What to tell clients when home insurer asks if property was previously a grow-op
March 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHome insurance clients who move to a new property should have the premises inspected and let the insurer know if there are signs it has been used to grow cannabis. “If a home was a former cannabis grow-op, likely pipes…
What’s smoking hot in cannabis insurance claims trends
February 24, 2021 by Jason ContantNearly two-and-a-half years after recreational marijuana was legalized in Canada, the country’s P&C insurance industry is starting to get a sense of the type of claims arising from the October 2018 legalization. The big issue right now is vaping, said…
What happens if a condo client’s marijuana use offends the neighbours?
January 28, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWith the legalization of recreational cannabis, what happens when there is a dispute between neighbours in a condominium and how does a condo corporation or board handle it? A lot of condominium corporations have passed rules around odours, says Armand…
The number of Ontarians who drive stoned (hint: lots)
October 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachHundreds of thousands of Ontarians have driven a vehicle while very high on cannabis, poll results released Wednesday by CAA South Central Ontario imply. One in five Ontario drivers surveyed, aged 19 through 70, are cannabis users, CAA SCO said…
If cannabis dies, how expensive could the claim get?
October 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf a hydroponics system fails and it’s tomatoes or peppers that are spoiled, that’s one thing. But what happens if it’s a legal cannabis facility? “The impact of cannabis on the [property and casualty] industry remains to be seen. We…
The state of insurers’ risk appetite one year after pot legalization
September 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBusiness clients in the cannabis industry are having a hard time finding some insurance coverages, A.M. Best Company Inc. warned in a report released Thursday. “Coverage available to canna-business owners remains in short supply,” A.M. Best said in its annual…
Poison reports up in wake of cannabis legalization
March 18, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSHALIFAX – Atlantic Canada’s largest children’s hospital is warning parents about the risks of edible weed after a flood of cannabis-related calls to its poison centre. The IWK Health Centre says it fielded three times as many cannabis calls to…
How recreational cannabis has created numerous challenges for insurers
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCannabis legalization is making things more complex for auto insurers and increasing risk for some commercial property clients, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggests in a recent report. About 25 insurers, most of whom are non-admitted, provide coverage for cannabis risks…
Has Intact noticed the impact of pot legalization on auto claims?
February 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachRecreational cannabis has been legal for nearly four months, but it’s too early for Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer to tell whether it’s having an impact on auto claims frequency. Senior managers with Intact Financial Corp. were asked Wednesday…
How your commercial clients are exposed to pot liability even if they don’t produce cannabis
January 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMarijuana poses a liability risk for commercial clients even if they are not in the cannabis business, an insurance lawyer suggests. Suppose your client operates a hotel where a party takes place. If someone smokes cannabis at that party, drives,…
One cannabis risk that seems under the radar
January 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWith the legalization of recreational marijuana, more needs to be done to warn people of the health risks, including psychosis, a speaker told insurance claims professionals Tuesday. “One of the things I am most disappointed about is that, in the…
Paid Recreational Cannabis Legalization: Are your HR policies ready?
January 9, 2019 David Smagata, DASDid you know, medical cannabis has been legal in Canada since 1999? Since then there have been numerous amendments to the laws, as well as a significant increase in Canadians who have purchased medical cannabis. According to Health Canada…