In 2023, Health Canada announced it would launch a new data-gathering program for cannabis markets in Canada. The program would include sampling and testing of both legal and illegal products currently on the market.
Since that time, the federal health agency has told StratCann that it has started numerous projects as part of the program, including a comparative analysis of dried cannabis from 50 legal and 50 illegal samples. Health Canada intends to publish the results of this project on the Cannabis Laboratory page “in the coming months,” confirms a senior media relations advisor with the agency’s communications and public affairs branch via email.
Among its services, the federal Cannabis Laboratory provides analytical support for the compliance and enforcement activities of Health Canada’s Cannabis Inspection Program and analyzes samples submitted as part of compliance monitoring projects.
When it was announced, the agency said the new cannabis data-gathering program would allow it to “proactively collect information on the legal and illicit cannabis markets in Canada,” focusing on providing Canadians with more accurate info about cannabis health and safety risks.
The government has gathered data on the legal and illegal cannabis markets for several years. This newest approach represents a step towards more proactive data gathering on products in the market, both licit and illicit.
As part of the program, Health Canada’s Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch (ROEB) Cannabis Laboratory intended to randomly purchase cannabis products from authorized retailers in Canada and work with various law enforcement agencies to test samples of illicit cannabis products.
The federal health authority will publish reports on their findings, removing any references to product, brand, or license holder names.
The cannabis vape market is on the cusp of a seismic shift. For years, 510 thread cartridges and similar refillable systems have dominated the landscape out of sheer necessity, but as technology evolves and consumer preferences change, disposable vapes could be poised to take the crown.
Once dismissed as a convenience-driven niche, limited-use technology has rapidly matured, delivering better battery life, precise dosing, and high-quality vapour production in compact, sleek designs. With advancements in manufacturing and sustainability, these devices are no longer just for casual users but are becoming a preferred choice for cannabis consumers seeking simplicity without sacrificing performance.
This transition mirrors trends seen in other industries where ease of use, portability, and innovation have reshaped market preferences.
“I would not be surprised if all-in-one (AIO) disposables overtake 510 thread in the next two to five years,” said Kieth Bao, Managing Director of Aveo. “510 technology right now, the most dominant in the market, was not created for cannabis oils. It was a creation of the e-cig industry and the viscosity of e-cig juice is very different from cannabis.”
“I would not be surprised if all-in-one disposables overtake 510 thread in the next two to five years.”
Kieth Bao, Aveo.
Bao added that pre-legalization, cannabis companies started toying with that technology, but because it was intended for a different product, the carts have tendencies for leaks, blockages, and clogging. He also said this system can affect flavour as well.
“The three things that will impact most people for a really good vape experience are, [first] some quality hardware produced specifically for cannabis. Then you’ve got the manufacturer, the oil they put in, and how they put it in with their SOPs. The third component is the end user. When you break down all three, if you have unreliable hardware, you’re pretty much dead in the water.”
Bao added that this is because before you even fill the vape, you are already starting with a major element of the experience that is sub-sufficient, which will automatically affect the other two.
Matchmaker make me a match
“An AIO, we like to call them AIOs (All In Ones) instead of disposables, [will be] the future of vapes,” agreed Nafisa Subedar, Director of National Sales for Cannabrand Solutions. “We’re getting more educated users that want a tailored experience, versus how to figure out what battery is going to fit or is this hardware going to work in the winter time. When you have an AIO you’re able to tailor that whole experience.”
Subedar added that the internal stakeholders, the hardware and lab team, for instance, who are putting the product’s components together, need to be mindful of how the products interact. For example, they need to ensure that the oil pairs well with the chosen hardware.
“I have an R&D manager that used to work as a lab manager,” she said. “He speaks to all my LPs and MSOs, making sure that we’re gearing their beautiful oil with the right product. I know the magic they are putting into [these] products, so why can’t we pair that with proper hardware that’s going to give the best experience to the end user?”
“We’re getting more educated users that want a tailored experience, versus how to figure out what battery is going to fit or is this hardware going to work in the winter time. When you have an all-in-one you’re able to tailor that whole experience.”
Nafisa Subedar, Cannabrand Solutions
Subedar went on to say that technology is getting quite advanced in this area, with manufacturers able to detail the consumers’ AIO experience all the way to the voltage, temperature, and everything in between. That said, a complete transition from current technology will not happen overnight, or entirely, for that matter.
“I think that 510s aren’t going to leave the Canadian market in the next two years because we still have a lot of value brands that have an excess in biomass, and want to put distillates out there.”
“As far as I can tell, there’s literally no oversight from our governing body, Health Canada.”
Kyle Michael, FTL Distribution
The more you know
One of the glaring realities of the current disposable vape market is the lack of oversight in the materials being used. Kyle Michael, President of Follow The Leader Distribution, has noticed this.
“As far as I can tell, there’s literally no oversight from our governing body, Health Canada,” he said. Michael went on to add that the “excessive excise tax regime” that the government puts on concentrates forces the hand of manufacturers to cut corners in order to survive.
“If a company is putting out a 1g live resin vape that has 90% THC in it, they’re paying nine dollars in excise tax,” said Michael. “That’s before other taxes.”
Michael said that the same manufacturers are pursuing profit margins of below two dollars. Compound that with current market price compressions, and it’s a perfect storm for sub-par materials. “The manufacturers are trying to put out a less expensive product [so] they’re looking for less expensive hardware,” he said. “My personal concern is that the market is shifting to all-in-ones and bringing the price down.”
Michael was quick to point out that he is not referring to the other companies mentioned in this article, which are reputable. He is referring to people buying generic stock straight from manufacturers in China, as an example.
The cannabis vaporizer market is experiencing significant growth. Current projections indicate a rise from USD$5 billion in 2023 to approximately USD$25.20 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5%.
In Canada, the disposable vape segment has shown notable expansion. For instance, Ontario reported a 21.6% year-over-year increase in total cannabis vape sales for the third quarter, rising from $63.7 million in 2021 to $77.4 million. Additionally, disposable vape sales in the province increased by nearly 30% over the same period.
Researchers from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are exploring the ethical implications of marijuana research that’s largely funded by actors with industry interests. Prior to the recent wave of state-level legalization, studying the potential risks and benefits of marijuana was practically impossible, making the recent rush of cannabis-related studies even more important for the fledgling cannabis market.
These studies give us a glimpse into marijuana and how its use affects humans, particularly in the long term. However, a lot of cannabis research is conducted by actors who stand to make financial gains if the research yields positive results, raising questions on the ethics of marijuana research that’s mostly funded by a for-profit cannabis sector.
Titled ‘Canadian cannabis researcher perspectives on the Conduct and Sponsorship of Scientific Research by the for-profit Cannabis Industry,’ the CAMH study was published in the journal Social Science & Medicine. It found that although researchers are pushed by their need for high-quality research and commitment to helping maintain public health, they are regularly forced into industry partnerships due to systemic barriers.
The study notes that the challenges that push scientists into industry partnerships point to the structural problems that need systemic solutions.
Cannabis research often involves medical conditions that typically don’t respond to conventional treatments and have a notable impact on quality of life. Many of the researchers involved in marijuana research are committed to research efforts that improve people’s lives by advancing our knowledge of the human body and new medications.
CAMH researchers ran a series of 38 interviews with clinicians, academic researchers, and peer researchers from across Canada. Unfortunately, many of them say marijuana’s controlled status at the federal level and the structural barriers arising from its status often force them to make difficult decisions regarding conflict of interest, agenda bias, and scientific integrity.
Some of the study’s considerations included increasing transparency regarding cannabis industry funding, ensuring industry interests don’t influence research agendas, and limiting reliance on the cannabis industry for research funding. Researchers also suggested the implementation of institutional policies that ensure research integrity and independence regardless of the source of funding.
This includes providing concise guidelines that encourage collaborations that benefit public health and manage conflicts of interest effectively. As America’s state-level cannabis industry expands and more people gain access to the drug, such guidelines will be critical to safeguarding the integrity of marijuana research and making sure it is in line with public health goals.
While there are some ethics risks linked to conducting cannabis research sponsored by industry actors, many firms like Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) are often interested in uncovering the truth about the effects of this substance so that they can leverage their findings for commercial gain. It would therefore be counterproductive in the long run if they twisted the truth since it would only be a matter of time before any fraud is exposed.
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Simply Solventless Concentrates Ltd. has entered into a share purchase agreement with Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc.
The deal is expected to add around $12 million in revenue. It is for cash consideration of $nil net of approximately $3 million of expected net working capital received, or cash consideration of $3 million without deducting expected working capital received, payable in a series of payments of $0.75 million by January 2, 2025, and $2.25 million on the closing date, expected to be January 31, 2025.
In a press release, SSC, which does not produce flower itself, says that the acquisition of Delta 9 will help the company continue to make inroads in the dried flower market following its recent acquisition of pre-roll manufacturer ANC Inc. for $10 million. SSC expects that the all-in cash cost to cultivate cannabis through Delta 9 will be approximately $0.60-$0.70 per gram, among the lowest for indoor cannabis in Canada.
SSC reports that Bio-Tech currently produces approximately 9,000 kilograms of cannabis per year. The cannabis processor believes that with roughly $4 million in capital investment, production could potentially increase to 15,000-18,000 kilograms per year, but this is not planned at this time.
“The acquisition of Bio-Tech provides SSC with a predictable volume of high-quality Good Agricultural Collection Practice certified internationally exportable flower, with low per gram cost of cultivation, for an attractive acquisition metric of only 0.0x adjusted EBITDA post integration, net of expected net working capital received.”
As Bio-Tech is being acquired through CCAA proceedings, SSC also says it assumes no debt or liabilities from the acquisition and believes that Bio-Tech will contribute meaningfully to further expanded revenue and adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2025. SSC will provide Q1 2025 guidance in the weeks after the closing of the Acquisition.
In November, SSC reported net revenue of nearly $5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2024), with gross profits of almost $2 million, and $424,446 in net and comprehensive income.
Bio-Tech has approximately $60 million of accrued non-capital loss tax pools that SSC may be able to use. If these tax pools are utilized, SSC says they are expected to reduce future tax payments by up to $12 million at an effective tax rate of 20%.
In July, Delta 9 Cannabis received CCAA protection and entered into an agreement with cannabis retailer FIKA following what it called an “aggressive” move by Delta 9 secured creditor SNDL Inc.
In November, Delta 9 Bio-Tech announced it had selected a bid for the purchase of some of its assets through the SISP process, which began earlier this year.
Delta 9 is a vertically integrated group of companies that touches cannabis cultivation, processing, extraction, wholesale distribution, retail sales, and business-to-business sales.
On July 15, 2024, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc. and four related entities were granted an initial order by the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (CCAA).
On July 24, 2024, the Court approved a sales and investment solicitation process (SISP) to solicit interest in, and opportunities for, a sale of, or investment in, all or part of Bio-Tech’s assets and business operations.
On September 11, 2024, the court granted an order extending Delta 9’s stay of proceedings pursuant to the Amended and Restated Initial Order (ARIO) first granted in July, up to and including November 1, 2024. That extension was to November 1 and has now been extended to January 31, 2025.
Delta 9 Bio-Tech’s assets include a 95,000-square-foot cannabis cultivation and processing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which contains 297 modular “grow pods”. These are retrofitted shipping containers used by some micro cultivators. The company says they are customized for flowering, trimming, cloning, research, testing, support, and storage.
Delta 9’s Monitor sought confirmation from SNDL, the first-ranking secured creditor of the purchased assets, but had not received a response when the monitor’s fourth report was filed on November 13.
SSC also announced the appointment of Jeff Holmgren as CFO and the promotion of Murray Brown, SSC’s current Vice President, Operations, to the position of COO. Additionally, SSC’s 8,700,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.40 per share with an expiry date of December 23, 2024, have been exercised for proceeds of $3,480,000.
Newly-released research findings in the Psychoactive Drugs journal have brought to attention notable associations between ayahuasca use and improvements in mental health. The study leveraged data collected during an international survey that discovered that users of ayahuasca experience reduced mental distress and enjoy improved mental wellbeing.
The research team observed that the positive effects above appear to be subject to several factors, such as how intense the mystical experience users underwent, the insights that individuals gained after using the substance, and the sense of belonging users felt as part of a community while using the hallucinogen.
Ayahuasca has been used traditionally by the indigenous people found in the Amazon basin. They use it for healing and spiritual purposes. The brew is made by taking the vines of the Banisteriopsis caapi and mixing them with leaves taken from Psychotria viridis. This powerful combination contains DMT and carbolines that make DMT active even when it is ingested orally. Consuming this brew triggers a strong psychedelic experience characterized by a profound feeling of spiritual connection, vivid visual images, and emotional introspection.
Over the years, the consumption of this potent brew has spread beyond its traditional setting and has seen a more international and urban uptake. This rise in popularity has attracted the attention of the scientific and research community, especially given the anecdotal claims that the substance has beneficial mental health effects.
The team behind this latest study wanted to explore the risks and potential benefits of ayahuasca in real-world settings. Daniel Perkins and his team oversaw the largest-ever survey aimed at uncovering how ayahuasca influenced wellbeing and mental health. More than 10,800 respondents spread over 50 countries took the survey.
However, the study subjects were narrowed down to 7,576 respondents who underwent extensive mental health evaluations. The researchers made the survey questions accessible in half a dozen languages and they relied on online networks and communities linked to ayahuasca use to get respondents to the survey.
The team discovered that individuals who frequently used ayahuasca said they had better mental health. This conclusion was arrived at after analyzing the mental health questionnaires completed by the study subjects. This trend of frequent ayahuasca use being linked to better mental health was consistent regardless of whether a subject had or didn’t have a history of mental health issues.
The data also revealed that mystical experiences, social or community support and personal insights played a key role in the positive outcomes that survey respondents reported.
However, some respondents reported undergoing negative experiences, such as extreme panic or fear during ayahuasca consumption sessions, and these individuals reported lower mental health benefits. This highlights the need for caution during ayahuasca sessions.
Further research leveraging longitudinal study designs is needed to assess these findings obtained from survey data. Other companies like Seelos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SEEL) are also investigating other hallucinogenic substances and their findings could unveil a new paradigm in the treatment of mental health conditions.
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(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Toronto – Purpose Investments Inc. has announced that it has decided to terminate Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund at the close of business on or about March 14, 2025. It is anticipated that the ETF units of Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund will be voluntarily delisted from the Cboe Canada Exchange at the close of business on or about March 12, 2025.
The decision to close the Fund was driven primarily by the Fund’s relatively low assets under management, which has made it difficult to efficiently manage the Fund in accordance with its intended investment objective. As a result, in the view of Purpose, the termination is in the best interest of unitholders.
Unitholders that hold Class A Units, Class F Units or ETF Units will have the option to redeem their Units at net asset value on or prior to the Termination Date. There will be no fees or redemption charges applicable to such redemptions. Holders of ETF Units of the Fund may continue to trade their ETF Units on the Cboe Canada Exchange until the Delisting Date.
All units not redeemed prior to the Fund’s closure will be automatically redeemed at that time at net asset value, in accordance with the terms of the master declaration of trust of the Fund. Units still outstanding at 4:00 p.m. EST on the Termination Date will be automatically redeemed, with the proceeds either deposited into the unitholder’s account or a cheque mailed directly to the unitholder or to their dealer, nominee or intermediary, as applicable.
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If required, a final distribution for the Fund will occur on or about the Termination Date.
There may be tax implications for unitholders with respect to any disposition of Units.
About Purpose Investments Inc.
Purpose Investments Inc. is an asset management company with more than $20 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent technology-driven financial services company.
How does the federal government’s GST break mean for consumers? Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll save on and how the relief works.
What is the tax relief?
In a bid to help Canadians deal with household costs amid the high cost of living, the federal government decided to waive the federal goods and services tax (GST), which is five per cent, on some products between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15. For provinces with harmonized provincial and federal sales tax (HST), the full HST will be waived.
What products will see the GST waived?
The tax break will apply to:
prepared foods, including vegetable trays, pre-made meals and salads and sandwiches
restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout or delivery
some snacks, including chips, candy and granola bars
beer, wine and cider, as well as pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below seven per cent alcohol by volume (ABV)
children’s clothing and footwear, car seats and diapers
some children’s toys, such as board games, dolls, puzzles and video game consoles.
some books and newspapers
Christmas trees
What items don’t count?
Even product categories eligible for GST relief have plenty of exemptions.
Beverages and food sold from vending machines, edible cannabis products or pot drinks and dietary supplements aren’t eligible for GST relief.
Magazines, electronic publications, clothing for sports activities like wet suits, soccer cleats, skates and tap shoes, along with costumes, jewellery and adult clothing and footwear purchased for children aren’t eligible.
Diapers purchased from a diaper service or for adults, collectibles that are not intended for play or learning, such as hockey cards or collectible dolls, and toys and model sets that are marketed for adults like some adult Lego or train sets also don’t make the cut.
What if my province charges HST?
Ontario and the Atlantic provinces have united the provincial and federal sales taxes together into a harmonized sales tax. In these provinces, the entire HST would be removed from qualifying items.
How do I get the tax break on qualifying items?
The tax break is designed to be automatically applied to totals at checkout by retailers when customers make qualifying purchases.
What if I buy one of these items but it has to be delivered?
The federal government says no GST/HST will be charged on a qualifying item, as long as it is paid for in full between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15 and delivered or made available to the buyer during the same period.
The Retail Council of Canada says the Canada Revenue Agency will consider items “delivered” once they are handed over to a shipping, courier or postal service.
What if the item is imported?
GST/HST won’t be charged on imported goods as long as they meet the product categories and criteria that qualify for relief.
What about food deliveries?
When a prepared meal is ordered through a delivery platform, the food provided to the customer qualifies for GST/HST relief during the eligible period.
However, the delivery service fee charged by the platform to the customer does not qualify for GST/HST relief.
When a restaurant bills a customer directly for delivery of a prepared meal, the courier service qualifies for GST relief.
Will I pay GST/HST on cocktails and mixed beverages?
Mixed drinks that include only eligible ingredients such as beer, malt liquor, or wine qualify for GST/HST relief. For example, the government says a mimosa made of sparkling wine and orange juice, or a michelada made of beer and non-alcoholic ingredients would qualify.
However, mixed drinks that include an alcoholic beverage like a spirit or liqueur which did not make the GST/HST relief list would not have the tax waived. This means a sangria that includes both wine and rum, or a mixed drink such as a vodka and soda, would not qualify.
Do I save the GST/HST on tips when I dine out?
A mandatory tip or gratuity included as part of the bill qualifies for GST/HST relief. The exemption does not apply to a tip or gratuity that is given freely by a customer to an employee of an eating establishment, as such tips are normally not subject to GST or HST charges.
What if I bought one of these items before the tax relief kicked in?
Some retailers, like Toys “R” Us Canada, are advertising that they will return the tax paid to customers who bought items before the GST/HST relief period began.
But retailers aren’t obliged to offer this gesture of goodwill.
“A business can choose not to refund or credit the customer the GST/HST that was previously paid,” Canada Revenue Agency spokesperson Benoit Sabourin said in an email to The Canadian Press.
As the Canadian cannabis industry continued to weather financial headwinds in 2024, numerous companies found themselves entering creditor protection, closing up shop, or selling off assets. Here’s a brief breakdown.
In January 2024, a court-appointed monitor of Trees Corporation, which operates a chain of cannabis stores in BC and Ontario, announced it was conducting a sale and investment solicitation process for the cannabis company.
BZAM was granted CCAA protection in February to restructure its business and financial affairs. The issue is ongoing, with the most recent stay of proceedings until January 13, 2025. Final Bell has been challenging the move in court since April 2024. In December, a court rejected Final Bell’s equity claims against BZAM’s monitor and again extended the stay of proceedings.
In April, Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries sought and obtained an order for creditor protection from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice pursuant to the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). In August, Heritage announced it had completed the sale of the company to a stalking horse bidder, HAB Cann Holdings Ltd, which is connected to Heritage’s senior secured lender, BJK Holdings Ltd.
In May, the parent companies of cannabis retail chain Four20 Premium Marketsfiled a notice of intent to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Following approval by the Court of the SISP on September 19, 2024, the Applicants commenced the SISP and the Claims Process. The issue is ongoing.
Atlas Global Brands, the company behind cannabis brands like D*gg Lbs, GreenSeal, and Electric Lettuce, was granted an initial order under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in June. In October, a court approved an RVO for Atlas Global Brands against the CRA’s objections. In October, Calgary-based Decibel Cannabis Company Inc. closed on its acquisition of AgMedica Bioscience Ltd., a subsidiary of Atlas Global Brands.
In July, Delta 9 Cannabis received CCAA protection and entered into an agreement with FIKA following what it called an “aggressive” move by Delta 9 secured creditor SNDL Inc.
Galaxie Brands received CCAA protection in August and announced its exit from the process in December.
We’re bringing Growing Relationships B2B event, with our Presenting Partner Breadstack, to Alberta on April 28 ~ the second stop on our coast-to-coast tour!
LOCATION: Edmonton, AB DATE: Monday, April 28, 2025 TIME: 9am – 3pm MT (Edmonton timezone)
Growing Relationships is a one-day B2B event that brings together retailers, producers, and ancillary services for networking, brainstorming, discussion, and learning. It’s designed to support business growth by providing an opportunity and space to build connections, share insights, and be part of the community conversations. We aim to deliver our events in the under-served communities, with the goal of opening up accessibility to industry events.
Our Edmonton 2025 event includes our signature networking activities and roundtable industry discussions. An essential component of Growing Relationships is engaging the community in discussions and brainstorming on current industry issues from diverse perspectives. We capture these insights and provide a summary to relevant regulators, ensuring they hear directly from those who are actively working in the industry.
Attendees will enjoy networking opportunities, engaging discussions, presentations and catered lunch with a local food truck! Hopefully the April weather cooperates to enjoy the outside deck.
ADULT ONLY: This event is only open to 18+ years of age. ID may be requested upon entry and if you do not meet the requirements, no refunds will be provided.
Attendees are required to follow all federal and provincial regulations.
Hear from past attendees
Danielle French
Helped me remember I am part of a passionate community…
It helped me tremendously to remember and feel that I am part of a passionate community and not just existing in a silo as so many others described. I feel that was due to the independent retailer and micro-grow focus, so I really appreciated that and found it was such a constructive conversation.
Navin Paintal
Amazing, productive and progressive event…
Amazing, productive and progressive event! Appreciate your follow-up and all your efforts to make it so successful.
Emily Rhiel
One of the most eye-opening and effective conferences…
I found so much value in StratCann’s Growing Relationships event and believe everyone should get to one at least once. It’s one of the most eye-opening and effective conferences I’ve attended. Putting everyone in a room to discuss and try to tackle all the issues together, ADORED IT!
Ashley Neuman
Lots of insight into what’s going on in this industry…
There was lots of insight into what’s going on in this industry and it’s incredible that you gave this opportunity to everyone to share their expertise. Thank you for putting on an awesome event!
Jazz Samra
One of the most worthwhile events I have attended…
The Growing Relationships event by StratCann was one of the most worthwhile events I have attended this year. It was nice to meet so many people from all sides of the industry. It was a pleasure to participate in the retailer panel. Looking forward to more events.
Sharon Clark
Eagerly anticipating the next one!
Thank you for bringing Growing Relationships to Winnipeg. The feedback I received from producers, reps and retailers has been incredibly positive, and everyone is eagerly anticipating the next one.
David Wood
You understand the industry and the people…
I loved this event. It is great, and pairing with Tether the night before was perfect. You understand the industry and the people!
Cody Hicks
The best cannabis conference I’ve been to…
In terms of organization, networking, and subject matter, it was truly the best cannabis conference I’ve been to.
Alena Jenkins
Adding to the fabric of the industry…
I appreciate the opportunity to talk with some of the movers and shakers here in Alberta. The reciprocal dialogue was really great, and your innovative tools for fast networking were a blast for all. Thanks again for adding to the fabric of the industry in such a meaningful way.
Amber McGuire
A great opportunity to meet independent and micro growers…
The atmosphere was electric! It was such a great opportunity to meet some independent and micro growers we didn’t even know were around; these growers will definitely serve as an excellent addition to our menu. All thanks to StratCann’s incredible crew.
Danielle French
Focus on independent retailers and growers…
I like that you focus on smaller independent retailers and growers as we often don’t have the resources to be heard as loud as the larger corporations.
Event Partner Opportunities
Participating as an Event Partner offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with cannabis industry leaders, showcase your brand, and foster valuable B2B relationships. As a partner, you’ll gain targeted exposure to an engaged audience of professionals and access to exclusive networking opportunities.
Contact us to explore how our Event Partner packages can amplify your reach and impact across the cannabis industry in 2025.
Event Tickets
Secure your tickets for Growing Relationships in Edmonton, AB, on April 28, 2025. Available here:
Event Venue
Bison Lodge / Pioneer Cabin 9430 Scona Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 3W2 + Google Map
In this corner of southern Texas, the plump cacti seem to pop out of arid dust and cracked earth, like magic dumplings.
It’s only here and in northern Mexico that the bluish-green peyote plant can be found growing naturally, nestled under thorny mesquite, acacia and blackbrush.
For many Native American Church members who call this region the “peyote gardens,” the plant is sacrosanct and an inextricable part of their prayer and ceremony. It’s believed to be a natural healer that Indigenous communities have counted on for their physical and mental health as they’ve dealt with the trauma of colonization, displacement, and erosion of culture, religion and language.
Lack of access for religious use
The cactus contains a spectrum of psychoactive alkaloids, the primary one being the hallucinogen mescaline, and is coveted for those psychedelic properties. Even though it’s a controlled substance under federal law, an exemption afforded by a 1994 amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act made it legal for Native Americans to use, possess and transport peyote for traditional religious purposes.
For over two decades, Native American practitioners of peyotism, whose numbers in the U.S. are estimated at 400,000, have raised the alarm about lack of access to peyote, which they reverently call “the medicine.” They say poaching and excessive harvesting of the slow-growing cactus, which flowers and matures over 10 to 30 years, are endangering the species and ruining its delicate habitat.
Native American Church members say the situation has worsened with demands from advocates of the psychedelic renaissance seeking to decriminalize peyote and make it more widely available for medical research and treatment of various ailments. Agriculture, housing developments, wind farms in the region and the border wall, are also damaging the habitat, experts say.
A vast majority of peyote people agree the plant must be protected and should be out of reach for medical researchers, Silicon Valley investors and other groups advocating peyote decriminalization. But there are diverse opinions within the Native American Church on how to accomplish that goal.
While at least one group spearheaded by Native American Church leaders has begun efforts to conserve and propagate peyote naturally in its habitat using philanthropic dollars, others in the church are more suspicious of investors’ intentions, saying they fear exploitation and would rather get funding from the U.S. government to protect peyote.
Peyote embodies the Creator’s spirit
Darrell Red Cloud, who is Oglala Lakota, remembers at age 4 using peyote and singing ceremonial songs at all-night peyote ceremonies with his family. Peyote has always been about forging a connection with the Creator, said Red Cloud. He’s the vice president of the Native American Church of North America.
“Our people were not religious people, we were prayerful people.”
Frank Dayish, former vice president of the Navajo Nation and chairperson of the Council of the Peyote Way of Life Coalition, compared peyote to the Eucharist in Catholicism.
“Peyote is my religion,” he said. “Everything in my life has been based on prayers through that sacrament.”
Adrian Primeaux, who is Yankton Sioux and Apache, says he grew up hearing the story of a malnourished and dehydrated Apache woman who fell behind her group during a forced relocation by the U.S. government in the 1830s.
“She was about to give up on life as she lay close to the Earth when she heard a plant speaking to her,” Primeaux said. “The peyote was telling her: Eat me and you will be well.”
She carried this plant back to Apache medicine men and elders who meditated and prayed with it, said Primeaux. He believes the Native American Church and what would become the Peyote Way of Life was unveiled during that spiritual quest.
Peyote is not just a medicinal herb — it is “a spiritual guide and a north star,” said Primeaux, who comes from five generations of peyote people. The plant has been a guiding light amid their traumatic history.
“It gave us hope and helped us process our thoughts, emotions and life purpose,” he said.
This photo provided by the Library of Congress shows a Cheyenne Peyote leader in 1927. (Edward S. Curtis Collection/Library of Congress via AP)
An initiative to conserve and protect peyote
In October 2017, the National Council of Native American Churches purchased 605 acres in Hebbronville, Texas, to establish a peyote preserve and a “spiritual homesite” that is now run by the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative or IPCI.
Steven Benally, a Navajo elder from Sweetwater, Arizona, and an IPCI board member, remembers his annual pilgrimages to the peyote gardens with his family. He recalls losing access to the gardens after the “peyotero” system took over, where government-licensed peyoteros harvested the button-like tops of the plant by the thousands and sold them to Native American Church members.
This meant that Native American people could not freely go onto privately owned ranches and prayerfully harvest peyote as they had done for generations. They lost their sacred connection with the land, Benally said.
It wasn’t until he threw open the gate to their sprawling ranch, affectionately called “the 605,” that Benally felt connected once again. He was so overcome by emotion that he placed a sign at the entrance with the words: “This is real.”
“It felt like we were finally living what we just dreamed, prayed and talked about,” he said.
One of Benally’s favorite spots on the property is a hilltop bench — a tranquil corner where visitors have placed prayer notes, painted rocks and other offerings to a nearby cluster of naturally sprouted peyote. Benally sits on the bench inhaling the gentle breeze and taking in the stillness.
“Our belief is that these plants, these animals, these birds are just like us,” he said. “They can hear, they can understand. They have their powers, they have their place, a purpose and a reason — just like us.”
The peyote preserve is a conservation site where the plant is not harvested but propagated and replanted naturally in its habitat without chemicals, said Miriam Volat, executive director for the nonprofit that oversees it. Native Americans who can produce their tribal identification cards can camp at the preserve and prayerfully harvest from amiable surrounding ranches, she said.
The goal is to restore peyote and its habitat, making it abundant in the region within the next 50 years.
Peyote grown in their nursery is under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s watchful eye, she said. Licensed to operate, the nonprofit tries to balance being welcoming with satisfying the agency’s requirement to secure the plant behind locked gates and camera monitoring.
The debate over peyote conservation
Those trying to protect peyote disagree on whether it should be grown outside its natural habitat. While scientists and conservationists say it is essential for the protection of the species, many Native American Church members say doing so would dilute its sacred nature.
Keeper Trout, a research scientist and co-founder of Texas-based Cactus Conservation Institute, remembers how abundantly peyote grew in the region during the 1970s. It’s all but disappeared.
“It was like walking on mattresses,” he said.
Trout empathizes with those who object on religious grounds, but he believes people should be able to cultivate and harvest anywhere. With a little help, Trout is confident the resilient plant can survive.
But many Native American Church members say where the plant grows matters. The ceremonial protocols were bestowed by the Creator’s grace and preserved through storytelling, said Hershel Clark, secretary for the Teesto chapter of the Azee Bee Nahagha of Diné Nation in Arizona.
“This is why we don’t support greenhouses, growing it outside its natural habitat or synthesizing it to make pills,” Clark said.
Red Cloud fears those changes would harm its sacredness.
“Then, it just becomes a drug that people depend on rather than a spiritual medicine,” he said.
Funding peyote preservation and conservation efforts has been a challenge as well.
The Native American Church of North America is calling on the U.S government to uphold its obligation to protect and preserve peyote in its natural habitat in southern Texas, which includes financial incentives for landowners, said Red Cloud. His organization is asking for a $5 million federal grant to jumpstart such a program.
IPCI started with seed money from Riverstyx Foundation, which is run by Cody Swift, a psychotherapist and prominent supporter of psychedelic therapy research. The organization continues to seek philanthropic dollars to carry the conservation effort forward and is not opposed to receiving funding from the U.S. government, Volat said.
“But, we’re not waiting for it,” she said.
There is suspicion and skepticism about Swift and other investors’ intentions in some corners of the Native American Church, Clark said. Swift has said in interviews that IPCI’s goal is to preserve peyote in its natural habitat under the leadership and guidance of Native American peyote people, a stance Volat, his co-director at the foundation, also affirms.
Demand for peyote exceeds supply
There is no question that opening peyote up to a broader market will create a supply crisis and increase access to those who have the financial resources, said Kevin Feeney, senior social sciences lecturer at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, who has studied the commodification of peyote.
Indigenous people would struggle to access their sacred plant while seeing others use it in a way they deem profane, he said.
Peyote supply remains limited for the Native American Church. Today, in southern Texas, only three licensed peyoteros are legally allowed to harvest the plant for sale to church members. Zulema “Julie” Morales, based in Rio Grande City, is one of them. She inherited the business from her father, Mauro Morales, who died two years ago.
She has been out in the fields since she was 10. Now 60, she says the peyote habitat is dwindling not because of peyoteros who harvest legally and ethically, but because of illegal poaching. She remembers her father gathering enough peyote to fill a dozen large trays while she can barely fill one.
Even though she is Mexican American and a Catholic, Morales, who charges 55 cents a button, considers it a privilege to provide peyote for ceremonial purposes. Her father, who customers called “grandpa,” hosted ceremonies for Native people every year and she has been a keen observer.
“As Mexican Americans, we value our traditions,” she said. “This is their tradition and it’s beautiful for us to be a part of that in our own way.”
Teaching future generations
At IPCI, one of the main goals is to teach future generations the value of getting back to their ancestors’ spiritual and healing ways, said Sandor Iron Rope, an Oglala Lakota spiritual leader and president of the Native American Church of South Dakota. At least 200 people gathered on IPCI’s grounds over Thanksgiving week, learning about peyote through panels, discussions, ceremony and prayer.
“We’ve put our moccasins and our footprints in this place,” Iron Rope said. “The hope is that these children, the next generation, will see the therapeutic value in getting rid of their phones and learning about what is right in front of them.”
Iron Rope says this is how he is fulfilling his responsibility to future generations.
“You can pray all you want, but you’re going to have to meet the Creator halfway somewhere,” he said. “You’re going to have to implement that prayer into action. And I see this as prayer in action.”
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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