Five Things Big Weed Wants From the Government
- Thread starter gb123
- Start date
anything to TRY and get their way butt........................... and its one hell of a bigg butt
THEY WONT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT
Although legalizing weed was one of the biggest promises Justin Trudeau fulfilled during his first parliament as prime minister, the issue hardly came up during the election.
But now that Trudeau has been re-elected, Big Weed is lobbying for change.
The Canadian Council of Cannabis, which represents most major weed companies including Canopy, Aurora, Tilray, Aphria, and Hexo Corp., has released a letter addressed to Trudeau outlining its priorities.
The group wants the government to help wipe out the black market by cracking down on dispensaries, get rid of the excise tax (a tax placed on vices) on medical cannabis, and create a national excise stamp for cannabis products, among other things.
Here's a breakdown on what Big Weed is demanding:
Advertisement
Black market crackdown:
Although nearly half of cannabis consumers who participated in Statistics Canada’s National Cannabis Survey reported purchasing at least some weed legally in the first half of 2019, 42 percent said they purchased at least some of their weed from illegal sources.
And it makes sense: many regions, including Ontario, aren’t serviced by enough stores, and price, quality, and variety of product (e.g. edibles) are still arguably better on the black market. There’s been a boom of illicit online dispensaries and delivery services as opposed to brick and mortar stores, which are easier to shut down.
So the Canadian Council of Cannabis is asking for the government to “prioritize the closure and removal of both illegal brick and mortar stores, and actively seek out and shut down illegal online cannabis dispensaries.”
The letter says the federal government and provinces should work together to “increase enforcement, restrict access to youth, and remove competitive barriers to the legal cannabis industry.”
The request is being criticized because it’s calling for more people to be arrested and potentially jailed for selling cannabis, which is the same thing these multi-billion-dollar companies are doing. If Big Weed wants the black market gone, maybe it should step up its game instead of whining to the government to arrest its competitors. Just a thought.
Scrapping the sin tax on medical weed
Most medical cannabis patients in Canada already pay out of pocket for their medicine, as well as HST. But the government slapped on an excise tax of $1 per gram, or 10 percent of the retail price (whichever is more) when it legalized recreational weed last year.
Big Weed’s letter says the tax “presents serious barriers to access for patients and renders medical cannabis products unaffordable for lower-income Canadians.
The organization is calling for the government to scrap the excise tax on medical weed and to reconsider the taxing scheme on recreational weed in order to better compete with the illicit market.
Make a national cannabis stamp
The government requires each cannabis product be labelled with an excise stamp—the stamps vary from province to province. While it may not sound like a big deal, the stamps have become a pain for licensed producers. A Financial Post story detailed some of the problems with the stamps—lack of glue, late arrivals, or not fitting onto packaging have all led to delays in product shipments.
The Canadian Council of Cannabis wants the government to create a national stamp in order to expedite the process.
Streamline exporting
Europe is a growing market for medical cannabis and Canadian companies are looking to expand there. Currently, Germany has the largest medical cannabis market outside of Canada. The only weed that can be legally consumed in Germany is Canadian or Dutch, and Canadian companies are currently building domestic grows there.
The letter asks the government to “develop a comprehensive, commercial medical cannabis export framework” within the next year to help “ensure the Canadian cannabis industry’s global competitiveness while adhering to the health and safety objectives of Health Canada.”
Licensing delays
The group wants a review of Health Canada’s licensing approval process, in the hope of clearing backlog. Health Canada was criticized during the rollout of legalization for not approving licenses fast enough, which contributed to the weed supply shortage. Some in the industry are concerned the same thing could happen with edibles licenses.
THEY WONT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT
Although legalizing weed was one of the biggest promises Justin Trudeau fulfilled during his first parliament as prime minister, the issue hardly came up during the election.
But now that Trudeau has been re-elected, Big Weed is lobbying for change.
The Canadian Council of Cannabis, which represents most major weed companies including Canopy, Aurora, Tilray, Aphria, and Hexo Corp., has released a letter addressed to Trudeau outlining its priorities.
The group wants the government to help wipe out the black market by cracking down on dispensaries, get rid of the excise tax (a tax placed on vices) on medical cannabis, and create a national excise stamp for cannabis products, among other things.
Here's a breakdown on what Big Weed is demanding:
Advertisement
Black market crackdown:
Although nearly half of cannabis consumers who participated in Statistics Canada’s National Cannabis Survey reported purchasing at least some weed legally in the first half of 2019, 42 percent said they purchased at least some of their weed from illegal sources.
And it makes sense: many regions, including Ontario, aren’t serviced by enough stores, and price, quality, and variety of product (e.g. edibles) are still arguably better on the black market. There’s been a boom of illicit online dispensaries and delivery services as opposed to brick and mortar stores, which are easier to shut down.
So the Canadian Council of Cannabis is asking for the government to “prioritize the closure and removal of both illegal brick and mortar stores, and actively seek out and shut down illegal online cannabis dispensaries.”
The letter says the federal government and provinces should work together to “increase enforcement, restrict access to youth, and remove competitive barriers to the legal cannabis industry.”
The request is being criticized because it’s calling for more people to be arrested and potentially jailed for selling cannabis, which is the same thing these multi-billion-dollar companies are doing. If Big Weed wants the black market gone, maybe it should step up its game instead of whining to the government to arrest its competitors. Just a thought.
Scrapping the sin tax on medical weed
Most medical cannabis patients in Canada already pay out of pocket for their medicine, as well as HST. But the government slapped on an excise tax of $1 per gram, or 10 percent of the retail price (whichever is more) when it legalized recreational weed last year.
Big Weed’s letter says the tax “presents serious barriers to access for patients and renders medical cannabis products unaffordable for lower-income Canadians.
The organization is calling for the government to scrap the excise tax on medical weed and to reconsider the taxing scheme on recreational weed in order to better compete with the illicit market.
Make a national cannabis stamp
The government requires each cannabis product be labelled with an excise stamp—the stamps vary from province to province. While it may not sound like a big deal, the stamps have become a pain for licensed producers. A Financial Post story detailed some of the problems with the stamps—lack of glue, late arrivals, or not fitting onto packaging have all led to delays in product shipments.
The Canadian Council of Cannabis wants the government to create a national stamp in order to expedite the process.
Streamline exporting
Europe is a growing market for medical cannabis and Canadian companies are looking to expand there. Currently, Germany has the largest medical cannabis market outside of Canada. The only weed that can be legally consumed in Germany is Canadian or Dutch, and Canadian companies are currently building domestic grows there.
The letter asks the government to “develop a comprehensive, commercial medical cannabis export framework” within the next year to help “ensure the Canadian cannabis industry’s global competitiveness while adhering to the health and safety objectives of Health Canada.”
Licensing delays
The group wants a review of Health Canada’s licensing approval process, in the hope of clearing backlog. Health Canada was criticized during the rollout of legalization for not approving licenses fast enough, which contributed to the weed supply shortage. Some in the industry are concerned the same thing could happen with edibles licenses.
Cannabis Council of Canadahttps://cannabis-council.ca/November 9, 2019The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.Prime Minister of CanadaOffice of the Prime Minister80 Wellington StreetOttawa, ON K1A 0A2Deliveredvia email to: pm@pm.gc.caand justin.trudeau@parl.gc.caRef: 43rdParliament Ministerial Mandate LettersDear Prime Minister,Congratulations on your re-election, and to the Liberal Party on its victory.The Cannabis Council of Canada looks forward to continuing to stand firmly with your government in keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, helping to eliminate organized crime and creating jobs and opportunities for communities and Canadians across the country.TheCouncil is the national organization of Canada’s licensed producers of cannabis under the federal Cannabis Act. With over 40 members, we represent approximately 90% of the legal industry which employs thousands of Canadians directly, and indirectly, nationwide. The Council’s mission is to act as the national voice for our members in their promotion of industry standards; to support the development, growth and integrity of the regulated cannabis industry; and to serve as an important resource on issues related to the responsible useof cannabis for medical and non-medical purposes.In advance of the selection of your Cabinet, and the subsequent drafting ofministerial mandate letters, we respectfully requestthat you consider the followingelements for inclusion.These recommendations reflectour members’ foremost regulatory and legislative pain points, and that which we deem imperative to our future success. The Council hopesto ensure that the 43rdParliament achieves an appropriate balance in the marriage of government objectives and the operational realities of the Canadian cannabis industry. To the Minister of Revenue and Finance: •The Councilrecommendstargeted direction and coordinated effortsto develop a national cannabis excise stamp.The current system of stamps designated for each province and territoryhas proven to be an expensiveresource burden on the cannabis industry.A pivot to a national stamp would also help mitigate supply issuesin smaller jurisdictionsand allow license holders to flexibly move product where there is demonstrated and/or urgent demand.To the Minister of Health, Finance and Revenue: •The Councilrecommendsthe eliminationof excise taxes on medical cannabis. The current regime presents serious barriers to access for patients and renders medical cannabis
Cannabis Council of Canadahttps://cannabis-council.ca/products unaffordable for lower-income CanadiansAdditionally, while the price of legal cannabis is droppingit is still higher relative to illegal product. Accordingly, the Councilrecommend that the federal government work with their provincial and territorial colleagues to ensure that prices are structured insuch a way as to ensure the eradication of the black market and the long-term success of the legal cannabis sector.Specifically, the federal government should look at whether the excise regime on adult-use cannabis, as well as HSTor GST, is acting as a hindrance to the competitiveness of the legal market.To the Ministers of Public Safety, Finance, Border Security & Organized Crime Reduction:•To discouragethe proliferation of illegal online cannabis dispensaries, we recommend the above Ministries work in collaborationwith their provincial and territorial counterpartsto increase enforcement, restrictaccess to youth,and remove competitive barriers to the legal cannabis industry. The latter can be achieved in partnership with Canada’s banking sector to ensure legal cannabis businesses are given access to basic fiscal resources in order to grow their operations.Further, we recommend that the government prioritize the closure and removal of both illegal brick and mortar stores, and actively seek out and shut down illegal online cannabis dispensaries.To the Minister of Innovation, Science & Economic Development (ISED), Health, Global Affairs, Trade, Small Business & Export Promotion:•Earlier this year, the Treasury Board Secretariat considered the development of key principles related to efficiency and economic growth that would become part of the required analysis that regulators (including the cannabis industry’s regulator, Health Canada) must perform as part of the regulatory development process. Among the questions asked of stakeholders, the following is relevant to Canada’s medical cannabis industry: How should the Government measure the impact of regulation on competitiveness? What should regulators consider toachieve positive impacts on competitiveness and their regulatory objectives? •In an effort to realize the existing potential for regulated cannabis products in Europeanmarkets and beyond, the Council recommends the Ministries listed above work together to develop a comprehensive, commercial medical cannabis export frameworkfor launch in the next 12 months. •This framework would serve to ensure the Canadian cannabis industry’s global competitiveness while adhering to the health and safety objectives of Health Canada.To the Minister of Health:•The Council recommends a review ofHealth Canada service standards, as it relates to timelines for license amendments and research applications, including ongoing delays in research license approvals for academics. This review should highlight key areas for improvement and tangible actions that could be taken to mitigate service delays and other issues.Additionally, The Council will be seeking a half-day working meeting between senior officials in your office, the Privy Council and in departments referenced above, together withCEOs of member companiesearlyin the new year. We believe this meeting is integral to ensuring the government understands the pressures and opportunities facing the industry. The Council believes a whole of government approach and engagement with the legal cannabis sector is integral to the success of this rising economic influencer in Canada.We hope you will ensure Deputy Ministers and other relevant senior officials from the above-noted departments are in Cannabis Council of Canadahttps://cannabis-council.ca/attendance as we believe an aligned strategy among industry and government is key to continued growth of this sector.The Council looks forward to workingwith the Government ofCanada to ensure that its objectives with respect to theregulated cannabis industry are upheld. The Council commits to making our representatives available to answer any questions or provide additional colour as required. Further, wewould welcome the opportunity to share supplementaryinsights from across our membershipat your convenience.Once again, Prime Minister, please accept our congratulations on your re-election and our best wishes for your government’s success. We thank you in advance for your diligent review and considerationof the above-noted recommendations.Sincerely,Megan McCraeChairof the Board, Cannabis Council of CanadaCameron BishopVice Chairof the Board, Cannabis Council of CanadaC.c.:Ms. Christine Donoghue, Deputy Commissioner of the Canada Revenue AgencyMr. John F.G. Hannaford, Deputy Minister of International Trade Ms. Laurie-Anne Kempton, Chief of Staff, Office of the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Dr. Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Mike McNair, Director of Policy, Office of the Prime Minister Ms. Marta Morgan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Paul Rochon, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Ms. Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Mr. Rick Theis, Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister Ms. Gina Wilson, Deputy Mini
Cannabis Council of Canadahttps://cannabis-council.ca/products unaffordable for lower-income CanadiansAdditionally, while the price of legal cannabis is droppingit is still higher relative to illegal product. Accordingly, the Councilrecommend that the federal government work with their provincial and territorial colleagues to ensure that prices are structured insuch a way as to ensure the eradication of the black market and the long-term success of the legal cannabis sector.Specifically, the federal government should look at whether the excise regime on adult-use cannabis, as well as HSTor GST, is acting as a hindrance to the competitiveness of the legal market.To the Ministers of Public Safety, Finance, Border Security & Organized Crime Reduction:•To discouragethe proliferation of illegal online cannabis dispensaries, we recommend the above Ministries work in collaborationwith their provincial and territorial counterpartsto increase enforcement, restrictaccess to youth,and remove competitive barriers to the legal cannabis industry. The latter can be achieved in partnership with Canada’s banking sector to ensure legal cannabis businesses are given access to basic fiscal resources in order to grow their operations.Further, we recommend that the government prioritize the closure and removal of both illegal brick and mortar stores, and actively seek out and shut down illegal online cannabis dispensaries.To the Minister of Innovation, Science & Economic Development (ISED), Health, Global Affairs, Trade, Small Business & Export Promotion:•Earlier this year, the Treasury Board Secretariat considered the development of key principles related to efficiency and economic growth that would become part of the required analysis that regulators (including the cannabis industry’s regulator, Health Canada) must perform as part of the regulatory development process. Among the questions asked of stakeholders, the following is relevant to Canada’s medical cannabis industry: How should the Government measure the impact of regulation on competitiveness? What should regulators consider toachieve positive impacts on competitiveness and their regulatory objectives? •In an effort to realize the existing potential for regulated cannabis products in Europeanmarkets and beyond, the Council recommends the Ministries listed above work together to develop a comprehensive, commercial medical cannabis export frameworkfor launch in the next 12 months. •This framework would serve to ensure the Canadian cannabis industry’s global competitiveness while adhering to the health and safety objectives of Health Canada.To the Minister of Health:•The Council recommends a review ofHealth Canada service standards, as it relates to timelines for license amendments and research applications, including ongoing delays in research license approvals for academics. This review should highlight key areas for improvement and tangible actions that could be taken to mitigate service delays and other issues.Additionally, The Council will be seeking a half-day working meeting between senior officials in your office, the Privy Council and in departments referenced above, together withCEOs of member companiesearlyin the new year. We believe this meeting is integral to ensuring the government understands the pressures and opportunities facing the industry. The Council believes a whole of government approach and engagement with the legal cannabis sector is integral to the success of this rising economic influencer in Canada.We hope you will ensure Deputy Ministers and other relevant senior officials from the above-noted departments are in Cannabis Council of Canadahttps://cannabis-council.ca/attendance as we believe an aligned strategy among industry and government is key to continued growth of this sector.The Council looks forward to workingwith the Government ofCanada to ensure that its objectives with respect to theregulated cannabis industry are upheld. The Council commits to making our representatives available to answer any questions or provide additional colour as required. Further, wewould welcome the opportunity to share supplementaryinsights from across our membershipat your convenience.Once again, Prime Minister, please accept our congratulations on your re-election and our best wishes for your government’s success. We thank you in advance for your diligent review and considerationof the above-noted recommendations.Sincerely,Megan McCraeChairof the Board, Cannabis Council of CanadaCameron BishopVice Chairof the Board, Cannabis Council of CanadaC.c.:Ms. Christine Donoghue, Deputy Commissioner of the Canada Revenue AgencyMr. John F.G. Hannaford, Deputy Minister of International Trade Ms. Laurie-Anne Kempton, Chief of Staff, Office of the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Dr. Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Mike McNair, Director of Policy, Office of the Prime Minister Ms. Marta Morgan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Paul Rochon, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Ms. Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Mr. Rick Theis, Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister Ms. Gina Wilson, Deputy Mini
The request is being criticized because it’s calling for more people to be arrested and potentially jailed for selling cannabis, which is the same thing these multi-billion-dollar companies are doing. If Big Weed wants the black market gone, maybe it should step up its game instead of whining to the government to arrest its competitors. Just a thought
ITS THAT OBVIOUS EH
ITS THAT OBVIOUS EH
WHATFG
Well-Known Member
Who fucking cares what their priorities are?
who voted these fucks into office?...I think the government should lower prices and quit being so greedy...
hahahahahaha.....suddenly they're concerned about the barriers to access?....omg this is too funny
awww...it's become a pain for "producers"....they should try being a patient in this climate...lol...
My heart bleeds for those patients...
WHAT A BUNCH OF WHINERS!!!
CalyxCrusher
Well-Known Member
Considering these fucks operate at around $0.85/gram they have tons of room to come down in price to something more in line with quality. Wait that's less than $0.85/gram....... Maybe get good at your job instead of going after people better at what you're doing than you are yourselves. This is what happens when people who haven't a fucking clue what anything closely resembling good cannabis looks like get into growing by simply throwing millions of dollars at it, while thinking you offer a top notch product.
The LPs are literally that guy from HS who sold the dirtiest stem and seed filled ditch weed all while carrying himself as though no one else has a better product
Their problem AND solution has always been so painfully obvious it's now become a Greek tragedy watching these morons scratch their heads and spout off all kinds of excuses and reasons for their failure. "More stores!" "We need to expand!" " Edibles will save us in year 2!" "Gotta export to over seas!"
Reminds me of an old joke my Newfie buddy told me
A guy goes to the doctor complaining he's in pain. " I don't know what is it doc, it hurts when I touch my back, hurts when I touch my leg, it even hurts when I scratch my ass. I think we need to get some x-rays or maybe an MRI." The doctor looks at him and says " that's because you have a broken finger"
The LPs are literally that guy from HS who sold the dirtiest stem and seed filled ditch weed all while carrying himself as though no one else has a better product
Their problem AND solution has always been so painfully obvious it's now become a Greek tragedy watching these morons scratch their heads and spout off all kinds of excuses and reasons for their failure. "More stores!" "We need to expand!" " Edibles will save us in year 2!" "Gotta export to over seas!"
Reminds me of an old joke my Newfie buddy told me
A guy goes to the doctor complaining he's in pain. " I don't know what is it doc, it hurts when I touch my back, hurts when I touch my leg, it even hurts when I scratch my ass. I think we need to get some x-rays or maybe an MRI." The doctor looks at him and says " that's because you have a broken finger"
cannadan
Well-Known Member
Scrapping the sin tax on medical weed
Most medical cannabis patients in Canada already pay out of pocket for their medicine, as well as HST. But the government slapped on an excise tax of $1 per gram, or 10 percent of the retail price (whichever is more) when it legalized recreational weed last year.
Big Weed’s letter says the tax “presents serious barriers to access for patients and renders medical cannabis products unaffordable for lower-income Canadians.
The organization is calling for the government to scrap the excise tax on medical weed and to reconsider the taxing scheme on recreational weed in order to better compete with the illicit market.
More Important would be for Lp's to supply clean, and low priced cannabis to medical patients meaning they would need to do a 360 degree turn
from the current approach.
They currently charge upwards of 1000 percent mark ups on inferior and dirty products.....seriously You dumb fucks wonder why your not successful???
but your right too the government could drop its buck a gram tax and you can reduce your profits by say 900 percent...
and then maybe.... just maybe.... if you could grow an organic crop of good quality medical cannabis....you might stand a chance at securing a place in the medical cannabis market that you rode the coat-tails to legalization on....
You LP's have had every opportunity to produce medical grade cannabis...that we can grow in our own homes (mind you better)
and have had every leg up in the game to allow you to succeed,,,,yet you are still failing....no matter how much cash you invest
We told you how to make this work and you ignored us medical patients...until you realize we are right...you will continue to fail....
you would have been much further ahead to have hired 10 medical patients.... as a steering committee at $1000/hour/member
and actually taken the advice given....and you would be successful today even with strictly medical sales.....
Most medical cannabis patients in Canada already pay out of pocket for their medicine, as well as HST. But the government slapped on an excise tax of $1 per gram, or 10 percent of the retail price (whichever is more) when it legalized recreational weed last year.
Big Weed’s letter says the tax “presents serious barriers to access for patients and renders medical cannabis products unaffordable for lower-income Canadians.
The organization is calling for the government to scrap the excise tax on medical weed and to reconsider the taxing scheme on recreational weed in order to better compete with the illicit market.
More Important would be for Lp's to supply clean, and low priced cannabis to medical patients meaning they would need to do a 360 degree turn
from the current approach.
They currently charge upwards of 1000 percent mark ups on inferior and dirty products.....seriously You dumb fucks wonder why your not successful???
but your right too the government could drop its buck a gram tax and you can reduce your profits by say 900 percent...
and then maybe.... just maybe.... if you could grow an organic crop of good quality medical cannabis....you might stand a chance at securing a place in the medical cannabis market that you rode the coat-tails to legalization on....
You LP's have had every opportunity to produce medical grade cannabis...that we can grow in our own homes (mind you better)
and have had every leg up in the game to allow you to succeed,,,,yet you are still failing....no matter how much cash you invest
We told you how to make this work and you ignored us medical patients...until you realize we are right...you will continue to fail....
you would have been much further ahead to have hired 10 medical patients.... as a steering committee at $1000/hour/member
and actually taken the advice given....and you would be successful today even with strictly medical sales.....
Last edited: