Pubdate: Tue, 25 Mar 2014
Source: Metro (Calgary, CN AB)
Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Calgary
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4471
Author: Jeremy Nolais
Page: 3

COMMERCIAL POT GROW REPS UNFAZED BY INJUNCTION

Alberta entrepreneurs say their product will be higher
quality

New hope has blossomed for home marijuana growers after a federal
judge's ruling, but Alberta entrepreneurs believe there will still be
a budding commercial market for the drug regardless of the court's
ultimate verdict.

A group of medicinal marijuana patients were granted an injunction
Friday that will allow them to continue growing plants in their abodes
pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge of federal reforms
set to take effect April 1.

The law changes, being steered by Health Canada, would see all
marijuana supply for licensed users turned over to commercial
enterprises, like the ones Terry Booth and his peers with Releaf Inc.
are busy setting up.

Booth said in an interview Monday a 50,000-square-foot grow site north
of Cremona is 50 per cent built and could be open for business as
early as this summer.

Booth conceded that if current home growers were ultimately granted
permission to continue producing marijuana for themselves and fellow
users - as they do now - it could cut into his customer pool. He
maintained, however, the commercial market will be subject to far
stricter quality testing.

"Everyone has the right to be heard in this country - thank God,"
Booth said of the constitutional challenge. "I think a number of
licensed producers that are available right now don't have the product
or the number of strains available," he said.

"But, in six months from now, when there are a number of producers up
and running and a number of strains available, I think it will be
better than growing your own."

There are currently about 40,000 licensed marijuana users in Canada,
up from 100 or less in 2001. Health Canada has projected that number
could grow to 400,000 over time, a number that has lit the fire under
some entrepreneurs to get into the marketplace early.

Others, like Stan Swiatek with Sundial Growers, believes the quality
of research into the effects of the drug will flourish in a system
where organizations like his can readily produce a substantial supply.
Swiatek hopes to run two commercial grows on plots of land west of
Airdrie, but says he's run into opposition from some neighbours and
officials with Rocky View County.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt