. The current excise tax model is unsustainable and must be restructured to reflect the economic realities of the industry, the council said in a news release.
00;07;17;06 - 00;07;43;13
Gary Johnston
Deloitte examined the financial data of 36 cannabis producers. We found that the excise tax has increased significantly as a share of total gross revenue, ranging from an average of 11.2% in 2019 to 24.3% in 2024. The excise tax is often the largest single expense item for cannabis producers, the report. The impact of the cannabis excise tax was released on May 20th.
00;07;43;16 - 00;08;07;25
Gary Johnston
Excise duties are 10% of a product's wholesale value, or $1 per gram, whichever is greater. When the taxes were introduced, it was thought cannabis would sell for $10 per gram. But prices have dropped considerably over the years. The assumption of a $10 gram, inclusive of wholesaler and retail markup, initially envisioned with the introduction of the excise tax, is far from the current market reality.
00;08;07;28 - 00;08;36;04
Gary Johnston
A major contributor to the increase in excise tax has been price compression, particularly for flower products. Wholesale prices received by LP's licensed producers for one gram of flour nearly halved from 2019 to 24, and continues to decrease. A combination of legal market oversupply and intense legal market competition has led to significant price compression, which has not been reflected in the excise tax framework.
00;08;36;06 - 00;09;07;16
Gary Johnston
This trend has not abated, with most recent wholesale pricing data as of January 25th dropping below $3 a gram of cannabis flower. This has created a crushing and unintended tax burden that is now three times higher than what was originally envisioned. The council said in its news release. The Cannabis Council of Canada calls on the Government of Canada to eliminate the $1 per gram flaw and instead apply a 10% ad valorem rate, as proposed by the Standing Committee on Finance in 2024.
00;09;07;19 - 00;09;46;25
Gary Johnston
According to Deloitte, diversifying across the cannabis value chain, expanding into international Canada's markets and expanding into non cannabis activities like beverages, pharmaceutical distribution, etc. has partially offset this impact for certain cannabis producers. And what will happen if the government moves to a 10% duty? Only if excise tax were calculated on the basis of 10% of product sales. The number of LPs with positive reported net income and reported Ebit to earnings increases from 14 to 28.6% and 28.6 to 55%, respectively.
00;09;46;28 - 00;09;55;01
Gary Johnston
Now that's a good news, as we know that cannabis excise taxes, they're killing the industry. It's up to the government to fix it.
00;09;55;03 - 00;10;03;06
Speaker 3
To see CBD to beam profile, which to me. Oh please explain to me.
00;10;03;06 - 00;10;06;05
Gary Johnston
Go to the clover.
00;10;06;07 - 00;10;10;28
Unknown
Go to Oklahoma and go to the portal.
00;10;10;28 - 00;10;37;14
Gary Johnston
Please explain this stuff to me. Welcome to cultivar Corner. Brought to you by Up in Smoke at 258 West Broadway in Vancouver and online at It's Up and smoke.com. Remember, if you live in B.C., you can order stuff from the it's Up in Smoke menu and have it delivered. And if you live in Vancouver and you get your order in by 2 p.m., you can get delivery by e-scooter.
00;10;37;21 - 00;11;02;12
Gary Johnston
That's fabulous. And now we're going red Congolese. If you remember back when we were doing all of our Rocky Mountain cannabis, we got our hands on some more. I love what Tyler is doing up at Rocky Mountain Cannabis up in Golden. Back in episode 89, we did taste red Congolese. In fact, we had a pre-roll. That's what we tried back in.
00;11;02;12 - 00;11;30;18
Gary Johnston
When was it? That was back in episode 189. We tried ring Congolese in a pre-roll. Well, now I made my own pre-roll. I've got it in aid in the vaporizer. Now we really taste the red Congolese. This is red Congolese, red Congolese and guava. It's as TVA complex and unique. My total THC 236. And let's open my bag.
00;11;30;19 - 00;12;00;13
Gary Johnston
I got seven grams of the red Congolese delivered this morning just in time for Cultivar Corner. So that's always nice. There we go. And we break that up. There we go. Finally, we made it. We got through this damn. And what I find really interesting in is how these buds look. They're definitely some fox tails that are just developing.
00;12;00;13 - 00;12;44;05
Gary Johnston
It is such a unique bud structure. Wow. I can't remember the last time I saw some weed come out and it looked like this. Oh, and the the orders. Oh my goodness. See? Oh my goodness sakes. Does that ever smell good? The area is grown in golden hand trimmed, hang dried, packaged on May 27th. So like about five days ago, seven grams, 23% THC total Terps 2.62 I have carry off line Mersin and pharmacy on my terp order.
00;12;44;07 - 00;13;07;25
Gary Johnston
Oh man, I gotta I gotta pull some of this out. As I look at this bud, there's like five different layers of a bud that have gone off and they're just it is really a funky looking flower, if I can say it that way. Me if I could see as I can't see it that way. I said it is a really funky looking flower.
00;13;07;27 - 00;13;29;12
Gary Johnston
I'm kind of happy to be back to smoking weed on Cultivar Corner. I've cut back my smoking incredibly, so I'm not doing a bunch a bunch during the week, but I think it's okay if we just get together one on one particular day and we smoke some weed and we enjoy it, what's the harm in that? So my joint is rolled.
00;13;29;14 - 00;13;55;13
Gary Johnston
Let me get my dosing capsules ready. Grown up in gold and Tyler and his team in Rocky Mountain Cannabis. They are growing some really nice weed. We've noticed that when we were doing their weed a little further back and they continue to come up with some really delicious, tasty weed. And I'm happy about that. I love having my weed tasting.
00;13;55;15 - 00;14;23;12
Gary Johnston
Cultivar corner here we are. It is red Congolese from the folks at Rocky Mountain Cannabis in Golden Complex and unique lead cultivation technique. Lighting LED. The medium is cocoa. The style is sea of green. It's hang dried cure is slow, cold cured and trim is hand trims. So when you're looking for skin at your local dispensary, you better get the good stuff.
00;14;23;14 - 00;14;51;13
Gary Johnston
And here is red Congolese boy, this is a beautiful flower. I'm just amazed at how how foxy tail it is. So red Congolese has no backstory. It is the backstory. A land rich cultivar from the pages of the breeders history books brought back to modern times by our legacy breeders in the Rocky Mountains. Don't let the numbers fool you is this strain punches above its weight in effect and aroma that's out of this world.
00;14;51;16 - 00;15;21;01
Gary Johnston
This colorful strain creates a complex profile of flavors with dominant mere seen in beta. Carry off lean to Europeans. Although it is very indica like appearance, it is an energizing sativa that smells and tastes of wow, a real connoisseurs choice 1.7% to CBG serious the agent bumping the high to the next level, hand trembling golden hang dried and cold cured for 30 days to pedaling, varnishing and carry off.
00;15;21;01 - 00;15;46;03
Gary Johnston
Lean is what's on my Turpin menu. It's time for a taste. Let's have a taste on the vaporizer. I better put some in the actual machine, though. It is up to temperature though, so let's go with the vaporizer. With red Congolese from Rocky Mountain Cannabis.
00;15;46;05 - 00;16;04;22
Gary Johnston
Oh, that is a very nice taste. Complex and unique. So I'm picking up a little bit of that mercy and some of the carry off line. So it has some some spicy notes to it.
00;16;04;25 - 00;16;23;14
Gary Johnston
And a really nice and I'm not sure what it is but there's something else going to that I don't I don't know where that's coming from but it's it's enjoyable.
00;16;23;17 - 00;16;39;08
Gary Johnston
I really like what Tyler is doing up at Rocky Mountain Cannabis. Let's get the joint going and let's see where that goes for it.
00;16;39;10 - 00;16;58;11
Gary Johnston
Oh really smooth. Really smooth on the weed. It has some indica tones but it's coming off more of this as a stevia. At least that's how I'm feeling it. Oh I really like the way this feels.
00;16;58;13 - 00;17;24;15
Gary Johnston
Oh, there we go. A nice hoot on the joint as it's coming through. As I check out the ash coming off of my joint. Oh, it is nice and gray. I love to see that. I've been impressed with every kind of weed that I have gotten from Rocky Mountain Cannabis. So I can say that this is probably going to be in a very similar vein.
00;17;24;17 - 00;17;43;11
Gary Johnston
Let's make sure that the vaporizer has been fully utilized. Oh, here comes here comes that magical elixir of cannabis, and it starts to make some impact on my endocannabinoid system.
