Pubdate: Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Jim Bender
Page: 3

LOCAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWER SIGNS ON WITH NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

With plans for a major expansion looming, Delta 9 - a local Health 
Canada medical cannabis producer - has joined the Canadian Medical 
Cannabis Council (CMCC), the association announced Tuesday.

"We wanted to further the interests of our patients, address 
insurance coverage and make sure our patients were getting a good 
enough supply of medicinal marijuana," Delta 9 vice-president John 
Arbuthnot said.

"Delta 9 is very excited to join CMCC in creating and implementing 
the highest standards of safety, quality, and patient access within 
Canada's medical cannabis industry."

The CMCC is a medical cannabis association representing licensed 
producers and other stakeholders who are committed to building 
long-term trust with patients by ensuring the highest standards of 
ethical behaviour across the entire medical cannabis supply chain, 
the association said in a release.

"We are looking to expand our facility by 100% within the next few 
months and to expand our distribution," Arbuthnot said.

Delta 9 currently operates an 80,000 square-foot production and 
distribution facility in the east end of Winnipeg. It provides more 
than 1,000 registered clients across Canada with its product. About 
40-45% of those clients are based in Manitoba, Arbuthnot said.

"We are very pleased to have them join," CMCC interim executive 
director Philippe Lucas said from Ottawa. "It's great to have this 
organization representing Manitoba.

"Every new member further galvanizes our ability to bring about 
positive, ethical change in the medical cannabis industry. We look 
forward to continuing to advocate for federal policies and industry 
business practices that are in the best interest of Canadian patients."

Arbuthnot denied the move had anything to do with Justin Trudeau's 
Liberal government's pledge to legalize marijuana to recreational use.

"What we'd like to emphasize is the medical aspects of it 
exclusively," he said. "We are always focused on the medical side.

"This will help us address the more important elements of our 
industry, such as patients' rights to access and facilitating 
patients' access to their medicinal marijuana."

However, Arbuthnot admitted legalizing weed for recreational use 
could also help his business grow.

The CMCC is an industry group representing stakeholders who aim to 
advance standards of Canada's medical cannabis industry. All CMCC 
members are required to adhere to a code of ethics designed to serve 
patients' best interests.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom