Pubdate: Fri, 18 Apr 2014
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Tim Alamenciak
Page: GT7
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

SMITHERMAN, EX-COP IN POT VENTURE

'Complementary Strengths' Of Team Key to Growing Medical Marijuana 
Startup, Ex-Health Minister Says

The province's former Liberal health minister, George Smitherman, is 
getting into the pot game with a Markham pharmacist and a former 
deputy chief of the Toronto police. The trio - a veritable dream team 
in the medical marijuana industry - secured a property in Durham 
Region with about 16,000 square feet of serviceable indoor growing 
space, said Smitherman, and is in the midst of preparing an 
application. The township of Uxbridge recently passed a motion 
granting them a "no objection" letter to accompany their application 
to Health Canada.

"I think that in my time as minister of health I did try to advance a 
conversation within the Ontario Medical Association and especially 
within the doctors who focus on pain," said Smitherman. "I view 
medical marijuana as an effective alternative for many people, and I 
think that the science on this will grow and grow and grow."

Each member of the trio brings skills that will help with the 
application process, which includes providing a round-the-clock 
security plan and undergoing regular testing like that at a regular 
drug production facility.

Smitherman, the lifelong politician who served as Ontario's minister 
of health and long-term care from 2003 to 2008, will help the group 
work with consultants to navigate Health Canada's new medical 
marijuana legislation, which licenses businesses to grow marijuana to 
sell to users who have a prescription.

The legislation is a departure from the old way of doing things, 
whereby Health Canada served as the middleman for medicinal marijuana 
users, who were allowed to grow their own plants. Instead, federally 
approved growers will supply those in the country who rely on 
medicinal marijuana.

Longtime lawman Kim Derry, who retired as deputy chief of the Toronto 
Police Service, will be in charge of security for the facility - one 
of Health Canada's most stringent requirements. Since his retirement 
from the force in 2011, Derry has been at the helm of the private 
security firm Executek International.

The site must have video surveillance and recording capabilities both 
at the building and the property perimeter. The facility must have an 
alarm system and rooms where the marijuana is grown or stored must 
feature controlled access. Personnel must pass a security check with the RCMP.

Kandavel Palanivel, who instigated the whole venture and is its main 
investor, has been a licensed pharmacist in Canada since 2000. He is 
accredited to practise at seven pharmacies across the GTA, according 
to his file with the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

"I like the complementary strengths," Smitherman said of the group. 
"The pharmacy network could be a factor in it in a marketing sense, 
but much more importantly than that, Mr. Palanivel's very personal 
interest in plant extraction for human benefit is actually framed 
from his education. . . . His master's (degree) was focused very much 
on extraction of plants for human benefit."

Smitherman says the group hopes to file its application in the coming 
weeks - joining hundreds already in the hopper, pending approval. 
Twelve applications have already been approved and their submitters 
are growing and supplying marijuana.

Asked what it means when a prominent politician, a retired police 
officer and a pharmacist enter the marijuana industry, Smitherman 
praised the federal legislation. "I think it's a recognition that the 
government of Canada's very distinct policy change substantially 
regulates a production model and accordingly invites the 
participation of a lot of people and companies who otherwise didn't 
have opportunities in this space," he said.

The federal government estimated in 2013 that the change in 
legislation could turn medical marijuana into a $1.3-billion industry by 2024.

"The primary investor in all of this is Mr. Palanivel, and obviously 
people see a business opportunity, but it is a very, very 
entrepreneurial construct," said Smitherman. "It is an opportunity 
but, from an entrepreneurial standpoint, it's quite a daunting one, I think."

After an unsuccessful run for the mayor of Toronto in 2010, losing to 
Rob Ford, Smitherman's political career appears to be on the back 
burner. But he says he doesn't think of himself as a marijuana farmer just yet.

"I'm just someone who's lending some professional expertise to mount 
an application," he said, "but I certainly hope that we'll be 
successful and that this business enterprise will be something I can 
focus a great deal of time on."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom