Pubdate: Wed, 01 May 2002
Source: Westender (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 WestEnder
Contact:  http://www.westender.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1243
Author: Diana Bennett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MERLIN PROJECT'S GANJA GROWERS GET OFFICIAL GO-AHEAD

They're on the grow, and have been for more than a month now.

But last Friday marked the official launch of the Merlin Project's first 
licensed marijuana grow operations. Their locations, no surprise, are 
revealed on a need-to-know basis.

Merlin Project founders Michael Maniotis and Yoram Adler have been battling 
Health Canada for licences to use and grow the weeds-cannibus sativa and 
cannibus indica-for several years. The two opened a marijuana tea room that 
was soon closed due to building code violations, and launched an 
inter-provincial bus tour beset by transmission woes.

This time, Maniotis thinks their luck has turned for the better.

"It's very exciting," Maniotis said of the legitimate Health Canada 
licensed operations. "It's the fulfillment of all my personal wishes, at 
least." Maniotis and Adler plan to continue informing the public of their 
right to access medical marijuana, primarily through their website at 
www.merlinproject.com, which goes live this Saturday (May 4), and, for 
those who are interested in watching the goings-on in the grow operations, 
will feature 24-hour surveillance of the five licensed sites.

"There'll also be tips on how to grow marijuana," Maniotis said.

The cannabis grown at the sites will be dried and transferred to groups 
such as the Cancer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Society 
for People with Aids.

"We can't sell to individuals so people with permits to use medical 
marijuana will have to get it from their society," Maniotis said.

He and Adler are also celebrating the announcement that one million 
cannabis seeds will be distributed to licensed growers on behalf of the Red 
Leaf Society in September.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager