EMAIL: mattl@mjbizdaily.com
PHONE: 720.699.0794

Matt Lamers

Matt is based in the Greater Toronto Area and covers international cannabis markets for Marijuana Business Daily. Previously, he worked as a business editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers and magazines in three countries, covering everything from the oil and gas industry in northern British Columbia to North Korean defectors in Seoul.

Australian cannabis sales to surpass $150 million in 2021

Published March 31, 2021

Australia’s medical marijuana sales could surpass 200 million Australian dollars ($152 million) this year, a twofold increase over 2020, fueled by growing patient numbers and better product selection, according to a new forecast by data firm FreshLeaf Analytics. The North Sydney-based company said Australia is still “heavily dependent” on Canada and Europe for imports of […]

British Columbia to consult businesses on farm-gate cannabis sales

Published March 30, 2021

British Columbia’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch is planning to consult industry members and the public on farm-gate marijuana sales ahead of a projected launch of the program next year, a spokesperson for the province told Marijuana Business Daily. “The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is responsible for this program and anticipates undertaking stakeholder […]

British Columbia urges ‘rethink’ of Canada’s medical cannabis program, citing diversion to illicit market

Published March 30, 2021

British Columbia is pressing Canada’s federal government to revamp the country’s home medical cannabis cultivation program, calling some instances of authorized home production a significant source for the illegal market. “We know the program allows patients to produce their medicine at a lower cost than they can buy it, but we also know there is […]

Quebec government raises expected cannabis dividend to CA$88 million

Published March 26, 2021

The monopoly cannabis retailer in Quebec expects to contribute 88 million Canadian dollars ($70 million) to provincial coffers in the upcoming 2021-22 fiscal year, according to the newly released provincial budget. The government-owned and -operated Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) previously expected to contribute CA$71 million to provincial coffers. Quebec also expects the SQDC will […]

‘Cannabis 2.0’ products dent Canada’s dried-flower market

Published March 24, 2021

Dried flower’s overall share of the regulated adult-use cannabis market in Canada waned throughout 2020 as competition from new product categories steadily increased, the latest data from Statistics Canada shows. Dried flower still dominated the market overall, however. In the final three months of 2019, dried flower accounted for nearly 90% of all adult-use marijuana […]

Ontario, Alberta lead Canadian cannabis sales drop in January

Published March 19, 2021

Retail sales of adult-use cannabis products in Canada declined to 282.8 million Canadian dollars ($225 million) in January, 5.6% lower than a month earlier, according to the latest Statistics Canada data. Sales fell in every province and territory. Alberta and Ontario saw the biggest declines on a dollar basis. Consumers in Alberta purchased CA$58.4 million […]

New Brunswick won’t privatize recreational cannabis sales

Published March 19, 2021

New Brunswick discontinued its request for proposal (RFP) process for the privatization of recreational cannabis sales, meaning the province will retain the government-owned and -operated store model through Cannabis NB. New Brunswick requested proposals in 2019 for a single operator to run its cannabis retail system. However the move was met with skepticism, with opponents […]

Why cannabis producer Organigram struck a CA$220 million deal with a tobacco giant: Q&A with CEO Greg Engel

Published March 19, 2021

While rival Canadian cannabis producers plowed massive amounts of capital into cultivation infrastructure, losing billions of dollars in the process, New Brunswick-based Organigram forged a different path. Organigram – which trades on the Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange as OGI – chose instead to focus on products and brands while enduring some bumps along […]

Canada to launch review of cannabis industry fee structure

Published March 18, 2021

Health Canada will soon embark on a review of fees collected by the federal government from cannabis companies, including studying the impact those fees have on the industry as well as the policy goals of legalization. “License holders will be engaged in this work over the coming months,” Health Canada spokeswoman Tammy Jarbeau told Marijuana […]

Hexo CEO: Canada’s cannabis sector entering ‘most competitive phase’

Published March 18, 2021

Cannabis producer Hexo Corp. reported a net loss of 21 million Canadian dollars ($17 million) for its second quarter ended Jan. 31 as its chief executive said the Canadian industry was entering its “most competitive phase” yet. Ottawa, Ontario-based Hexo saw improved sales of adult-use cannabis and beverages compared to the quarter ended Oct. 31, […]

Ontario Cannabis Store appoints sixth president in three years, raising industry concern

Published March 18, 2021

The executive turntable at the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is spinning again, with the provincial wholesale monopoly and online retailer about to get its sixth president in three years. The rapid executive turnover has some industry watchers concerned the organization might be lacking executive continuity. Thomas Haig, who was appointed interim president in September 2020, […]

Aphria, Tilray to host April shareholder meetings about planned merger

Published March 17, 2021

Aphria and Tilray will host special shareholder meetings next month on the proposed merger between the cannabis producers, the companies said. The meetings will be held via live audio webcast for Aphria and Tilray shareholders on April 14 and April 16, respectively. According to a news release, Aphria shareholders must vote their proxies before 4 […]