Pubdate: Mon, 14 Sep 2015
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Alexandra Posadzki
Page: B2

ELECTION OF GRITS, NDP MAY FUEL POT INDUSTRY

TORONTO - Medical marijuana producers are bracing for the possibility 
that Canadians could elect a new government this fall - a change that 
could accelerate the already breakneck pace of growth in the 
burgeoning industry and usher in new players such as tobacco 
companies and pharmacy chains. "This whole election's very 
interesting," said Bruce Linton, the CEO and chairman of Tweed 
Marijuana Inc. "When you have a business that has the potential to 
see quite a lot of acceleration because of outcomes, you watch it 
more carefully." Marijuana became a hot-button issue in the election 
campaign on Thursday, when Joy Davies, a Liberal candidate in British 
Columbia, pulled out of the race because of posts she had made on 
Facebook about marijuana.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau distanced himself from Davies when 
asked about her posts, which included claims that marijuana can cure 
skin cancer and a link to an academic study suggesting pot decreases 
domestic violence. Trudeau has long promised to legalize and regulate 
marijuana if elected, while NDP leader Tom Mulcair has said his party 
would decriminalize the drug immediately upon forming government. 
Khurram Malik, an analyst at Jacob Securities, says the election of 
either the Liberals or the NDP could lead to less red tape for 
licensed medical marijuana producers. "We have the most anti-weed 
party in power right now," Malik said. "Any other party that wins is 
a lot more friendly to marijuana than this one, so things will get 
done a little more efficiently and openly, so people can actually 
plan their businesses in a more reasonable and logical manner."

The introduction of a recreational marijuana program could bring new 
players such as tobacco and liquor companies into the market, Malik added.

Currently the industry is too small for the giants to bother with, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom