Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jan 2016
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Owen Sound Sun Times
Contact: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/letters
Website: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Don Crosby
Page: A1

POT PLAN FOR GREY HIGHLANDS

Grey Highlands council has no objections for a proposed organic 
medical marijuana production facility near Feversham.

White Wolf Organics will form part of the agricultural operation of 
Osprey Organics owned by Jamie and Sandy Gott. It will be a 
completely independent operation from the Ice River Springs business.

The plan calls for the construction of a 20,000-square facility on 
property at Lot 16 Concession 12 in the former Osprey Township.

Sandy Gott said the intent of White Wolf Organics is to grow and 
manufacture organic medical marijuana under license by Health Canada 
for use in alleviating pain and suffering. She and her husband Jamie 
do not support recreational marijuana use.

"Our focus is on the medical side of this project and what can be 
done to help with pain and stress relief, people who are in 
palliative care and for people who are affected with certain seizure 
disorders," she said during a presentation at Monday's Grey Highlands 
council meeting.

According to information submitted to council in support of the 
request for a letter of "no objection," White Wolf Organics would 
spend between $3 million and $5 million to produce an organic product 
that would use sustainable energy systems, such as geothermal heat.

The owners hope to employ, in the early stages, around 20 people.

Gott told council she was prompted to start up this project after her 
father in died of cancer in December, 2012. She said he wasn't able 
to get the kind of pain relief he needed from morphine prescribed by 
physician and medical marijuana wasn't available at the time.

"There seems to be medical proof that there is relief, it's not a 
cure but relief, and that's our goal, to produce that but also in an 
organic form because we feel that is a healthier option," she said.

Gott said she would like to be able to produce a product in an oil 
base or tablet form which would allow physicians to prescribe precise doses.

The company is at the initial stage of applying for a license.

"It will probably be 18 months to two years before we find out if we 
get approval," said Gott.

According to consultant Ivan Ross Vrana, who accompanied Gott to 
Monday's council meeting, there are currently 26 approved facilities 
in Canada, most of them in Ontario and British Columbia. Only one of 
those produces an organic product.

Coun. Cathy Little wanted to know how this type of operation would be 
handled through Grey Highland's planning approval process, since 
medical marijuana production is not specifically mentioned in the 
municipality's official plan.

Chief administrative officer Dan Best said those questions would be 
dealt with in the zoning process.

Councillors voted in favour of providing a letter of "no objection" 
to be a part of the Gotts' application to Health Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom