Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 Source: The Outlook (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 The Outlook Contact: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1433 Author: Justin Beddall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) A GROWING MARKET A North Vancouver-based company that sells portable hydroponic units that produce up to two pounds of marijuana every six or eight weeks is living up to its slogan: "The Fastest, Easiest & Safest Way to Grow!" The company, All-Round Industries, markets their Power Grow System for the production of medical marijuana, and business is growing fast. "It's a tremendous growth market for us. There are 1,000 people in Canada who can possess and grow marijuana," said company president Jason Blueler, referring to the new federal law that allows people suffering from chronic illnesses to legally possess, grow and smoke marijuana. "And that's an ever-increasing market." The company's Canadian Standard Association-approved units, which are about the size of a refrigerator, have two separate aluminum grow chambers and control timers that operate lighting, fans, other hydroponic systems. Blueler says the units draw about as much power (six amps) as a fridge and plugs into a standard 110-volt wall outlet. In addition to growing medicinal marijuana, Blueler, a 35-year-old West Van native, said the portable units may be used to grow tropical plants and organic vegetables. Blueler started the company six months ago with friend Nick Bruastore. They began manufacturing the units on July 30, the day the new federal law about medicinal marijuana came into effect. Since then, the company has sold over 300 Power Grow System units (which sell for $4,200 each), and enjoyed single-month sales in excess of $125,000. Blueler figures gross sales this year will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million. Based in North Van, the company, which now employs five people, has a 4,000 square foot assembly plant in Port Coquitlam, producing approximately 50 units per month. Blueler, who has a background in marketing, said so far the company has only taken out small ads in the Georgia Straight to advertise their product. He also took a demo model to the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam this past November and reports that the sojourn has generated a ton of exposure in Europe and the U.S. Already, the company has received overseas orders from Glasgow, Scotland and Manchester, England - to name just a few - and several American cities. The company's profile should be further enhanced when they appear in a feature story in the March issue of High Times, an esoteric counterculture magazine. In addition to selling the portable units, All-Round Industries is also offering franchise opportunities (information is available on the company's Web site, powergrowsystem.net). Blueler prefers to call them "dealerships" because they offer the opportunity to control an entire territory, and set up sub-dealerships. So far, the company has sold dealerships in Ontario, Alberta, the B.C. Interior and Vancouver. Currently, they are in the process of negotiating territories on the Sunshine Coast, Quebec, Northern California, Maritimes and England. And while the portable hydroponic units could obviously be used to grow more than organic lemons or medicinal marijuana, Blueler figures the Power Grow System, whatever it's used for, is a beneficial product. "It takes crime off the street, if people simply grow at home." - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl