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The Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec will hold a public consultation regarding the AQIC’s application for accreditation on October 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.

As part of Health Canada’s consultation on potential amendments to the Industrial Hemp Regulations, AQIC submitted a brief proposing an ambitious, coherent and risk-based modernization of the framework governing industrial hemp.

The Government of Nova Scotia has just announced the introduction of new offences and increased fines to discourage illegal cannabis sales and better support the legal market. As Scott Armstrong, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, explains: “These changes reaffirm that buying and selling cannabis outside the legal market is illegal. They will help protect youth while supporting the safe, legal market for adults who choose to consume cannabis.”

A recent Australian study, published in *Pain Research and Management* and reported by *Science & Vie*, offers a new line of thought: a cannabis oil containing a balanced ratio of THC and CBD reportedly enabled 70% of the patients in the treatment group to experience at least a 30% reduction in their pain.

The SQDC reported net income of $132.4 million for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, representing a 12.1% increase over the previous year. Total sales reached $809.5 million, up 9.2%. These results translate into a contribution of $331.3 million to the Quebec government’s coffers, bringing the total amount remitted to governments since 2018 to over $2 billion.

Pre-rolled joints are projected to surpass loose flower by 2025 to become the largest category of cannabis products in Canada, now accounting for 34% of the market. This trend demonstrates that consumers are increasingly turning to formats that are convenient, accessible, and easy to carry.

Our member and board director, Philippe Depault of Québec Craft Cannabis, gave an interview to Radio-Canada in which he spoke about the major challenges that cannabis businesses in Canada still face. As he points out: “On the street, within families, people have come to understand that it’s now legal. The biggest stigma really lies on the business side.”

For one day, women from the worlds of agriculture, herbalism, hemp, cannabis, and the living world came together to exchange ideas, learn, build connections, and shine a light on their journeys.

Health Canada is launching a consultation on amendments to the Industrial Hemp Regulations (IHR), with the aim of reducing regulatory requirements and the administrative burden on the sector. Businesses have until June 30 to respond to the survey.

Bringing together more than 130 leaders, the AQIC’s annual general meeting highlighted the economic importance of hemp and cannabis for Quebec, the many initiatives currently underway to structure the industry, and the strategic potential of hemp for regional development and the ecological transition. 

In an industry where compliance, safety, and consistency are essential, companies in the hemp and cannabis sector need to be able to rely on trustworthy partners who can support them at every stage of their growth. With this in mind, we’re pleased to introduce STERIS, a member of AQIC, through an interview with David Terranova, Senior Director of Plant Operations.

L’administration américaine a annoncé la reclassification du cannabis médical vers une catégorie fédérale moins restrictive, le faisant passer de l’annexe I — aux côtés de substances comme l’héroïne — à l’annexe III, où l’on retrouve notamment des médicaments comme le Tylenol avec codéine. Cette décision marque un tournant majeur pour l’industrie. Elle ouvre la voie à un allègement fiscal pour les producteurs autorisés et pourrait également favoriser l’avancement de la recherche.