Canadians spent $55 million on legal cannabis in December 2018, up 3.7 per cent compared to the $53 million spent in November, according to a Statistics Canada retail report released Friday morning. (Bloomberg)

Talking point: While sales have increased sporadically since legalization, analysts estimate that the market could eventually bring in $5 billion a year, now that producers have a handle on supply volumes—and as Ontario, the country’s biggest market for cannabis consumption, moves to open licensed stores on April 1. Also on Friday, Canopy Growth announced a partnership with Alimentation Couche-Tard to open one of the province’s first legal cannabis stores, alongside one of the 25 cannabis lottery winners. The deal combines Canada’s largest legal pot grower and convenience store operator. While licensed procedures are limited to 10 per cent ownership in a retail store, Canopy’s founder, Bruce Linton suggested his company and Couche-Tard will expand their model globally if the partnership is successful.