Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated on election win by cannabis companies

Organigram Global has congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on the results of the 2025 federal election and urges policymakers to act swiftly in recognizing and elevating the cannabis sector as a critical pillar in Canada's economic growth strategy.

"Congratulations to Prime Minister Carney on his party's victory and to Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre for his party's strong showing, as well as all who put themselves forward as candidates," said Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram. "In this election, Canadians were asked to embrace a plan to build economic resilience against an increasingly unpredictable United States. Now it's time for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to unite behind a shared goal: unlocking the full potential of Canada's cannabis sector as a driver of innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic growth."

Organigram is calling on the new government to take steps to strengthen the sector by reforming the tax framework, eliminating interprovincial trade barriers by moving to a single national excise stamp by Canada Day 2025, and launching the development of a national cannabis export strategy.

Meanwhile, the Cannabis Council of Canada has also congratulated Mark Carney on his election victory.

"Canada likes to position itself as a global leader in legal cannabis – but since legalization in 2018, the federal government has failed this industry and the tens of thousands of hardworking Canadians it supports," said Paul McCarthy, President of the Cannabis Council of Canada. "With a new government in office, it's time for action. The cannabis industry deserves the same attention and support as any sector of our economy."

Canada's cannabis industry is a major driver of economic growth - since legalization it has contributed over $43 billion to the national GDP, with approximately $7.4 billion contributed in 2024 alone. To keep that momentum going, key policy changes are needed to ensure the industry can grow, compete and innovate.

As with Organigram, the Cannabis Council of Canada is also calling for reforms to the nations tax laws.

"The current excise taxation framework is completely misaligned with today's market realities. When it was introduced in 2018, cannabis sold for approximately $10 per gram. Today, producers are receiving as little as $3 per gram – yet the excise tax remains the greater of 10% of the product's value or $1 per gram. This has created a crushing and unintended tax burden that now is three times higher than what was originally envisioned. Instead of thriving, licensed producers are being pushed to the brink – many are unable to meet their tax obligations and are being forced out of the market, taking good jobs with them. If not fixed, Canada risks losing the very businesses it once championed through legalization," said the Council in a press release.

"The industry's challenges extend well beyond taxation. Since legalization, the previous government largely turned a blind eye to the persistent illicit cannabis market, allowing criminal actors to thrive at the expense of licensed businesses. This undermines the foundation of legalization and the promise of a safe, regulated cannabis industry. Illicit cannabis is estimated to make up between 25% and 40% of total sales in Canada – an unacceptable reality that demands urgent federal action. For the cannabis industry to thrive, the Government of Canada must act to eradicate the criminal forces from the industry."

The Cannabis Council of Canada also wishes for the government to do more to tackle the illegal cannabis market.

"Elements of a comprehensive strategy must include tackling illegal production, shuttering illegal storefronts and online sales, interdicting shipments of illegal product, and launching a public awareness and education campaign on the dangers of supporting the illicit market. Many consumers who purchase cannabis online do not realize they are purchasing illegal products, nor do they recognize how harmful these products can be. Not only do these transactions support other crimes, but they also pose a significant threat to public safety."

A recent Government of Canada laboratory test showed that 94% of illegal cannabis products contained pesticides. They also found traces of Escherichia Coli, indicating the presence of fecal contamination.

"Finally, in the spirit of building a more resilient Canada and removing interprovincial trade barriers, the Cannabis Council of Canada also calls on the Government of Canada to work with the provinces and introduce a single national excise stamp for cannabis. The cannabis excise stamp is a regulatory tool indicating tax compliance – which the legal industry supports."