Pubdate: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 Source: Martlet (CN BC Edu) Copyright: 2004 Martlet Publishing Society Contact: http://www.martlet.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3140 Author: David Karp Note: MAP's Canadian medical cannabis experts advise that while individuals at Island Harvest are growers licensed by Health Canada to supply specific Health Canada approved patients, this does not mean they can legally supply any patients. An approved patient may obtain approval for a single designated grower, if the grower is qualified. Also they have been certified as organic growers by the BC Organic Association. This is unrelated to being a designated approved grower under Health Canada rules. Our experts also add that the folks at Island Harvest are well respected medical cannabis activists. We add this note because the news clipping below is a little confusing. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) UVic ALUMNI SHARE SECRETS TO LEGAL POT OPERATION Wendy Little and Eric Nash are not your typical marijuana growers. They're both UVic grads in their 40s. In fact, Little is a teacher, while Nash is a web designer and horticulturist. Little got into the marijuana business after wanting to find information on medicinal marijuana for a relative suffering from arthritis and Parkinson's disease. "We went on to the Internet and discovered there was a need for the information to get out into the broader community," she recalls, "so we designed our website." Nash and Little's site, www.medicalmarihuana.ca, provides help for people seeking information on medicinal marijuana. It is believed that marijuana can help to relieve symptoms of epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, AIDS and spinal cord injuries. Incidentally, the spelling of marijuana in the web address is not an error--Health Canada and the Canadian legal system have historically opted to spell marijuana with an "h" instead of a "j." In April 2003, Island Harvest, owned by Little and Nash, became the first certified organic marijuana grower in Canada. Island Harvest is certified by Health Canada, which means they are allowed to supply cannabis to patients who are licensed to possess marijuana for medical purposes. Health Canada has allowed Canadians to possess medical marijuana since August 2001, but only if they are expected to die within a year or are suffering from serious illnesses. Potential users must also be approved by both a doctor and the federal government. Additionally, the patient must try more conventional treatments before they can access marijuana. A licensed patient may possess up to a month's supply of pot at any given time. Surprisingly, it is cheaper to purchase marijuana legally than it is on the black market. Little and Nash sell their certified organic pot at $100 per ounce, roughly half the street price. A recent court ruling allows designated producers to sell marijuana for profit. Last fall, Little and Nash took the knowledge they gained from constructing their business and website to Malaspina University College in the Cowichan Valley where they taught a course about accessing medical marijuana. The couple has gone one step further by writing it down. In their book, Sell Marijuana Legally, Little and Nash outline the business aspect of growing medicinal marijuana, including how to navigate through Health Canada's paperwork. "What we wanted to do with the book was to cover the actual process of becoming a legal medical marijuana grower and seller," said Little. "Everyone has an opportunity to get involved [in the medical marijuana industry]," said Nash. "And our book is about that opportunity." According to Nash, there is already a large interest in the industry. "There's money coming in from private investors," he said. "There are pharmaceutical companies getting involved, biotech companies getting involved, private firms getting involved, and the federal government program allows you to get your foot in the door and establish your legal marijuana business." Both Nash and Little believe that medicinal marijuana is going to be an important industry in the future. "It's going to happen," said Nash. "It is happening, and this is the seed of a huge industry." Sell Marijuana Legally--A Complete Guide to Starting Your Marijuana Business is available locally at the UVic Bookstore, Chapters, Munro's, Bolens Books and online at www.businesscompany.com. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake