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.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake