Cannabis Countdown: Top 10 Marijuana Industry News Stories of the Week

Welcome to the Cannabis Countdown. In this week’s rendition, we’ll recap and countdown the top 10 marijuana industry news stories for the week of January 27th – February 2nd, 2020.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Bruce Linton and Kevin O’Leary Are Betting Big on This Psychedelics Company

The Rapidly Rising Psychedelics Industry Could Give Cannabis a Run for its Money in 2020

Cannabis industry titan Bruce Linton and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary are backing this new Psychedelics startup.

READ FULL PSYCHEDELICS ARTICLE

9. Canada’s Illicit Pot Market Still Robust as Prices Beat Legal Sources

The Average Price of Cannabis in the Black Market During Q4 2019 was $5.73 Per Gram

The difference between cannabis prices on the illicit and legal markets in the fourth quarter of last year widened slightly from the prior three-month period, according to new figures from Statistics Canada.

READ FULL CDN BLACK MARKET ARTICLE

8. Hungry Market: Industry Insiders Urge Patience Over Limited Supply of Cannabis Edibles

It’s a Replay of Last Year When Logistical and Regulatory Hurdles Created a Market Shortage

Cannabis retailers say the appetite for pot-infused Edibles is outstripping the supply — and the provincial distributor can’t say when that will change. “The challenges we’ve seen in legalization 1.0 are the same as 2.0.” Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis ACB ACB (FRA: 21P) said the response to their new products “has been positive.” “We are working closely with provinces and retailers as these new categories develop,” stated Aurora spokeswoman Michelle Lefler.

READ FULL EDIBLES ARTICLE

7. You’ll Be Able to Buy Weed Directly From Ontario Producers — But There’s a Catch

It Seems Simple Enough, But Here’s the Strange Twist

This spring, Ontario will start to see farm-gate cannabis retail: much like a vineyard or brewery, customers will be able to go to a growing facility and buy weed directly from the producer. Licensed Producers (LPs) will be legally required to first sell their cannabis to the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), the province’s government-owned monopoly wholesaler, then buy it back from them before it can be sold on to the consumer.

READ FULL ONTARIO ARTICLE

6. Global Cannabis Market to Hit $42.7 Billion by 2024

Worldwide Legal Cannabis Spending Hit $14.9 Billion in 2019, Up From $10.2 Billion in 2018

Legal cannabis sales grew 45.7% to $14.9 billion in 2019, led primarily by adult-use markets in Canada, California and Massachusetts, and supplemented by the unique approach to medical markets in Florida and Oklahoma, according to the new “2020 Update to The State of Legal Cannabis Markets” by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics.

READ FULL GLOBAL CANNABIS ARTICLE

5. Bernie Sanders Pledges Legal Marijuana in All 50 States on Day One as President

If Elected, Sanders Says He Will Legalize Cannabis Via Executive Order on His First Day in Office

With just two days to go before the Iowa caucus, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) is pledging to immediately legalize marijuana in all 50 states if he is elected to the White House.

READ FULL BERNIE SANDERS ARTICLE

4. Australia Expedites Review of Medical Cannabis Product Epidiolex

If Approved, Epidiolex Would Become Only the Second Product in Australia’s Register of Therapeutic Goods

Australia‘s health regulators quietly gave Epidiolex, a cannabidiol medication, orphan designation and priority review status in late 2019. The only medical cannabis product currently listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is Sativex, which was approved in 2012. Both Sativex and Epidiolex are made by United Kingdom-based GW Pharmaceuticals GWPH GW.

READ FULL EPIDIOLEX ARTICLE

3. European Union Urges Member Nations to Vote for WHO’s Cannabis Rescheduling Recommendations

Approval Would Be a Positive Step Forward for International Cannabis Companies

The European Union (EU) is urging its member nations to vote in favour of three World Health Organization (WHO) cannabis rescheduling recommendations ahead of the March session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

READ FULL WHO CANNABIS ARTICLE

2. Long Lines, High Demand Cause Illinois Adult-Use Marijuana Stores to Ration Flower

A Few Weeks Into Recreational Cannabis Sales in Illinois, Flower Supplies Remain Tight

During the first month of adult-use sales in Illinois, a limited supply of cannabis has forced many marijuana retailers to limit the amount sold to individual customers with some shops even requiring customer appointments. While flower is flying off the shelves at most Illinois dispensaries, many people are buying edibles and vape products, said Ben Kovler, CEO of Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries GTII GTBIF (FRA: R9U2).

READ FULL ILLINOIS ARTICLE

1. Doug Ford Expects Ontario to Lead the Nation in Pot Shop Locations

Ford Fires Back at Cannabis Critics, Pledges to Lead Country in Retail Cannabis Outlets

Ontario Premier Doug Ford had some sharp words for cannabis executives who blamed Ontario for its part in causing an industry-wide slump last year. “Maybe I’ll shoot back a little bit. They didn’t have the supply ready,” Ford said during a recent interview with BNN Bloomberg. Cannabis executives from Aphria APHA APHA (FRA: 10E), Canopy Growth WEED CGC (FRA: 11L1) and Aurora Cannabis ACB ACB (FRA: 21P) recently blamed Ontario for not having enough retail locations available for consumers to buy their products which resulted in weaker than expected Earnings.