Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jan 2015
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Page: A8
Copyright: 2015 Owen Sound Sun Times
Contact: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/letters
Website: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Denis Langlois

MUCH INTEREST IN PRODUCING MARIJUANA

23 Companies Now Have Grow Licences

Health Canada has received nearly 1,200 applications so far from
companies interested in producing medical marijuana.

Spokeswoman Sara Lauer said there is no cap on how many licences the
federal agency will approve.

However, there is a "very strict list" of procedures, steps and
guidelines that must be followed before applications are granted.

"Just because an applicant applies for a licence, they don't
necessarily receive it right away. They have to meet all of the
guidelines first," Lauer said in an e-mailed response to questions.

She said there is no designated time frame on when licences are
granted. Each application is considered on a case by case basis, she
said.

Toronto-based Canadian Bioceutical Corporation has announced plans to
turn the former PPG plant in Owen Sound's industrial park into a
facility where medical cannabis and cannabinoid-based products are
cultivated, processed, packaged and distributed.

It has submitted an application to Health Canada to become a licenced
producer under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR),
which came into effect April 1.

The head of the company said the plan is to begin operating the plant
in late spring or early summer.

Health Canada introduced regulations in June 2013 to permit
larger-scale medical marijuana production facilities.

So far, 15 companies have been authorized by Health Canada to produce
and sell or provide dried marijuana to eligible people under the MMPR.
Another eight companies are authorized to produce medical marijuana,
but not sell it.

Authorized producers must meet Health Canada standards for location,
security, storage, human resources, pest management, packaging and
inventory, record-keeping, sales and marketing and quality assurance.

While licenced companies can now only produce dried marijuana, a B.C.
Appeal Court ruling in August is expected to change that by this summer.

The court said limiting patients from access to other types of
cannabis medicines is unconstitutional. It gave Health Canada one year
to amend the language of its medical marijuana access regulations. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D