What's with Canada and Cannabis?

[Marina Schwarz + 1,576]

I keep seeing headlines that contain Canada and cannabis. What's all this about? Is the whole of Canada the new Amsterdam or... I don't know what. Anyone care to shed some light on this stinky issue?

[axelprime 0]

Literally created an account for this. Cannabis is legalized here. 

[Jan van Eck + 7,558]

3 hours ago, axelprime said:

 Or keep your ignorant mouth shut. 

Mr. Axel, that comment is totally inappropriate, and is not tolerated on this Forum.  

[axelprime 0]

Don't care, don't even know what this Forum is. She is ignorant. 

[Rodent + 1,424]

Mr. Alelprime has been ushered to the nearest exit. Be well. He now exists only in our hearts and our minds as a cautionary tale.

 

[Marina Schwarz + 1,576]

Oh, I've missed the fun. Anyway, I know the stuff is legal in Canada. What I wanted to know is why all the hype after I saw the eclectic headline that cannabis companies are eating into... junior miners' listing prospects or something.

[Jan van Eck + 7,558]

6 hours ago, Marina Schwarz said:

Oh, I've missed the fun. Anyway, I know the stuff is legal in Canada. What I wanted to know is why all the hype after I saw the eclectic headline that cannabis companies are eating into... junior miners' listing prospects or something.

Canada is unusual in that the individual Provinces have a lot of governing authority.  What seems to have happened is that the Federal Government has de-criminalized natural marijuana, and so as there is obvious consumer demand, the question remains, who gets to grow the plant, and under what circumstances shall it be sold?  And that remains under provincial jurisdiction, so as you can imagine many contests or "fights" spring out to see who has the most lobbying clout and who gets the foot into this lucrative door.  It is a bit like the casino battles of decades past. 

If hedge-fund money can set up large grow plantations and also control the distribution through the marijuana equivalent of a "big-box store," then potentially they would stand to reap seriously large profits. That would turn marijuana from a hobbyist or niche producer operation into a mainstream industrial-scale enterprise.  It pits individual potheads against corporations.  Will the Province license local shops?  Will it allow local grows?  Where:  in your backyard? Who will pay royalties to the State?  Can you "grow your own" below a certain threshold uncontrolled by the State?  Yup, all grist for a classic tug-of-war.  

as for the Corporations, I remain unsurprised that they set up public share offerings, just as some fellows finding a nickel lode up near Sudbury.  Hey, all you need is Money, and you too can get into the marijuana bonanza.