Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2014
Source: Observer, The (CN ON)
Section: Front Page
Copyright: 2014, Sarnia Observer
Contact: http://www.theobserver.ca/letters
Website: http://www.theobserver.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1676
Author: Paul Morden

GRASS LOOKS GREENER ELSEWHERE FOR LICENSED POT GROWERS

Companies seeking federal licences to grow medical marijuana are
active in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex, but Sarnia-Lambton doesn't
appear to be in their sights.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, who also chairs the Sarnia-Lambton Economic
Partnership, said the idea of licensed grow operations has been
mentioned in the community in recent months, but no firm proposals
have surfaced.

"It has been more suggestions, I would say, than real interest," he
said.

A proposal for a $12-million medical marijuana growing facility in the
Windsor-area community of Lakeshore was announced recently, and
several are also proposed for Chatham-Kent.

A Health Canada official said it has received more than 380
applications for licences, but only three have been approved and
posted on the federal agency's website, so far.

They include two in the Toronto area, plus one in Saskatchewan by the
same company that has been growing medical marijuana for Health Canada
own distribution system. That soon-to-end federal system supplies
roughly 4,000 of the approximately 37,000 people in the country
authorized to possess marijuana for medical purposes.

The rest rely on a system that has allowed them to grow their own, or
have someone to grow it for them.

The federal government announced in 2013 it was changing the rules for
accessing medical marijuana, replacing personal-use and
designated-person growing licences, along with its own distribution
system, with a system of licensed producers as of April 1.

Bradley said it isn't clear what potential exists for medical
marijuana investment in a community like Sarnia-Lambton.

"What I've been struggling to get my mind around," he said, "is how
many of these places can be built?

"Is there going to be 10, is there going to be 20? I just don't
know."

The Health Canada official said there's no cap on the number of
licences that will be approved by the agency. "It's what the market
will sustain."

Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope said there are four or five proposals
for licensed grow operations in his community, adding it is potential
investment officials there welcome.

"It is a business opportunity, especially here in Chatham-Kent,"
because of how "agriculturally diversified" the community is, Hope
said.

Hope added he doesn't believe medical marijuana is a controversial
issue, today.

"From an enforcement point of view, it's much better if it's
institutionalized," he said.

Bradley said he also believes society's values on the subject are
changing.

"I think there's an understanding that marijuana for medicinal
purposes is of assistance to people," he said.

He added that the growing of earlier varieties of the plant for
industrial uses, such as making rope, is part of Lambton County's heritage.

"If you look back in our history, 80 or 100 years ago, we were a huge
hemp producer," Bradley said.  
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