• "We don’t have any specific policies that we’re looking at. This is a true listening exercise," Downey told BNN Bloomberg. "We want to hear what Ontarians have to say on lounges, cafes, that kind of thing." BNN Bloomberg
• He stressed there would be no changes to the existing cannabis framework.
• The Ontario government is not considering changing the Smoke Free Ontario Act or other laws outlawing smoking or vaping in enclosed workplaces and public places, including patios, and on any vehicle or boat in motion. Twitter—Trina Fraser
• Outdoor smoking-patios may be possible, but only if there are no food/beverages for sale or consumed on site. (And regs would have to be changed to exclude edibles from existing definitions of "food or drink.") Twitter—Trina Fraser

• The government is also looking for public feedback about how to prevent edibles overconsumption, as well as how the public feels about packaged edibles and canna-beverages being sold in venues that also sell alcohol. MJ Biz Daily
• The initiative will not allow infused meals, since REC products "must be in federal packaging at point of sale." Twitter—Trina Fraser

• Some municipalities (like Mississauga) are rethinking opting out, others are not. Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow said, "I’m not interested in seeing it in our city. There was a time when there wasn’t a liquor store in Richmond Hill, and you went to the next city." Twitter—Patrick Cain

• Revenue fell 25% quarter-over-quarter, from Q1's $75.6M to the past quarter's $56.6M. The Star
• Wholesale revenues declined 77% to $2.4M, while EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization] loss doubled from $39.7M to $80.2M, quarter over quarter.

• Singer said there were no plans for any more layoffs, and any capital the company spends needs to show value.

• MJ Biz Daily's Matt Lamers said, "It doesn't seem they were all that fussed about EBITDA and revenue, at least compared to the weight of the other [key performance indicators]." Twitter—Matt Lamers
• Lamers also puzzled over why the company's 2019 Corporate Objectives state they "exceeded" their production target of 100,000 kg, "But Aurora's annual statement says it only produced 57,442 kg." Twitter—Matt Lamers

• Aurora is rumoured to have not told some employees they were being laid off until this past Monday. Yahoo—Jeff Lagerquist

• More than 30% of the positions cut were corporate, while 13% were operational. CTV News
• At Supreme subsidiary 7Acres' production site, it's not clear how many people will lose their jobs. CTV News
• Supreme's shares have declined more than 75% in the past year.

• Analysts say the layoffs are far from over, even as laying off workers saves money but doesn't necessarily spur profitability. BNN Bloomberg, Financial Post

• The company increased net revenues by 63% and reduced EBITDA loss by roughly 59%, both quarter over quarter. Yahoo Finance
• CEO David Klein, who took the reins last month, emphasized discipline, profitability, and connections with consumers. His last position was CFO of Canopy's largest-shareholder Constellation Brands. Twitter—Jeff Lagerquist
• Though Klein promised Canopy's beverages will be "a game changer," Canopy has not yet released those products. Klein said Canopy "probably rushed it in terms of getting our initial announcement out." Marketwatch, Twitter—Jeff Lagerquist

1. A New Brunswick dispensary raided in November announced it would be closing its physical locations, but would continue to do sell unlicensed products via its website. GrowthOp, Digital Journal
2. Here's a guide to applying for a REC retail licence across various provinces. Cannabis Retailer

• Despite popular anxiety about vaping during last fall's US vape-poisoning crisis, many LPs focused their legalization 2.0 attentions on vape products, and with 417 cannabis stores open to date, Alberta has the potential to help LPs move a lot of product. Market Realist

Quick Hits

1. Now that Cannabis NB's sales are emerging from the toilet, New Brunswick might not be in such a hurry to privatize the crown REC retail monopoly. GrowthOp
2. An Edmonton man who killed his mother during what doctors called a period of cannabis-induced psychosis will spend 45 months in prison. Times Colonist, Edmonton Journal

Quick Hits

1. Water-themed Toronto sex-club Oasis Aqualounge (fresh from two years in a row on Canadian Business's Growth 500 ranking of Canada's fastest growing companies) is cannabis-friendly, with an outside smoking deck. It's a clothing-optional club so I presume the smoking deck is more popular come summer. Leafly
2. A Montreal MED consultant is telling Quebeckers between 18 and 20 to sign up for a MED access in order to circumvent the new provincial age limit of 21 to consume cannabis. Journal de Montréal—In French

• Canopy disputed this accounting and said if cash-equivalents and marketable securities were included, they'd have more than twice as much.
• Ello Capital concluded Tilray had 3.7 months' worth of cash left, The Green Organic Dutchman had 3.9 months' worth, and Hexo had 6.5 months' worth. Twitter—Max Cherney

Quick Hits

1. A Saskatoon doctor who wrote an impressive 1,000 MED prescriptions in six weeks in 2017 will be fined $24,000 for professional misconduct. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
2. Aleafia Chief Medical Officer and MED advocate Dr. Michael Verbora reported witnessing a hospitalized child who needed CBD oil for treatment-resistant epilepsy could not get any because hospitals do not stock MED products. Twitter—Michael Verbora

• Torkin Manes Cannabis Law Group chair Matt Maurer called Henein "arguably the most talented litigator in the country," and added "she has the most accomplished Canadian class action lawyer of all time riding shotgun." He concluded, "CannTrust is in trouble and the case hasn't even started." Twitter—Matt Maurer

• Lawyer Trina Fraser noted provincial supply deals "permit the return of product for any reason whatsoever," rather than just defective/recalled product. But at least non-defective products can be resold to other provinces provided excise stamps are re-applied. Twitter—Trina Fraser

• Trina Fraser said provinces need strategies to bring their micros' products to market through micro-friendly procurement procedures at provincial distributors and commitments from those distributors to honour exclusive supply deals between processors and retailers. Twitter—Trina Fraser

• At the same Agricultural Show, Health Canada representative Jacqueline Oddi said the regulator is developing a security-preclearance program that prospective licencees could complete prior to application. Such a move would be useful for every aspiring LP, but because the notorious wait for security-clearances is hardest for small companies to budget for, the change would be best for micro-level applicants. Twitter—Adam Carmichael

• Alex Robb was given 30 days to decide between accepting and paying 50% of the fine, or contesting it in a process overseen by the CSU's director.
• Robb, who said he was "actually an employee of the company" and "never sold the cannabis" predicted "this could essentially cause my financial ruin and follow me for the rest of my life."

Quick Hits

1. The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board rejected an application to cover MED for a patient who wished to stop taking opioids for pain, saying MED isn't "necessary, appropriate, or sufficient health care treatment for most medical conditions." GrowthOp
2. Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy published position statements on youth incarceration for cannabis, criminal records for possession, and several other matters. CSSDP