00;17;43;14 - 00;17;50;24
Gary Johnston
Oh.
00;17;50;27 - 00;17;59;20
Gary Johnston
Oh, that's really nice. The machine, the carry off lean that you're pedaling. A little bit of gas in here, I guess.
00;17;59;22 - 00;18;22;24
Gary Johnston
Definitely picking up some peppery notes on that beta carry off lean. And the pharmacy kind of brings in some candy notes. That's been my experience. If I'm going to have any candy notes, they're likely going to come from Francine. Oh, and my endocannabinoid system is just a wash in THC right now.
00;18;22;26 - 00;18;41;27
Gary Johnston
It's true. I am so happy because I was hoping this was going to be a really nice stevia, and it was going to feel really good and. Still got the joint going. I still got the vaporizer going.
00;18;41;29 - 00;18;55;04
Gary Johnston
And as I pull the flavors out of that, I picked up on a little gas. Some pepper as the carry off and is heaven and a little bit of candy in there.
00;18;55;06 - 00;19;21;04
Gary Johnston
You never know what you're going to experience with any of these weed 000 yes yes yes yes. I am happy to be doing Cultivar Corner on Weed. We'll get back to the to the edibles if I can ever find some that actually work for me. I know the hash raisins were working a little bit. But everything else, the drinks so sweet.
00;19;21;05 - 00;19;43;14
Gary Johnston
No effect. I feel like I have accomplished very little going down this path of looking for edibles that are going to work for me. However, on the side of the smoke, yeah, we don't want to be doing too much smoking, but we're going to do enough to get some experience of the cannabis. And we have done that with Red Congolese.
00;19;43;17 - 00;20;09;11
Gary Johnston
Oh, my brain is just fried right now. Not in a bad way. In a good way. I truly mean that. Cultivar Corner is brought to you by Up in Smoke at 258 West Broadway in Vancouver and online at It's Up in smoke.com. Remember, if you live in B.C. and you are 19 years of age or older, you can get something sent to you from the it's Up in smoke menu.
00;20;09;11 - 00;20;33;17
Gary Johnston
Or if you live in Vancouver or live Dangerously, have something delivered to you when you order by 2 p.m. and get it delivered by e-scooter. That's the way to go. And I'm going to say the red Congolese is definitely the way to go. This is feeling really good. My happy eyes are here. I got some, euphoria going on.
00;20;33;19 - 00;21;05;23
Gary Johnston
I'm kind of feeling nice. My body is kind of relaxing a little bit. This is going to be a nice day. Now, if I let it come back on again after that. Has said in my endocannabinoid system for a while. Oh, Wow, wow wow, wow. Just. I'm, I'm I'm stoned. I'm feeling really good from this red Congolese.
00;21;05;25 - 00;21;19;02
Gary Johnston
A combination of red Congolese and guava. Oh. This is feeling really nice, love. And what, you're doing it at Rocky Mountain Cannabis. Tighter. Keep up the good work. I can't wait for your next one.
00;21;19;04 - 00;21;21;06
Ian
Sharing stories about good weed while.
00;21;21;06 - 00;21;23;28
Gary Johnston
Trying good weed.
00;21;24;01 - 00;21;25;28
Speaker 3
This is the cannabis podcast.
00;21;26;00 - 00;21;50;02
Gary Johnston
We're picking this story up from the outside, AKA written by Pat Bulmer, and it's about Meta Farm shareholders slinging plenty of mud in a public spat. A bruising battle is expected when Meta Farm Labs holds its shareholders meeting on June 16th. Shareholder Apollo Technology Capital Corp is attempting to upset the company's slate of candidates for the board of directors by proposing six of its own nominees.
00;21;50;04 - 00;22;21;24
Gary Johnston
Both sides have written a lengthy letter to shareholders defending their positions, trashing the opposition and following up with the barrage of combative news releases, Meta Farms board chairman Chris Chaves said changing course now would be a mistake. As chair, I'm pleased to report that the company delivered solid performance in 2024 as our strategic revitalization takes place. Net revenue increased year over year by 27%, while gross profit margin increased to 31% compared to 18% in 2023.
