Here are some of the top news stories that took place in Nova Scotia during the second half of the year.

Halifax's scramble to get ready for legal cannabis was far more haphazard than previously known -- with documents indicating that the roll out was plagued by uncertainty.

The Halifax Regional Municipality introduced the zones as a measure to deal with the legalization of cannabis, but the roll out of the policy has been anything but easygoing.

Some business owners are raising concerns about why certain locations were chosen as designated public smokers areas.

David Hendsbee, councillor for Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore, told Global News on Monday that he decided to move the marker at the Porter Lake Bus Terminal after receiving complaints from constituents. 

As of 4 p.m. Monday, only nine designated smoking areas show up on Halifax Regional Municipality's online map.

Halifax began to add to its map of designated smoking areas on Sunday, a little more than 12 hours before new restrictions on smoking and vaping go into effect.

A map showing designated areas where smoking and vaping is allowed isn't yet online while the new bylaw amendments come into effect on Monday.

On Tuesday, council will discuss hospice funding, overdose prevention sites and the problems facing a municipal lobbyist registry.

A delayed examination of the Event East business plan and $1.3-million tender to replace roof of the Burnside Transit Centre highlight this week's council meeting.