For the Culture By The Culture
Canada seized more than two hundred million dollars in cannabis from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, but the deeper story is sovereignty. Indigenous growers say their laws and economic rights were ignored while Canada enforced a system built without them. The raid exposes a legalization model that favors corporations and provinces while sidelining First Nations.
Every year, millions of pounds of perfectly good cannabis are destroyed under “safety” rules that do little but feed landfills. From testing failures to expiration laws, the system burns medicine while patients go without. Dead Flowers: The Waste of American Weed follows the regulators, the waste, and the absurd logic behind America’s most profitable destruction ritual.
Google’s Canadian pilot program allowing cannabis ads exposes the deep hypocrisy in U.S. policy. While alcohol and gambling flood media, cannabis remains censored, costing legal businesses billions and reinforcing stigma. This shift could signal the start of global change.
Five plus years after legalization, Canada has pulled most consumers into the legal cannabis market. A new Waterloo study shows 78% of users buy legally, with prices converging and Ontario leading sales past $2.1B. With over 3,000 stores nationwide, Canada’s retail footprint is crushing the illicit trade while the U.S. still lags.
Justin Trudeau's resignation leaves Canada's cannabis industry in a vulnerable state, raising concerns about future regulatory support and sustainability. While legalization has brought progress, existing financial burdens and restrictive policies hinder growth. Industry stakeholders must unite to advocate for reforms that ensure the sector's viability and maintain Canada's leadership in cannabis regulation.
The Canadian cannabis industry is in crisis due to high federal excise taxes and provincial markups, which make legal products expensive and fuel the illicit market. A significant percentage of producers report negative net income, and reforms are urgently needed to adjust tax rates and eliminate markups to support legal businesses effectively.
