Pubdate: Tue, 17 Oct 2000
Source: Truro Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://truro.canada.com/
Page: News 1 / Front
Bookmark: medicinal cannabis - Canada http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm

MARIJUANA CONTRACT COULD BE LUCRATIVE

Alberta Firm Looking At Bunker Sites For Government Contract To Grow 
Medicinal Pot

TRURO - Marijuana is about all Loren Wiberg has on his mind these days, 
although he's quick to point out he doesn't drink or do drugs.

The lone shareholder of the Alberta-based Zyx Corp. (pronounced zikes) is 
becoming well-known in central Nova Scotia for his idea to turn underground 
nuclear fallout shelters, like one in Debert, into medicinal marijuana 
growing, processing and research facilities.

Wiberg's preferred location is Penhold, Alta., located only minutes from 
his home. But that shelter is scheduled for demolition unless he can 
convince government officials in his area to keep it intact.

"Debert is our number one site until we can get the government to come 
through on Penhold...we're confident we'll be able to change their mind," 
he said during a telephone interview Monday.

Meanwhile, Ed Koenig, executive director of the Colchester Park Development 
Society which operates the Debert `Diefenbunker' as it is called, said last 
week his group was approached by the company for basic information about 
the shelter, but he hasn't seen any firm proposals or business plans on 
which to comment.

Wiberg said the $5-million contract to grow marijuana for Health Canada 
over five years will mean jobs for at least 10 to 12 people, including 
former RCMP officers, he intends to hire for the handling of security.

The businessman isn't giving up hope for the Alberta site, but has also 
sent out feelers to Debert and to the Carp bunker near Ottawa where he is 
optimistic owners-operators of those facilities will support his project 
because of the positive economic impact.

Debert appeals to Wiberg because the bunker's operator was one of the first 
organizations he contacted that seemed to grasp his concept, and see how 
ideal such facilities are for his purposes.

Koenig said his group isn't interested in renting the bunker for the sake 
of the money, but it is interested in jobs and economic spinoffs.

Wiberg said the bunkers are ideal because of their sizes (in Debert 66,000 
square feet); the pre-existing security; and abundance of similar rooms for 
controlled growing research.

Security is a priority for the project. The federal government contract 
will be for 1,865 kilograms of marijuana over the five years, costing $2.89 
per gram. The street value of the drugs could be $10 per gram, making it an 
attractive product to criminals.

"We'll be able to account (in inventory) to a fraction of a gram," he said, 
referring to the quality controls he is proposing.

As part of its research, the firm wants to take 450 species of marijuana 
and grow them using hydroponics but under different conditions. The 
ultimate goal is to create the best plants to assist medicinal users of 
marijuana. Such research could be sold world-wide.

Wiberg submitted his proposal to the federal government in June. He said he 
believes he is a front runner among four or five other companies to win the 
contract, which is supposed to be awarded in December.

"We have a well-rounded proposal...we're not just growers."

If he receives the contract, Wiberg will move his operation immediately to 
be near the selected bunker, with start-up set for January.

A series of bunkers were built in remote areas across Canada in the 1960s 
and all, except for the ones in Debert and Carp, have been turned over to 
private companies or been sealed.

The Debert bunker is in an industrial park and was offered for lease a few 
years ago, complete with its cafeteria and hospital facilities. But the 
structure, which was built to withstand earthquakes, tidal waves and 
nuclear fall-out, wasn't snapped up.

Urban legend in Alberta says the Penhold bunker fell back into government 
hands after it was rumoured a private buyer of the property was considering 
reselling it to a notorious motorcycle gang.
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