Pubdate: Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 Sun Media Contact: http://www.thewhig.com/letters Website: http://www.thewhig.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224 Author: Sabrina Bedford Page: A3 HOMEGROWN WEED NO THREAT: PRODUCER CEO says grow-at-home marijuana doesn't compare to company's 'quality standards' SMITHS FALLS - Despite a federal decision giving Canadians the right to grow their own medical marijuana, Smiths Falls-based producer Tweed said it'll be business as usual at its converted chocolate factory here. "We don't think it will impact us," said Bruce Linton, chief executive officer and founder of Canopy Growth Corporation and a co-founder of Tweed Marijuana Inc. On Aug. 11, Health Canada announced the new Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), and the single largest change is that Canadians who need cannabis for medical purposes will soon be allowed to "produce a limited amount" for their own purposes, or designate someone to produce it for them. Previously, those with a prescription for medical marijuana were required to get it from a licensed producer such as Tweed. The newfound competition doesn't worry Linton, however, because he said grow-at-home marijuana doesn't compare to his company's "highest quality standards in the world." "When we grow it here, we have a secured environment that we manage, then we test all the products to confirm exactly what's in it," he said, adding the plant engineers strains of the medicine to be geared specifically to help a multitude of ailments. "When you grow it yourself, it is what it is, and that won't always be good." The new regulations will come into force next week, on Aug. 24, and are being implemented as a result of a federal court ruling in the case of Allard vs. Canada. Linton said one of the main concerns about people growing at home is law enforcement not being able to distinguish between legal and illegal grow operations. Health Canada has said it will work closely with provincial authorities to share data and information, such as the quantities of cannabis being authorized for medical purposes in their jurisdiction. The federal department will also "continue to support law enforcement representatives by providing a dedicated phone line that is accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week to confirm, when necessary, that specific individuals are authorized to possess or produce a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes." While he believes this new regulation is a short-term initiative, Linton said Tweed does have plans to benefit from the "designated producer" provision in the immediate term. "One of the new rules is that you don't have to necessarily grow it yourself, you can have someone else do it for you, so we thought - we're pretty good at this, why don't we let people who would like to have people grow it for them sign up with us," he said, comparing it to facilities that let you brew your own beer and wine. "It feels like a way to fit with what's going on and it works well." Tweed's business continues to grow, and this week Linton said the company celebrated its 20,000th customer in just two years, representing more than half of all those who ever joined the previous grow-at-home system in its 13 years of existence. Strides have been made to normalize medical cannabis use through political advocacy, physician education and stakeholder outreach. Tweed has completed 18,000 face-to-face meetings with doctors, and almost 8,000 doctors are now writing prescriptions for medical marijuana, "up from zero two and a half years ago." "Physicians aren't going to be as comfortable that [marijuana grown at home] is the same thing," Linton said. The company said, though, that choice is good. Those who wish to grow moderate amounts of cannabis at home for personal consumption should be allowed to do so. "Ultimately, people will think: 'I can buy it from that place the government is running, and it's less costly, it's tested and it's for sure what I'm buying, or we can do something else.' "There seems to be interested parties for each type, but we're not running out of interested parties so far." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt