Pubdate: Sat, 22 Feb 2014
Source: St. Thomas Times-Journal (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/letters
Website: http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/953
Author: John Miner

FROM TOBACCO TO MARIJUANA

Medical Marijuana Grower Sets Up in Aylmer

AYLMER- A town in which hundreds of tobacco jobs were snuffed out 
when its processing plant closed last decade is hoping there's a 
future in marijuana.

"It's a win, win situation," said Malahide Township Mayor Dave Mennill.

WeedMD Rx Inc. is taking over part of the massive Imperial Tobacco 
plant in Aylmer that was shut down in 2007 when processing was 
shifted to Mexico.

The company is joining a rush of firms across Canada competing to set 
up medical marijuana production facilities under new Health Canada 
regulations that kick in April 1.

WeedMD expects to hire as many as 100 people over the next two years 
for the Aylmer plant.

"That 's good news for local employment and tax revenue. It was going 
to go somewhere, and why not in Aylmer?" Mennill said.

WeedMD CEO Bruce Scully said the company has received a pre-approval 
licence from Health Canada to produce the marijuana and is completing 
arrangements for $3 million in financing.

WeedMD had hoped to start production April 1, but there have been delays.

"We are well under way and we shouldn't be too long after that," Scully said.

The priority will be hiring local people, he said.

"Aylmer itself as a town has been very warm and receptive. We are 
very fortunate to be in this community," Scully said.

WeedMD is a private company that was formed when two different groups 
planning to grow medical marijuana looked at the same Aylmer facilities.

"Instead of competing we decided to join forces," Scully said.

The WeedMD team includes scientists working to develop new marijuana 
strains and growers. Scully's background is in managing long-term 
care facilities, which he said isn't as big of a jump as it might appear.

"This is all about the patient and providing quality of product and 
service for our customers. That is what I do best," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom