Grow Legally

Hull-Aylmer MP pledges to help clear pot offenders’ records

A west Quebec MP is pledging to help some of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians with ma*****na convictions get their criminal records cleared — but they’ll have to wait until after legalization.

Greg Fergus, the Liberal MP for Hull-Aylmer, said he’ll be seeking remedies for some of the 500,000 Canadians who he said have a criminal record related to simple possession of ma*****na.
“I will be one of the first people at the door saying … let’s start getting busy and sharpening our pencils to try to figure out how we can best deal with this,” Fergus said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he would not consider issuing amnesties or creating an expedited pardon program until after cannabis is legalized in July 2018.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has also said officials are examining “all the legal implications for possible pardons, or record suspensions, for criminal records for cannabis.”
Charges, convictions dropping

There has been a precipitous drop in the number of charges for simple possession of ma*****na in Ottawa, from 341 charges in 2012 to 216 in 2016 — the most recent year data is available from Statistics Canada.

Ottawa lawyer Michael Spratt said that anecdotally he’s seen a decline in the number of people charged with ma*****na possession over the last year.

Spratt also said he’s been getting phone calls from clients anxious to clear their criminal records in light of the new law — and he’s frustrated with how long it’s taking the federal government to consider expediting the pardon process.
Full article; http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4561917
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Canadian firm becomes first pot producer to list on major U.S. stock exchange

Toronto-based Cronos Group is set to be the first ma*****na company to list on a major U.S. stock exchange when it begins trading on the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite on Tuesday.

The move is a significant milestone for the company and the broader ma*****na sector that has faced resistance from the Trump administration.
In January, the U.S. Justice Department had repealed an Obama administration policy that eased the enforcement of federal ma*****na laws in states that legalized the drug.

Federal law in the U.S. still prohibits ma*****na use, despite some states like California moving to legalize it.
“This up listing to Nasdaq is a major corporate milestone and reflects the significant progress we have made in strengthening our corporate governance and expanding our global footprint,” said Mike Gorenstein, CEO of Cronos Group in a statement on Monday.

The company is already trading in Toronto on the TSX Venture Exchange and its shares were up over five per cent in the afternoon after news of the new listing.

Cronos shares are up over 200 per cent in the past year, similar to its counterparts in Canada that have seen shares skyrocket on the expected legalization of recreational ma*****na in the country by this summer.
The Nasdaq listing allows U.S. investors that were hesitant over the legality of investing in ma*****na stocks outside of the country to now invest legally.

“We believe this will increase long term shareholder value by improving awareness, liquidity, and appeal to institutional investors,” Gorenstein said.

The company told Bloomberg that Nasdaq’s approval came after it spent six months preparing its application for the listing.
Full article;
http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4552128
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Toronto company becomes first pot producer to list on major U.S. stock exchange Toronto-based Cronos Group is set to be the first ma*****na company to list on a major U.S. stock exchange when it begins trading on the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite on Tuesday.

How To Claim Medical Cannabis On Your Income Tax Return

Green bud, grey area: Medical cannabis consumers buy products directly from licensed producers, but they must pay for it out of pocket – sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars a month.
Medical cannabis generally isn’t covered by third-party health insurance plans because it doesn’t have a drug identification number (DIN), a regulatory stamp of approval issued by Health Canada. Starting March 1, Sun Life will become the country’s first major insurance company to offer optional coverage for medical cannabis, but for many consumers the only opportunity for financial relief comes through the taxman.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows for cannabis purchased under prescription to be claimed as a “medical expense” deduction on your federal income taxes. Here’s how it works.
Who qualifies: Anyone with a prescription from an authorized medical practitioner to purchase cannabis from a licensed producer. As of this writing, there are 89 producers across the country licensed by Health Canada. Producers are legally required to issue receipts, which you’ll need come tax filing time. Hold on to the paper copies, or find out how to access your receipts online. In case of an audit or review, the CRA recommends keeping receipts for six years.
What you can claim: The amount paid for fresh or dried cannabis, cannabis oils, and cannabis seeds and plants procured from a licensed producer – basically, product only. You cannot claim costs related to growing or accessories such as lights, containers and other storage, fertilizers, vaporizers, pipes, capsules, or capsule filler machines.
For full article visit; https://news.lift.co/claim-medical-cannabis-income-tax-return/
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How to claim medical cannabis on your income tax return - Lift News Producers are required to issue receipts, which you’ll need come income tax filing time. Hold on to the paper copies, or find your receipts online.

Military to spend $170,000 so leaders can see what it’s like to be stoned on ma*****na

The Canadian Forces is buying kits that will let its leaders experience what it’s like to be stoned on ma*****na.

The “ma*****na simulation kits” will include “ma*****na impairment goggles,” among other items. The Canadian Forces wants to acquire 26 of the kits by April 30 or sooner if possible.

“The purpose of the Ma*****na Simulation Kits is to raise awareness of ma*****na impairment, reduce risk of ma*****na impairment, and promote healthy lifestyles within the Canadian Armed Forces,” companies who want to bid on the contract were told. “The ma*****na impairment goggles, which is one of the several items included in the Ma*****na Simulation Kit, allows users to experience first-hand, the deficits ma*****na creates on the body.”
Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said Friday that the kits will be used in the Military Personnel Command’s supervisor training course. “This will help ensure that CAF members in leadership positions will be able to identify signs of, assist in detecting and provide guidance regarding, prohibited drug use,” he said.

The value of the contract will only be known once bids are received, evaluated and a contract is awarded, but it is estimated at up to $170,000 over five years..
Full article; http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/military-to-spend-170000-so-leaders-can-see-what-its-like-to-be-stoned-on-ma*****na/amp

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Military to spend $170,000 so leaders can see what it’s like to be stoned on ma*****na Participants wearing the goggles experience the simulated effects of recreational ma*****na use such as slower decision making and loss of motor coordination