00;22;21;26 - 00;22;53;00
Gary Johnston
We reduced operating expenses even as we integrated rival cannabis acquiring the year before, Admitted Farm's first quarter financial statement. The company reported revenues were up and a better interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was positive for the quarter ending in March. Over the past three years, we've demonstrated consistent revenue growth, implemented strategic cost reductions and expanded margins, all of which have contributed to this important positive adjusted a better achievement.
00;22;53;02 - 00;23;21;09
Gary Johnston
The company is virtually debt free and had a cash balance of 8.4 million at the end of Q1 2024. Contrary to many other cannabis companies, Meta Farm is also up to date on cannabis excise duties and accounts payable, the report said. Despite those achievements and a very promising outlook and creating sustainable long term shareholder value, an opportunistic dissident shareholder wants to disrupt our positive momentum, Dave wrote in his letter.
00;23;21;11 - 00;23;46;21
Gary Johnston
In his own letter to dear fellow long suffering Meta Farm shareholders, Apollo CEO and chairman Regan McGee claims Metaphor Farm has been underperforming for years. Accordingly, we can no longer stand idly by and watch this do nothing board and management team drive this one great company further into the abyss. We have nominated six outstanding, proven business leaders for reelection to the Meta Farm Board.
00;23;46;24 - 00;24;20;25
Gary Johnston
The facts are indisputable, writes McGee. Meta farm stock prices decreased by more than 99% from Canadian of $7.39 per share to Canadian zero $0.06 per share between May 1st 14, 2019 and December 2024. Despite this share price decline metaphor, Jim's board, led by chairman Chris Stevens, failed to articulate or execute any credible strategy to drive value. Despite this abysmal performance, the management team has continued to reward exclusive Lee.
00;24;20;27 - 00;24;48;15
Gary Johnston
Apollo doesn't consider Meta Farm's financial report to be credible. These numbers aren't even audited, and Meta Farm has been accused of misleading accounting practices in the past, including relating to revenue. Why should anyone believe anything that you say? Meta farm has been broken for years and you haven't even tried to fix it. After looking at the numbers a little more, Apollo said based on current cash burn rates and company, Meta Farm will run out of money by November 2025.
00;24;48;18 - 00;25;14;25
Gary Johnston
Meta farmers boarded Apollo has offered no concrete strategy to create sustainable value for shareholders, only broad criticisms without substance or actionable solutions. Teams praised Meta Farms turnaround efforts. Beginning of the second half of 2022, David and his team implemented an ambitious plan under the guidance of the board to refocus Meta Farm's operations, prioritizing the most fatigue business lines.
00;25;14;27 - 00;25;36;01
Gary Johnston
Meta farm established a leadership position in cannabis extracts and continues to develop that market. The company began to exit certain businesses and divest non-core assets. Apollo owned 3% of bury, Ontario based metaverse arms. So there's a little bit of spring going on. We'll see what happens on June 16th.
00;25;36;03 - 00;25;40;04
Ian
For the cannabis infused studio In the clouds. This is the Cannabis podcast.
00;25;40;04 - 00;26;04;08
Gary Johnston
And we're picking this story up from the start here. This was written by Pat Palmer. Laws restricting how the cannabis industry can promote itself are being challenged. Ghost drops claims Health Canada's restrictions on advertising and promotion violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically the rights to freedom of expression and the ability to engage in meaningful competitive commerce.
00;26;04;15 - 00;26;28;28
Gary Johnston
The company said in a news release. Ghost jobs as it was fined $500,000 by Health Canada after the agency received complaints about the Toronto company's marketing practices. The brand maintains that these accusations are not only exaggerated, but highlight the disproportionate enforcement facing innovative industry leaders, the company said in a news release. The brand maintains it is a victim of arbitrary enforcement.
00;26;29;00 - 00;26;50;00
Gary Johnston
Lawyer and grower Kirk Too.so has taken up ghost Drop's case. He's argued various cannabis cases over the years and was the lawyer for Tober groans Jesse Lavoie, who fought Manitoba's ban on homegrown cannabis. I think it's clear that the marketing restrictions violate that. Commercial free speech rights protected by section two of the charter said to soul in the release.
00;26;50;02 - 00;27;19;06
Gary Johnston
Ghost drops plays up its legalization origins, which might make it an easy target, the company said. Ghost jobs is the first cannabis business to receive regulatory fines of this magnitude, the company said. We were a legacy cannabis brand which transitioned to a legal cannabis business. We employed dozens of people, generated millions in tax revenue for our government while helping convert thousands of legacy customers to legal, tax paying consumers, said company president John Dean Toronto.
00;27;19;08 - 00;27;49;17
Gary Johnston
The company says it's just doing what business and other industries do. The brand maintains there was nothing unconventional or unprecedented in their marketing tactics, and insist it has adopted proven strategies utilized by major consumer packaged goods companies. Common marketing campaigns focus on customer experience, data analysis and optimization while leveraging digital marketing channels like SEO. Social media. Email marketing, including influencer marketing and affiliate programs.
00;27;49;20 - 00;28;14;29
Gary Johnston
These are all common practices afforded to 99% of businesses and the essential strategies required to succeed in commerce. Health Canada has a list of do's and don'ts for the cannabis industry on its website, but the don't list is far longer unless otherwise authorized under the act, it is generally prohibited to promote cannabis. A cannabis accessory or any service related to cannabis, the agency sums up.
00;28;15;02 - 00;28;23;13
Gary Johnston
And that's a pretty good indication of where we are going wrong in promoting cannabis.
00;28;23;15 - 00;28;47;15
Gary Johnston
And this story is coming to us from strech and.com about shutting down an unlicensed cannabis store. A raid on an unlicensed cannabis store in Windsor, Ontario, led to one arrest and the seizure of cannabis and cash. The Windsor Police Service say they have arrested a 24 year old man and seized over $200,000 in cannabis following the search of an illegal cannabis dispensary on May 29th, 2025.
00;28;47;17 - 00;29;11;18
Gary Johnston
In a press release on June 2nd, Windsor police say members of the Windsor Police Drugs and Guns Unit assisted the provincial joined Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team and the Ontario Provincial Police in executing a search warrant at an unlicensed cannabis dispensary located in the 100 block of Tacoma Road. The store was closed pursuant to an interim closure order under section 18 of the Cannabis Control Act.
00;29;11;20 - 00;29;37;13
Gary Johnston
The man was charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling, possession of illicit cannabis and possession of proceeds of crime. The store in question, Rose City Kush, was located at 125 Tacoma Road in a location previously held a licensed cannabis store called the Green Light District. Rose City Kush identifies as an indigenous owned store, and a sign on the store says it opened in 2020 for a sign on the window.
00;29;37;13 - 00;30;03;01
Gary Johnston
Also claims that the store is operated by sovereign people on sovereign land, and is protected by sections 25 and 35 of the Canadian Constitutions Act. Section 35 of the Constitution Act says that the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada are recognized and affirmed. Section 25 ensures that the designated rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples are protected.
00;30;03;03 - 00;30;25;06
Gary Johnston
Some indigenous store owners and other legal experts have argued that federal and provincial cannabis laws don't apply to indigenous owned cannabis businesses. While the majority of these stores have opened on recognized treaty territories, some have opened on traditional lands outside of those treaty territories. The latter tends to be more likely to face enforcement by police or bylaw officers.
00;30;25;06 - 00;30;31;09
Gary Johnston
And that's certainly what we have seen in this story.
00;30;31;11 - 00;30;55;27
Gary Johnston
Already, it is time to reward yourself for achieving what you were trying to do. Finishing an episode of a cannabis podcast. Thank you so much for being here. I am so happy to have you as a listener. I thank you so much for that. Remind you that you can comment on anything you hear by sending a note to info at Cannabis podcast.com, and if you want to, you can go to buy me a coffee.com/cannabis podcast.
00;30;56;00 - 00;31;23;05
Gary Johnston
If you like what you hear when you feel so inclined, you can buy me a doobie. So why don't we have some worst dead jokes in the world? They're coming up now. Here's the first one. How do billboards talk or sign language? What school subjects is the fruit iest? History. Because it's full of dates. What do scholars eat for a snack?
00;31;23;07 - 00;31;45;02
Gary Johnston
Macadamia nut. And why shouldn't you tell secrets in a cornfield? There's too many ears. I don't know why I love them so much. They're just so funny. But. But I'm having fun with it. And from the guy in the clouds. That's it for episode 211 of the Cannabis Podcast.
00;31;45;05 - 00;31;53;14
Ian
From the cannabis infused studio. High above the Okanagan Valley. This was the cannabis podcast.