Cannabis News
Grow Up Vancouver sets the tone for 2026 cannabis
The start of this cannabis year was marked by the latest edition of the Grow Up conference in Vancouver, which seems to be setting the tone for what to expect from the industry in 2026. Exhibitors and attendees reported that the industry is becoming more measured, operationally focused, and increasingly aware that long-term viability depends on execution rather than wishful thinking. “Grow Up was a very positive experience, with direct and practical conversations with growers and partners. The event created a space for meaningful discussions, focused on current market realities and field-level challenges,” said the BioFloral team.
For Cannatrol, the show highlighted how it has become a post-harvest strategy. “In Grow Up 2026, Cannatrol brings technology that works where few solutions exist, setting new standards for the industry,” said David Sandelman, chief technology officer and company founder. Appearing at the event, along with new Canadian distribution partner Quality Horticulture, Cannatrol used the conference to highlight a once-left-behind process as an increasingly crucial part of every cannabis operation. “We’re here to show conference attendees why your post-harvest system matters even more than the growing process.”
Since cannabis was regulated, many growers have focused more on maximizing fat space, relegating drying, curing and all that to a small part of their operation. So it seems that the industry is indicating that the sector is maturing, and the year 2026 is crucial to show this. “Cannatrol sees 2026 as a new phase of maturity for the cannabis industry driven by potential rescheduling and more disciplined business practices focused on operational efficiency.” In such an environment, he added, “quality and consistency are no longer differentiators, but critical drivers for producing top-notch craftsmanship and achieving successful business growth.”
The very tone of the event was in favor of this assessment. David described Grow Up as “a very positive experience, with direct and practical conversations with growers and partners”, noting that “the event created a space for meaningful discussions based on market realities and field-level challenges”. He also saw a clear change in behavior among producers. The same sentiment is echoed by the BioFloral team, who noticed that attendees were more interested in practical solutions than the latest shiny toy. “We’ve noticed an increasing focus on efficiency, consistency and long-term profitability. Growers seem less driven by novelty and more interested in stable, proven solutions.” 
Exhibitors for the first time, such as the Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association, are joining the world of cannabis with a new benchmark in organic cannabis cultivation. “We really enjoyed being part of the Grow Up show this year. We received a great response from the attendees, with many expressing an interest in learning more about the organic certification of cannabis. As this was our first time attending the conference, we were very pleased with the diversity of industry players in attendance. It was particularly interesting to learn more about the research that some growers are doing into the medical use of cannabis.
Similar pragmatism emerged from brand-focused exhibitors. The Pure Sunfarms and Super Toast teams reported that Grow Up Vancouver provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen retail relationships and strengthen their presence in British Columbia. “Grow Up Vancouver was a strong opportunity to share more about our evolving portfolio, strengthen connections with retail partners and their teams, and highlight our deep connection to British Columbia as our home market,” the company said, adding that “the quality of the conversations was high and it was gratifying to see such thoughtful engagement across the industry.”
From the point of view of the market, retailers appear to be more and more selective. “One of the most noticeable changes is the continued push behind convenience-driven categories,” the team noted. “There is a strong demand for products that are easy to understand, easy to use and fit seamlessly into consumer routines, especially formats that prioritize consistency, quality and accessibility.”
For other attendees, Grow Up Vancouver also reinforced a sense of confidence in an industry that continues to grow despite many obstacles. “Grow Up Vancouver was the perfect start to 2026,” says Atiyyah Ferouz, founder of AgCann Consultancy. “There was a renewed energy and positivity that was palpable throughout the event.” This optimism was linked to a growing strategic awareness, especially regarding market diversification. “A big trend, which has been increasing year by year, is the focus on the export market,” continued Atiyyah. “We’ve spoken to a number of producers who have included export readiness as a key part of their 2026 strategy. In many of the conversations we had, producers were still keen to supply the Canadian market, but wanted to make sure their sales weren’t completely dependent on a single market.”
This vision is shaped by an industry that, despite pressure, is not standing still.” The Canadian cannabis industry is in a strong position today,” stated the GrowerIQ team. “Producers continue to benefit from expanded international legalization, global underproduction and the gradual reduction of the gray market. The continued maturation of Canadian and international supply chains has opened up access to markets that were previously difficult for medium and smaller producers to tap into.”
At the same time, challenges remain. “Regulatory complexity, taxation and access to capital continue to impact the industry,” they continued. “Competition from low-cost jurisdictions and domestic producers unloading excess product at discounted prices is keeping prices under pressure. Individual producers continue to face business-specific challenges, while the rapid pace of change in the sector increases these pressures. Those who cannot adapt quickly risk being left behind in this fast-moving market.”
Despite the headwinds, there is cautious confidence. “2026 has the potential to be another challenging but successful year for the Canadian cannabis industry,” they concluded. The seed itself seems to be evolving along with the sector. “Grow Up continues to raise the bar every year,” said the GrowerIQ team. “Grow Up has truly established itself as Canada’s premier cannabis event.”
Overall, the Grow Up conference in Vancouver showed an industry that is recalibrating itself around consistency, efficiency and strategic resilience. Long (?) gone are the days of big announcements and earth-shattering innovations. The sector is preparing for its next tougher phase.
For more information:
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Hoogendoorn has received the Bronze Medal in the first evaluation by EcoVadis. This recognition places the company in the top 35% of all organizations worldwide assessed for sustainability. Among companies evaluated in the last 12 months, Hoogendoorn ranks in the top 18%.
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A Florida bill to significantly reduce the fee for military veterans to obtain medical marijuana registry identification cards has cleared another legislative committee.
The House Health and Human Services Committee approved the measure by Reps. Susan Valdés (R) and Michelle Salzman (R) on a 22-0 vote Tuesday. This comes after the legislation cleared two other House panels and Senate legislation to reduce the cost of cannabis for veterans is also advancing.
If enacted into law, HB 887 would require honorably discharged veterans to pay $15 to obtain a medical cannabis card, down from the current $75 rate for most eligible patients.
The $15 charge will also apply to replacement cards as well as annual renewals.
To receive the reduced fee, veterans must provide the state Department of Health (DOH) with a copy of the discharge form, a US Veterans Affairs (VA) identification card, or a Florida driver’s license with a “veteran designation.”
The law will come into effect on July 1 of this year.
“Medical cannabis has shown promise in alleviating symptoms commonly experienced by our military veterans, such as managing chronic pain, easing the effects of PTSD, improving sleep, and most importantly reducing opioid addiction,” Valdés said before the final committee vote. “This bill will go a long way in reducing the financial barriers veterans face when getting a card.”
According to A invoice study, the reform “would have an unspecified negative fiscal impact on the DOH.” While there are currently 931,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Florida, “the number of veterans with an active medical marijuana use registry identification card is unknown” and thus “the amount of revenue reduction is unknown.”
That said, the analysis says the policy change “would have a positive fiscal impact on veterans who will see a $60 reduction in the cost of ID cards under the bill.”
Earlier this month, the Senate Health Policy Committee advanced a bill by Sen. Alexis Calatayud that would reduce medical cannabis registration fees for veterans to $15 and implement other reforms to expand access to medical marijuana.
Under that amended proposal, a physician would recommend a 70-day supply limit for cannabis, or a 35-day supply limit for marijuana smoking products for 10 supply limits. Under current law, they can recommend up to three 70-day supply limits for non-smoking cannabis and six 35-day supply limits for smoking marijuana.
The SB 1032 bill would also require doctors to evaluate patients to qualify for medical marijuana every 52 weeks, rather than the legal requirement of evaluations every 30 weeks.
Here’s an overview of some of the pending Florida marijuana bills:
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Meanwhile, a The Florida campaign seeking to put marijuana legalization on the ballot has another complication As the status of the 2026 signature drive remains in dispute. According to a new electoral law, the hundreds of thousands of activist signatures already collected this year will not be carried over to the 2028 cycle.
Smart & Safe Florida recently shipped An appeal of the annulment of about 71,000 signatures to the state Supreme Court For the 2026 order, for example.
The courts again agreed to close a separate case involving legal review of the ballot measure From Smart & Safe Florida, he has now been given another case challenging the cancellation of the earlier mass signature.
