Last Week in Cannabis #1
May 18–24, 2026 | Issue #1
Hey friend — welcome to the very first Last Week in Cannabis. Every Monday I'll round up the most interesting things that happened in the cannabis world the week before and break them down in plain language. No industry jargon, no overwhelm — just what's actually going on, and why it might matter to you. Let's get into it.
1. CANADA — Health Canada Wants to Hear from Hemp Farmers
According to a notice published in the Canada Gazette on May 16th, Health Canada is looking to streamline the Industrial Hemp Regulations, with the goal of eliminating or reducing regulatory hurdles and decreasing administrative costs for both producers and the government — while maintaining public safety. The public comment period runs until June 30, 2026.
Mary Jane's Take: Hemp and cannabis get lumped together a lot in regulation, even though they're very different in terms of risk. Hemp — the kind used in food, textiles, and CBD products — has almost no psychoactive effect. Streamlining the rules for hemp farmers makes a lot of sense. And if you're curious, the Canada Gazette is where these consultations happen — it's worth knowing that everyday Canadians can actually participate in these kinds of reviews.
2. CANADA — BC Cannabis Sales Are Slowing, and Retailers Are Talking About It
Business in Vancouver reported this week that legal cannabis sales growth in BC has flattened after years of expansion. Retailers say consumers are shifting away from dried flower, becoming more price-conscious, and the market is maturing faster than many expected. There were 528 legal retail stores operating in the province at the end of March — growth of less than 3% year over year.
Mary Jane's Take: This is the quiet story underneath all the industry headlines. Legal cannabis has been around long enough now that the novelty has worn off and the market is having to find its footing on value alone. For consumers, that usually means better prices and better products. For retailers, it means running a tighter ship. The businesses that survive this phase will be stronger for it.
3. EUROPE — Germany and Poland Are Cracking Down on Online Cannabis Prescriptions
Germany and Poland have both moved to restrict online prescribing and mail-order dispensing of medical cannabis — a model that had turbocharged patient growth across Europe over the past few years. The concern from regulators centres on clinical oversight: whether a remote consultation is rigorous enough for prescribing a controlled substance. Poland already implemented restrictions in late 2024, and Germany is close behind.
Mary Jane's Take: Telemedicine made medical cannabis accessible to people who couldn't easily get to a clinic — people in rural areas, people with mobility challenges, people working long hours. There's real value in that. At the same time, regulators aren't wrong that some online platforms were operating more like prescription vending machines than medical practices. The answer probably isn't to ban telemedicine outright, but to raise the standard of care within it.
4. CANADA IS SUPPLYING MORE THAN HALF OF GERMANY'S MEDICAL CANNABIS
This one is worth a pause. In the first quarter of 2026, Canadian producers supplied over 26,700 kilograms out of Germany's total 50,500 kilograms of medical cannabis flower imports — more than half the entire market, and up 34% from the same period last year.
Mary Jane's Take: Canada's licensed cannabis industry gets a lot of criticism — some of it fair — but this is a genuinely impressive number. Canadian producers have invested heavily in EU-GMP certification, which is the gold standard for medical cannabis in Europe, and it's paying off. Germany is one of the largest and fastest-growing medical cannabis markets in the world. Canada being its dominant supplier is a real point of pride for the industry here.
5. BRAZIL — Nearly a Million Medical Cannabis Patients and Growing
Brazil is closing in on one million registered medical cannabis patients, with new regulations expanding access beginning in May 2026 — making it one of the largest medical cannabis markets in the world by patient count.
Mary Jane's Take: Brazil doesn't get a lot of attention in cannabis conversations, but it absolutely should. A country of 215 million people with a growing medical program and expanding regulations is a massive story. Worth keeping an eye on as the year unfolds.
That's your week — two from Canada, three from around the world. See you next Monday.
— Mary Jane
