Pubdate: Fri, 26 Dec 2014
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Page: B2
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: James Keller

GROWING PAINS HIT INDUSTRY

Canada's Medical Pot Business Has Had A Few Rough Patches On Its Road
To The Mainstream

Shaun Simpson has had a migraine headache for the past seven
years.

For years, Simpson took a dozen or more Tylenol 3 pills a day, but
they caused unpleasant side-effects and weren't completely effective.
About 2 1/2 years ago, he received a prescription for medical
marijuana, which he ordered from Health Canada.

"I don't feel like I'm drugged out or stoned ( like I did with) the
Tylenol 3; I'm actually more active and social," says Simpson, 34, who
works as a photographer in the Maritimes.

"It's really changed my life as far as day-to-day routine
goes."

Simpson is among tens of thousands of Canadians who have used medical
marijuana legally since 2001, and, like many of those patients, he was
forced earlier this year to adjust to a massive overhaul of the system.

The federal government implemented new rules prohibiting patients from
growing their own pot and instead restricting production and sale to a
new collection of licensed commercial operations.

But the system has been beset by complaints of low supply and high
prices. Some commercial producers have long waiting lists and are
plagued by frequent sellouts, and approvals for new operations to fill
the gap have been slow.

There are currently 15 companies licensed to produce and sell medical
marijuana; eight others are licensed to produce the drug but not to
sell it.

Prospective suppliers must meet a list of strict conditions, including
rigorous security requirements and measures to control odours.

Denis Arsenault, CEO of OrganiGram in New Brunswick, says the
regulations have mostly been working well. He said he understands the
need for security and inspections.

"It's been a very good experience; when they come in to do their
inspections, it's very clear they want us to succeed," says Arsenault.

Health Canada says about 13,700 patients were registered under the new
system as of Oct. 31. That's an increase from about 5,100 in April and
almost 8,000 in June.

Patients with a doctor's prescription place their orders directly with
the licensed producer of their choice. The program is limited to dried
marijuana; producers cannot sell other forms of pot, such as edible
products or oils.

There have only been three new licences to sell marijuana issued since
the summer, the most recent being MariCann, located in southern
Ontario, which was added in early December.

As of Nov. 24, there were 301 applications still being assessed by
Health Canada. Of those, 13 were awaiting a pre-licence inspection -
the final step before being approved.

Sundial Growers, which wants to produce medical marijuana near
Airdrie, is in the queue.

Company president Stan Swiatek says he asked Health Canada for a final
inspection in May. He has received a few requests for more
information, but so far no one from the department has shown up and he
has no idea when they will.

"It's just sort of random - they arbitrarily decide which (
application) to deal with," says Swiatek, a former cucumber grower.
"The reality is, we just have to sit and wait."  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D