Pubdate: Fri, 15 Aug 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: 9

CUKES ARE OUT, WEED IS IN - BUT IS GROW-OP SAFE?

Neighbours Say They Fear Operation Will Attract Unsavoury 'Segment' 
Of Population

Stealing from Stan Swiatek's marijuana stash is probably a task best 
left to Tom Cruise.

"It's Mission Impossible, pretty much," remarked the founder and 
president of Sundial Growers on the tail end of a 90-minute tour 
provided to Metro of his 30,000-square foot covered greenhouse, 
located just northwest of Airdrie.

It's on this land where he hopes to "set the stage" for what some 
believe will be a lucrative commercial marijuana market. Health 
Canada has moved away from personal, home-based grow-operations, but 
believes the need for medicinal marijuana will only bloom like a 
well-cared for pot plant in the years to come.

The federal agency has approved 13 sites to date, including 
Swiatek's, to grow pot plants commercially.

But Sundial has faced stiff pushback from neighbours and Rocky View 
county officials. Safety is a primary concern.

"What's to stop people from all of the sudden showing up and breaking 
into my property because they think I'm the grower?" questioned Naomi 
Kerr, who can see Swiatek's greenhouse from the horse arena on her 
adjacent property.

"He has no perimeter fencing.... The problem is, it's going to 
attract a segment of society, I think, that I'm really not thrilled about."

Sundial's steadfast entrepreneur, however, said his customers won't 
be venturing to his property, as his product will be entirely 
delivered by mail or courier.

He's also dumped hundreds of thousands into a "state-of-the-art" 
security system, which includes seismic sensors, safe rooms, an 
underground vault, electronic door locks, metal access doors and 
dozens of cameras that hang over marijuana handlers as if they were 
gamblers seated at casino blackjack tables.

Swiatek said his motivation stems from fear of becoming another 
down-onhis-luck farmer. The Sundial site previously produced up to 
10,000 cucumbers a week. But Swiatek believes there's more money in 
marijuana and hopes criticism will subside in due time.

He said the shift in mentality is similar to one in B.C., which used 
to be a land of orchards, not vineyards.

"I could say you took away a nice, healthy peach and you replaced it 
with booze? You're fuelling alcoholism," he said, later adding: "I'm 
simply trying to meet consumer demand.... I don't want to draw any 
attention to this place. I don't want to affect the neighbours and 
put up chain-link fences.

On the other hand though, if I put 165,000 square feet of cucumbers 
out there that's going to affect your peace and quiet too."

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Alberta advantage cited by prospective marijuana growers

Alberta's long, cool winters are perfect for growing pot, says Stan 
Swiatek, founder of Sundial Growers, which appears destined to enter 
the commercial marijuana industry.

In areas where large-scale grow operations are more established - 
namely B.C. and Ontario - a common problem emerges in their more 
humid climate - mould.

During a tour of his site, Swiatek said, "Alberta is one of the best 
places to do this . . . You know Alberta beef? How about Alberta marijuana?"

Up north, Terry Booth and his group Releaf Inc. is in the home 
stretch of securing the right to grow their own marijuana in a 50,000 
square foot facility just north of Cremona. His said his facility 
isn't really impacted by the external climate, but said there "are 
some distinct advantages to working in Alberta."

"We have a low tax base, we have an excellent ability to negotiate 
with power companies on the rates," Booth said. "If you're in a rural 
setting, you pay a lot less than you do in the (B.C.) Lower Mainland 
for your land costs."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom