Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jan 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Allison Jones
Page: A15

EX-PREMIER EVES JOINS MEDICAL POT COMPANY

But new venture shouldn't be construed as support for broader cannabis
use, he says

Ernie Eves has gone from politics to pot. While other politicians tend
to join law firms, become consultants or work on various other staid
pursuits, the former Progressive Conservative premier of Ontario has
chosen to branch out.

He has joined Timeless Herbal Care - a Jamaican medical marijuana
company with ties in Canada and Israel - as its chairman.

But Eves says his medical marijuana work shouldn't be construed as
support for broader use and he insists he hasn't sampled the
merchandise. "No, my standard response to that was only for (Toronto
Argonauts football) games, but that was about 40 years ago when the
Argos were brutal," the 68-year-old says, laughing in a telephone interview.

"I could say for (Toronto Maple Leafs) games today I suppose, but no,
I do not use it."

Timeless Herbal Care is run by Courtney Betty, formerly a Toronto
based lawyer, and through mutual friends Eves says he got on board.

Eves was Ontario premier from April 2002 to October 2003 and led the
province during some rocky times, particularly the SARS crisis and the
blackout of 2003.

Eves is on several boards, but he admits this one is a bit
different.

"Everybody presumes that medical marijuana means sitting around
smoking pot and that really isn't what it's all about," Eves says.

"There's something like over 140 different types of marijuana, which
not many people appreciate and different strains are used to treat
different conditions and illnesses. I think it could be quite a
high-growth area in terms of medicinal use."

Timeless Herbal Care is well positioned as Jamaica steps "ahead of the
curve," Eves says.

Jamaica's cabinet has approved a much-anticipated bill of drug law
amendments that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot
and pave the way for a legal medical marijuana industry there.

Debate could start before the end of the month in the pot-steeped
country where the drug, known popularly as "ganja," has long been
culturally entrenched but illegal.

Timeless Herbal Care is not a full-time gig for Eves, who says he
visited Jamaica once in his capacity as the company's chairman and met
with the justice minister.
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MAP posted-by: Matt