In December, advocates filed a lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Court alleging that Secretary of State Cord Byrd (R) illegally ordered county election officials to invalidate about 42,000 signatures from so-called “inactive” voters and about 29,000 signatures collected by out-of-state petitioners.
That lawsuit came after another court upheld an earlier decision to strike with about 200,000 signatures, which the state said were invalid because the petition did not include the full text of the proposed initiative. The campaign challenged the legal interpretation, but declined to appeal the decision, confident it had collected enough signatures to settle the dispute.
Smart & Safe Florida has generally disputed the secretary of state’s signature count, confirming that the campaign has submitted more than 1.4 million petitions, hundreds of thousands more than the 880,062 valid signatures needed before voters.
In return for the signature, Florida’s attorney general and several businesses and anti-marijuana groups has asked the state Supreme Court to block the cannabis initiativecalling it a “fatal flaw” and unconstitutional.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Legal Foundation and Judge Frank Shepherd filed another joint document, stating that the parties “remain particularly vigilant about the abuse of the citizen initiative process by out-of-state interests who believe that Florida is another market and that the citizen initiative process is another means of exploiting that market.”
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has consistently opposed attempts to move forward with adult-use legalization, as well his polls have shown a majority in favor of reform.
The campaign fought several legal battles this cycle to get its initiative on the ballot.
Last month, the state attorney general’s office opened dozens of criminal investigations and subpoenaed Smart & Safe Florida and its contractors and subcontractors for records over alleged fraud related to the application effort.
Activists said in November they had collected more than a million signatures to put the cannabis measure on the ballot, but still He has sued state Supreme Court officials for delaying the certification processarguing that the review of ballot content and summary should have gone ahead several months ago when the initial signature threshold was reached. The state then he agreed to proceed with the processing.
The governor campaigned hard against an earlier version of the legalization proposal, which received a majority of voters in 2024, but was not enough to meet the 60 percent threshold needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Former Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) unsuccessfully challenged the earlier initiative in court.
Last March, however, two Democratic members of Congress representing Florida asked the federal government to investigate What they described as an “illegal diversion” of millions in state Medicaid funds Through a group with ties to DeSantis. The money was used to fight a popular ballot initiative the governor vehemently opposed that would have legalized adult marijuana.
The lawmakers’ letter alleges that a $10 million donation from a state legislative settlement was misappropriated to the Hope Florida Foundation, which later sent the money to two political nonprofits, and sent $8.5 million to the anti-Amendment 3 campaign.
The governor said last February The latest measure to legalize marijuana is in “big trouble” with the state Supreme Courthe announced that it would be blocked from going before the voters this year.
the last the initiative It was introduced to the secretary of state just months after initial versions failed in the November 2024 election, despite President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Smart & Safe Florida expressed optimism that the revised version would be successful in 2026. The campaign — which received tens of millions of dollars from cannabis industry players in the last election cycle, notably from multi-state operator Trulieve — introduced some changes in the new version that address criticisms of the 2024 push by opponents.
For example, it now specifically states that “smoking and vaping marijuana in any public place is prohibited.” Another section states that the legislature should adopt rules governing the “time, place and public manner of consuming marijuana.”
In 2023, the governor accurately predicted this The campaign’s 2024 cannabis measure would survive a legal challenge From the state attorney general. It’s not entirely clear why he thinks this version will face a different outcome.
Although there is uncertainty about how the state’s highest court will navigate the measure, a poll released last February It showed the overwhelming support of a bipartisan voter for reform— 67% of Florida voters support legalization, including 82% of Democrats, 66% of independents and 55% of Republicans.
Max Jackson’s photo.
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A 20-acre cannabis farm near Upper Lake went up for sale last week for $599,000, according to a recent Zillow listing. The property has a 10-year occupancy permit and 43,560 square feet of permitted cultivation, for a total of 78,550 square feet of approved growing area, according to the listing. The infrastructure described in the publication includes a well, a security gate, water storage tanks, parking and a 30 x 75 meter barn.
The photos show growing houses and outdoor plants. Lux Places real estate agent Forest Nikola Elie promoted the listing on social media.
“Grow Big. Live Close. Win Fast!”, he wrote in a post on a local Facebook group. “Whether you are expanding your operation or looking for an income producing private home, this property is move in ready.”
Read more at The Mendocino Voice
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