Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2008
Source: Reminder, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2008 Reminder Online
Contact:  http://www.ffdailyreminder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3827
Author: Jonathon Naylor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

COMPETITION FOR MARIJUANA CONTRACT

Back in 2001, the year medicinal pot was first grown in Flin Flon, a 
local novelty shop began selling t-shirts proclaiming the community 
as the "Marijuana Capital of Canada."

Seven years later, there are concerns that title could wind up elsewhere.

Prairie Plant Systems, which currently grows the marijuana for Health 
Canada in a vacant portion of the Trout Lake mine, is facing serious 
competition from at least one organic grower from Vancouver Island.

Island Harvest, a company in the Cowichan Valley that already legally 
supplies medicinal pot to a few authorized users, has reportedly put 
in a bid for the federal contract, due to be renewed.

"We want this contract because we know that we can supply a 
good-quality organic product to patients," Nash told the Canadian Press.

Nash told CP he wants to grow "strain-specific plants" tailored to 
patients with different medical conditions, adding that the Flin Flon 
product "is just one strain" that may not work well for everyone.

With good security a must for securing the contract, Nash's company 
would use a metal warehouse surrounded by fencing, barbed wire, 
security cameras and guards, according to CP.

Security isn't an issue for Prairie Plants. With its state-of-the-art 
subterranean location, the company hopes to continue yielding pot 
beneath Flin Flon after its current contract expires at the end of the month.

Company president Brad Zettl told CP the tendering process is about 
meeting specific requirements laid down by the federal government, 
not offering philosophical views on how the product should be produced.

Zettl credits his underground location as the reason his company beat 
out nearly 200 competitors for the initial marijuana bid in late 2000.

The primary benefit of the site, he has said, is that it eliminates 
the risk of modified plants spreading into the agricultural system. 
The environment is also fully controlled and highly secure.

Perhaps one of Zettl's biggest challenges is public perception. His 
company has endured years of media reports portraying the Flin Flon 
marijuana as too weak or otherwise unsuitable.

Zettl has called the reports unfair, saying reporters have spoken to 
a minority of dissatisfied patients without giving coverage to the 
vast majority who are pleased.

He has said smaller medicinal growers on the West Coast "are really 
feeling threatened" by the cheaper, government-approved marijuana.

"It's about protecting their turf," Zettl told a crowd in Creighton 
last year. "It's a marketing thing, so they can make some wild claims 
and in the meantime, Health Canada does not respond because they 
don't think it's worth responding to. And then what happens? The 
media report goes out and then everybody sees only a lie or the 
posture or the allegation. They don't see the outcome or the other side."

Companies were given until September 29 to submit bids through Public 
Works and Government Services Canada. A spokesperson for that 
department was not available for further details.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom