Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: Steve Raabe Page: 8A CANADIAN FIRM PLANS BOULDER PLANT TO MAKE MARIJUANA-INFUSED TEA Canadian biotech firm Abattis Bioceuticals plans to open a Boulder plant to produce beverages infused with non-narcotic marijuana compounds. The facility will make kombucha tea containing marijuana-based cannabidiol, or CBD, a substance with purported anti-inflammatory properties. Abattis officials said Colorado was selected for the manufacturing plant because of the market potential for cannabis products after the passage of Amendment 64 which legalizes possession of marijuana. "Colorado is a business-oriented state that supports this growing sector," said Nick Brusatore, a member of Abattis' board of directors. Brusatore said the plant, at a yet-undetermined location, initially will employ about 10 workers and could grow to 30 jobs depending on market demand for the beverage. Abattis' interest in Boulder was reported last week in Medical Marijuana Business Daily. Vancouver-based Abattis recently signed a letter of intent with Crudessence Kombucha Inc., maker of Rise sparkling tea, to license the production of kombucha infused with CBD. Kombucha is a microbial culture of bacteria and yeast species. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom