Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | Latest Paper

Cannabis

Opposition critics and veterans are calling on Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight to explain how only millions of dollars in reimbursement reductions for medical cannabis will amount to the projected $4-billion over four years in savings for her department. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 24, 2024
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of companies owing excise debt increased from 68 to 213, accounting for a threefold increase in outstanding debt from $52.4-million to $192.7-million. Without swift action from the federal government, there soon may not be a legal market left to tax, says Organigram CEO Beena Goldenberg. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 24, 2024
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 24, 2024
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of companies owing excise debt increased from 68 to 213, accounting for a threefold increase in outstanding debt from $52.4-million to $192.7-million. Without swift action from the federal government, there soon may not be a legal market left to tax, says Organigram CEO Beena Goldenberg. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 5, 2023
Nearly five years after legalization, Canada's cannabis industry is struggling with the burden of an excise tax based on an 'idealized' valuation by Health Canada, say advocates, forcing many businesses to choose between bankruptcy, selling government weed, or returning to the illicit market to turn a profit. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 5, 2023
News | BY STUART BENSON | April 5, 2023
Nearly five years after legalization, Canada's cannabis industry is struggling with the burden of an excise tax based on an 'idealized' valuation by Health Canada, say advocates, forcing many businesses to choose between bankruptcy, selling government weed, or returning to the illicit market to turn a profit. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | April 5, 2023
Demonstrators gather for a 4/20 rally on Parliament Hill on April 20, 2018. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | April 5, 2023
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | April 5, 2023
Demonstrators gather for a 4/20 rally on Parliament Hill on April 20, 2018. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GEORGE SMITHERMAN | February 13, 2023
Chrystia Freeland
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has a chance to change the tax and regulatory structure conceived for cannabis that has made it nearly impossible for any company of any size to have a consistently positive cash flow, writes George Smitherman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GEORGE SMITHERMAN | February 13, 2023
Opinion | BY GEORGE SMITHERMAN | February 13, 2023
Chrystia Freeland
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has a chance to change the tax and regulatory structure conceived for cannabis that has made it nearly impossible for any company of any size to have a consistently positive cash flow, writes George Smitherman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY ANDREW CADDELL | November 2, 2022
As with so many other times government has been involved in trying to regulate an industry in the ‘public good,’ it failed to take into account the problems that might arise from the legalization of cannabis, writes Andrew Caddell. Unsplash photograph by David Gabrić
Opinion | BY ANDREW CADDELL | November 2, 2022
Opinion | BY ANDREW CADDELL | November 2, 2022
As with so many other times government has been involved in trying to regulate an industry in the ‘public good,’ it failed to take into account the problems that might arise from the legalization of cannabis, writes Andrew Caddell. Unsplash photograph by David Gabrić
Opinion | BY DUSTIN MCDONALD | January 29, 2018
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and the minister of health, pictured on Nov. 21, 2107, on the Hill. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY DUSTIN MCDONALD | January 29, 2018
Opinion | BY DUSTIN MCDONALD | January 29, 2018
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and the minister of health, pictured on Nov. 21, 2107, on the Hill. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | January 24, 2018
Opinion | January 24, 2018
Opinion | January 24, 2018
Opinion | BY NDP MP DON DAVIES | January 22, 2018
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Liberal MP Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada. Bill Blair announce launched a public consultation on the proposed regulatory approach for the proposed Cannabis Act on Nov. 21, 2017. When the Liberals promised Canadians cannabis legalization in the last election, Canadians understood legalization to mean the end of criminalization, the end of stigmatization, and the end of the prohibitionist approach to cannabis, writes Don Davies. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NDP MP DON DAVIES | January 22, 2018
Opinion | BY NDP MP DON DAVIES | January 22, 2018
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Liberal MP Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada. Bill Blair announce launched a public consultation on the proposed regulatory approach for the proposed Cannabis Act on Nov. 21, 2017. When the Liberals promised Canadians cannabis legalization in the last election, Canadians understood legalization to mean the end of criminalization, the end of stigmatization, and the end of the prohibitionist approach to cannabis, writes Don Davies. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY OYEDEJI AYONRINDE | January 22, 2018
Frequent or daily use of cannabis from a young age is strongly discouraged below 21 years, particularly if there is a history of psychosis if the THC content is greater than your age, you’re taking greater risk with your mental health, writes Dr. Oyedeji (Deji) Ayonrinde. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY OYEDEJI AYONRINDE | January 22, 2018
Opinion | BY OYEDEJI AYONRINDE | January 22, 2018
Frequent or daily use of cannabis from a young age is strongly discouraged below 21 years, particularly if there is a history of psychosis if the THC content is greater than your age, you’re taking greater risk with your mental health, writes Dr. Oyedeji (Deji) Ayonrinde. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
Cannabis, the 2017 4/20 rally pictured, is set to become legalized this summer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently said. The Hill Time file photograph
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
Cannabis, the 2017 4/20 rally pictured, is set to become legalized this summer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently said. The Hill Time file photograph
Opinion | BY AKWASI OWUSU-BEMPAH | January 22, 2018
The federal government also recently announced a plan to spur a 'diverse and competitive' industry by establishing different tiers of licences required for participation in the legal market, writes Akwasi Owusu-Bempah. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY AKWASI OWUSU-BEMPAH | January 22, 2018
Opinion | BY AKWASI OWUSU-BEMPAH | January 22, 2018
The federal government also recently announced a plan to spur a 'diverse and competitive' industry by establishing different tiers of licences required for participation in the legal market, writes Akwasi Owusu-Bempah. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY JENNY GERBASI | January 22, 2018
The federal commitment to legalize cannabis has always carried a federal responsibility to ensure all orders of government have the tools they need to follow through. So if cannabis revenues start lower than hoped, or if local costs exceed FCM’s projections, Ottawa will need to find other ways to ensure those costs are covered. But the great advantage of revenue-sharing is the planning stability it offers all orders of government, writes Jenny Gerbasi. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY JENNY GERBASI | January 22, 2018
Opinion | BY JENNY GERBASI | January 22, 2018
The federal commitment to legalize cannabis has always carried a federal responsibility to ensure all orders of government have the tools they need to follow through. So if cannabis revenues start lower than hoped, or if local costs exceed FCM’s projections, Ottawa will need to find other ways to ensure those costs are covered. But the great advantage of revenue-sharing is the planning stability it offers all orders of government, writes Jenny Gerbasi. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
Health Canada has been tasked with overseeing cannabis producers under the federal government's marijuana legalization framework. A marijuana growing facility in Smith Falls, Ont. run by Tweed Inc., now Canopy Growth, is pictured. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
News | BY JOLSON LIM | January 22, 2018
Health Canada has been tasked with overseeing cannabis producers under the federal government's marijuana legalization framework. A marijuana growing facility in Smith Falls, Ont. run by Tweed Inc., now Canopy Growth, is pictured. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY EMILY HAWS | January 22, 2018
Cannabis enthusiasts take part in 4/20 in Parliament Hill, an annual day in celebration of the plant. The government plans to legalize cannabis on July 1, 2018, but critics are concerned the spring 2018 implementation date for the national marijuana public education advertising campaign will not be enough time to educate the public of the risks. The Hill Times file photograph
News | BY EMILY HAWS | January 22, 2018
News | BY EMILY HAWS | January 22, 2018
Cannabis enthusiasts take part in 4/20 in Parliament Hill, an annual day in celebration of the plant. The government plans to legalize cannabis on July 1, 2018, but critics are concerned the spring 2018 implementation date for the national marijuana public education advertising campaign will not be enough time to educate the public of the risks. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY ELIZABETH MAY | January 22, 2018
The problem is that growing cannabis indoors, in addition to being unnecessary, imposes a rather large climate impact. An astonishing amount of water and energy are required to grow cannabis indoors, writes Green Party leader Elizabeth May. The Hill Times file photographi
Opinion | BY ELIZABETH MAY | January 22, 2018
Opinion | BY ELIZABETH MAY | January 22, 2018
The problem is that growing cannabis indoors, in addition to being unnecessary, imposes a rather large climate impact. An astonishing amount of water and energy are required to grow cannabis indoors, writes Green Party leader Elizabeth May. The Hill Times file photographi
Opinion | January 8, 2018
Opinion | January 8, 2018
Opinion | January 8, 2018