Pubdate: Wed, 16 Aug 2000
Source: Grand Forks Gazette (CN BC)
Copyright: Sterling Newspapers 2000
Contact:  Box 700, 7330 2nd St., Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
Fax: +1-250-442-3336
Website: http://www.sterlingnews.com/Forks
Author: Darren McDonald

FORMER MAYOR INTRODUCES POT PLAN

Brian Taylor Thinks The Future Is In Pot.

Taylor met last Friday with potential investors and curious citizens inside the local Community Futures building as he presented his Cannabis Research Institute's (CRI) proposal to legally grow, harvest and sell medicinal marijuana and its related paraphernalia.

The presentation was in conjunction with the federal government's interest in establishing a cannabis provider of high-grade marijuana for medical treatment.

Taylor, president and CEO of CRI, began the hour-long presentation with a quick history of cannabis, examining its centuries of therapeutic use, pointing out the plant's ability to relieve pain, alleviate symptoms of glaucoma and increase the appetites of terminally ill patients.

The only thing holding Taylor's operation back is the government's grinding process of awarding the five-year growing contracts. CRI has been short-listed for the deal but officials aren't releasing the exact number of bidding companies, or a release date for the contract.

Taylor says CRI is looking for a "medical image" and plans to stay away from "hippie" products, including psychedelic packaging and elaborate glass-blown pipes.

Instead, CRI will focus on personal homegrown hydroponic machines and managing products, such as centrifugal-force rollers and wheel-chair-accessible hydroponics stations.

The drug will only be sold to those with a doctor's recommendation.

Currently, CRI shares are selling for around twenty cents.

"There's a certain amount of high risk in this investment, so that usually means the potential for high returns," Taylor told investors.

The federal government acknowledges the side effects to smoking the drug, including increased tar consumption, so THC potency will be crucial when a provider is selected. According to Taylor, the Boundary's infamous track record speaks for itself.

"We are already one of the largest marijuana producers in the province," he says.

Most recently, 3,487 plants were seized by the RCMP last week, about 15 kilometres northeast of Rock Creek.
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