Pubdate: Wed, 23 Apr 2014
Source: Nanton News (CN AB)
Page: 5
Copyright: 2014 Nanton News
Contact: http://www.nantonnews.com/letters
Website: http://www.nantonnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3200
Author: Sheena Read

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRODUCTION FACILITY PLANS OUTLINED DURING STAVELY 
PUBLIC HEARING

Stavely Town council passed a motion to amend a land-use bylaw to
include medical marijuana production facilities in the industrial use.

The motion was passed unanimously at the Stavely Town council meeting
April 14, following a public hearing. Independent businessman Joel
Manorek outlined the project that he plans to build in Stavely.

The proposed medical marijuana production facility will be a large
scale, hydroponic facility that would produce medical-grade marijuana
for distribution to approved users.

When the facility is operating at full capacity, it would employ 20-25
people, mostly for horticultural positions that would be trainable
positions.

The facility would follow the guidelines set by Health Canada and the
new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR), Manorek told
Stavely Town council, administration, and six people in attendance for
the public hearing.

Manorek told the crowd Stavely was chosen as a location for the
facility because of the cost of land, and because a new building could
be developed, rather than retrofitting an existing building. This
would allow more control of the facility, he said.

Increased traffic and noise would not be a concern for the community,
Manorek said, because these types of facilities are generally quiet
operations.

Health Canada regulations require round-the-clock security, along with
other strict security standards.

Manorek said that security is a priority for him. He grew up in a
small community, and said he wouldn't attempt such a business if he
wasn't confident in the safety of it.

He emphasized that the facility would not be growing a recreational
product.

Effluent would not be a concern in the development of the facility,
because Health Canada regulations require specific air filtration
systems to minimize this.

Manorek was questioned about the amount of water the facility would
require, and he said that it wouldn't use a large amount of water
because a substantial amount of water can be reused in the facility.

Council confirmed the Town's water system could support the increased
usage, and that the infrastructure in place was adequate and would be
monitored closely.

Because of the nature of the market, in the first phases of
production, both the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)
strains of marijuana would be grown, Manorek said, but the long-range
production goal is to produce only CBD strains.

THC relieves pain, but it doesn't bind to the same receptors in the
brain as opioids such as heroine, morphine and other drugs derived
from the poppy plant, says the Live Science website at
www.livescience.com.

"THC stimulates cells in the brain to release dopamine, creating
euphoria. It also interferes with how information is processed in the
hippocampus, which is part of the brain responsible for forming new
memories.

"THC can induce hallucinations, change thinking and cause delusions.
These effects of marijuana make it a popular drug, but they also
concern mental health advocates.

"THC can trigger a relapse in schizophrenic symptoms, according to the
National Institute on Drug Abuse," states the Live Science website.

According to Wikipedia, CBD has anti-psychotic effects and may
counteract the potential psychotomimetic effects of THC on individuals
with latent schizophrenia. Some reports show it to be an alternative
treatment for schizophrenia that is safe and well-tolerated.

CBD has been recommended for cancer pain but the adverse effects may
make them a less than ideal treatment.

Two cannabinoid-based medicines have been approved as a backup remedy
for nausea associated with chemotherapy, Wikipedia states. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D