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In this educational episode of the Legacies Podcast, hosts Tom Ritchie and Wesley Bowles discuss the market restructuring in the Canadian cannabis sector, focusing on Indiva Limited filing for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). They analyze the business pressures affecting low-margin edibles processors, particularly regarding excise tax loads and packaging limits. They also review craft cultivation and quality standards in the Canadian market, examining the hand-trimming and long-curing methods utilized by Kevin Varner at Royal Harvest. In international policy developments, the hosts cover Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s executive order pardoning over 175,000 misdemeanor cannabis possession convictions, highlighting the role of organizations like the Last Prisoner Project in advocacy.
Later, they are joined by industry guest Amy Brown (widely known as Amy Anonymous), a representative for The Hash Corporation (HashCo). Amy provides a detailed history of Eastern Canada’s first medical dispensary, CALM (Cannabis As Living Medicine), in Toronto. She describes pre-legalization dispensary management and operations under early regulatory frameworks, as well as her experience in running doctor-education programs to explain cannabinoid mechanics and dosing. Additionally, Amy details the execution of the annual ‘Milk & Cookies and Cannabis for the Less Fortunate’ charitable drive and discusses current consumer demand for traditional solvent-free concentrates.
Tom Ritchie Says: What’s up, everyone? Welcome to another episode of Legacies! I’m your host, Tom Ritchie, joined as always by Wesley “The Wizard” Bowles. Wes, it is boiling outside today!
Wesley Bowles Says: It is disgusting down here by the lake in Burlington. The humidity makes it feel like you’re swimming through soup.
Tom Ritchie Says: It’s crazy because when we were talking to Kirk Tousaw out in Duncan, BC, he’s got that nice Mediterranean climate while we’re sweating through our shirts. Having lived in Texas, I prefer Fahrenheit for indoor thermostats because 68°F to 72°F gives you way more granularity than Celsius!
Wesley Bowles Says: Back when I managed technical support at Ecobee, the moment people got a smart thermostat on their phone, they started micro-managing temperatures every two seconds.
Tom Ritchie Says: In sports news: the Edmonton Oilers are putting on an absolute clinic in the Stanley Cup Finals! After being down 3-0 against the Florida Panthers, the Oilers obliterated them 8-1 in Game 4 and just became the first team in modern NHL history to win an away Game 5 in that scenario.
Wesley Bowles Says: That’s incredible. If they can tie up the series 3-3 back in Edmonton on Friday, Game 7 will be legendary.
Tom Ritchie Says: Connor McDavid is playing out of his mind, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time single-postseason assist record. Shoutout to Tyler at Organics in Alberta—I know he’s loving every second of this run!
Tom Ritchie Says: I have to share a special craft cannabis review from last night. At the Grow Up Conference a few weeks ago, Kevin Varner of Royal Harvest handed me a handful of personal buds from his Frosted Fruit Cake crop.
Tom Ritchie Says: I had it stored in an empty pouch without a humidity pack for three weeks. When I rolled it up last night, the flower was perfectly flushed and cured. It smelled straight up like sweet Froot Loops, burned with a pure white ash and thick resin ring, and delivered an instant, heavy couch-lock high. It is easily in my top three favorite flower drops ever—100% High Flier Approved!
Wesley Bowles Says: Kevin puts so much heart and soul into his craft. If you can find Royal Harvest’s Frosted Fruit Cake in retail or medical channels, do not pass it up.
Tom Ritchie Says: Turning to global news: Maryland Governor Wes Moore officially signed executive pardons clearing over 175,000 misdemeanor cannabis possession and paraphernalia convictions.
Wesley Bowles Says: That is massive progress. While dispensaries look like high-end Apple stores, thousands of people still carry criminal records from pre-legalization prohibition. Organizations like the Last Prisoner Project continue to do critical work in both the US and Canada to restore justice.
Tom Ritchie Says: In Canadian business headlines, London-based licensed processor Indiva—producers of Pearls gummies and Bhang chocolates—officially filed for creditor protection under the CCAA.
Wesley Bowles Says: Pearls and Bhang are consistently among the top-selling edible SKUs nationally, but pricing them at $4.95 with the current 10mg THC package cap leaves virtually zero margin after factoring in standard excise duties, packaging costs, and provincial markups.
Tom Ritchie Says: This is why Health Canada’s proposed edible package reforms are so urgent. Allowing multi-packs with higher total THC per container will significantly improve producer margins and reduce retail packaging waste.
Tom Ritchie Says: Mark your calendars for July 18th! Jazz Samra and VIP Media Group are hosting the 420 Affair in Etobicoke. It’s a classy, catered networking event for licensed retailers and brand partners, featuring the launch of Astro Boy.
Wesley Bowles Says: It’s free for licensed retail budtenders and store owners, so make sure to register early. Now, let’s welcome today’s incredible guest, Amy Anonymous!
Tom Ritchie Says: Welcome back! We are joined today by legendary Canadian cannabis advocate, educator, and ambassador for The Hash Corporation, Amy Brown, known everywhere as Amy Anonymous. Amy, welcome to Legacies!
Amy Anonymous Says: Thank you so much for having me, guys! I feel like an industry grandma at this point, but I’m thrilled to be here with you both.
Tom Ritchie Says: You’ve dedicated decades to medical cannabis and patient advocacy. Walk us through how a severe car accident transformed your relationship with the plant.
Amy Anonymous Says: In 2005, I was involved in a horrific car accident where I broke my neck, pelvis, and wrist, and lost my best friend who was sitting beside me. I was prescribed heavy pharmaceutical opioids for years during physical rehabilitation and developed a severe dependency. When I realized the pills were destroying my health, I turned entirely to cannabis to manage my chronic physical pain, trauma, and anxiety.
Amy Anonymous Says: As a young mother, I didn’t want to smoke joints openly at parks due to prohibition stigma, so I began infusing cannabutter and baking medical edibles. I started filming anonymous step-by-step baking tutorials where only my hands were visible—which is how the name ‘Amy Anonymous’ was born! Soon after, I began managing patient services at CALM (Cannabis As Living Medicine), Toronto’s pioneering compassion club founded in 1996.
Tom Ritchie Says: You experienced the intense prohibition era firsthand, including police raids on compassion clubs. What was that reality like?
Amy Anonymous Says: In 2010, undercover police raided CALM. They rushed into the building past medical patients on mobility scooters with handguns drawn, pointed firearms at us in the basement, and seized all medicine. We organized massive peaceful demonstrations outside Toronto Police Headquarters as the ‘Notorious Nine’ and reopened the clinic the very next day with legal representation.
Amy Anonymous Says: During the MMAR era, I teamed up with legacy grower Derek Pedro—who provided pure craft medicine to registered compassion patients for just $30 an ounce—and began baking custom medical edibles for low-income patients dealing with cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV. We also organized underground clinics to educate physicians like Dr. Iryna Price on the endocannabinoid system and proper medical authorization.
Tom Ritchie Says: As legalization rolled out in 2018, you helped transition compassion clubs like Canndoo into educational hubs with WeedMD while fighting against purely commercial ‘corporate cannabis’.
Amy Anonymous Says: We had to ensure medical patients on fixed incomes weren’t abandoned when recreational commercialization arrived. The entire legal framework today exists because legacy advocates, compassion clubs, and courageous constitutional lawyers like Kirk Tousaw and John Conroy KC spent decades fighting the federal government in court to establish the medical ‘gray area’. We also have to recognize veteran leaders like Chris Hillier who fought tirelessly for Veterans Affairs Canada coverage.
Tom Ritchie Says: You’ve also introduced countless celebrities and public figures to dabbing and solventless concentrates!
Amy Anonymous Says: In the early 2010s, I became known across Toronto for giving people their very first dabs using old-school titanium swings and glass rigs. I gave first dabs to artists like Waka Flocka Flame, Bishop Brigante, Peter Jackson, and Snoop Dogg’s crew while they were filming in Canada.
Amy Anonymous Says: That led to collaborating with the Trailer Park Boys on SwearNet, where I hosted High ******* and my own educational series traveling across Canada covering cultivars and extraction gear. I also had a regular segment on The Dean Blundell Show called ‘Pot News with Amy Anonymous’, where I baked infused grilled cheeses and medical treats in the studio.
Tom Ritchie Says: Today, you represent The Hash Corporation (HashCo). How did you connect with Chris and the team, and what makes their solventless lineup so authentic?
Amy Anonymous Says: Our entire team at HashCo comes directly from legacy roots. We don’t chase corporate marketing ploys or pump-and-dump gimmicks—everything is built around respecting traditional solventless hash making traditions. Our signature Gold Seal Hash is a two-tone, soft, pliable hash with rich chocolate and earthy notes where the inner core remains untouched by heat, preserving full terpene profiles without leaving greasy residue on your fingers.
Amy Anonymous Says: We also produce Blonde Hash, Vintage Cured Hash, and our Single Source GMO Kief. True kief should look like golden kinetic sand—never dull green from pulverized plant material and chlorophyll. HashCo products are available in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nunavut, BC via Herbal Dispatch, and across Canada through Mendo Medical.
Tom Ritchie Says: For 14 consecutive years, you’ve organized the annual ‘Milk & Cookies’ holiday drive for homeless and vulnerable communities in Toronto. How did that begin?
Amy Anonymous Says: In 2010, I saw a homeless gentleman freezing in ripped clothing near Queen and Sherbourne in downtown Toronto and gave him my jacket and warm gear. That inspired me to rally our cannabis community to collect winter essentials. Every winter, we distribute over 100 complete winter kits containing insulated winter coats, boots, thermal hats, gloves, scarves, toiletries, fresh milk and cookies, and bags of cannabis with rolling papers.
Amy Anonymous Says: It is 100% grassroots, unbranded, and community-driven. We begin collecting warm winter jackets and donations every October, and anyone who wants to donate or volunteer is welcome to reach out!
Wesley Bowles Says: Last week, Dillon Beck and Taylor Giovannini of Oceanic Releaf left two questions for you. Dillon asked: “Do you believe the binary marketing distinction between Indica and Sativa is still scientifically valid and meaningful for modern consumers?”
Amy Anonymous Says: Scientifically, Indica and Sativa describe the physical morphology of the plant—short and broad versus tall and wispy—not its pharmacological effects! The true entourage effect comes from specific terpene concentrations (like linalool, myrcene, and caryophyllene) and minor cannabinoids. Almost every modern cultivar is a poly-hybrid, so brands should educate consumers on terpene profiles and lineage rather than arbitrary labels.
Tom Ritchie Says: Taylor also asked: “What is your concrete solution for dealing with the illicit market?”
Amy Anonymous Says: My solution is: let it be! The legacy market built the foundation and culture of this entire industry. Licensed producers should focus on perfecting their quality, lowering prices, and respecting legacy heritage rather than blaming the illicit market for their own business shortcomings.
Tom Ritchie Says: What is your anonymous question for next week’s incoming guest?
Amy Anonymous Says: “How do you feel legalization has truly affected cannabis consumption—has it improved overall consumer well-being, decreased stigma, or simply transitioned existing consumers into retail stores?”
Tom Ritchie Says: Amy, thank you for everything you’ve done for Canadian cannabis culture, patient rights, and the legacy community! Make sure to look out for HashCo products across Canada, donate to the Milk & Cookies winter drive this fall, subscribe on YouTube and Spotify, and we’ll see you next week on Legacies. Peace!
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Brand Ambassador & Legacy Advocate
Amy Brown (known publicly as Amy Anonymous) is a Canadian cannabis industry advocate, legacy-to-legal entrepreneur, and representative for The Hash Corporation (HashCo).
View Guest Profile ↗Cannabis Processing & White-Label Services
The Hash Corporation (HashCo) is a Canadian cannabis processing company established in 2019. The company specializes in producing traditional, solvent-free...
Learn More About Partner ↗The Hash Corporation (Hashco) focuses on the production of solvent-free, traditional hashish and cannabis resin products, collaborating with licensed micro-cultivators and standard cultivators in Canada.
CALM (Cannabis As Living Medicine) was Eastern Canada's first medical cannabis dispensary in Toronto, pioneering patient advocacy, medical access, and doctor-education clinics in the pre-legalization era.
Indiva Limited filed for creditor protection under the CCAA in 2024 to restructure its operations due to severe pricing, margin, and excise tax pressures in the Canadian adult-use edibles market.
