The General
New Member
Fort Erie's economic outlook has grown a few shades greener. The green seeds were planted Monday night by town council members who approved a bylaw amendment to the Town's Official Plan to include the expansion of medical marijuana grow and production facilities into the area. This decision comes in response to accommodating the newly-approved and revised Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. The MMPR were established in 2001 and allowed those suffering from grave and debilitating illnesses to access marijuana for medical use.
Under these regulations, authorized users could grow their own medical marijuana in their homes and gardens. However, a number of health and safety concerns such as improper ventilation, and fire hazards arose within municipalities across Canada, including Fort Erie. The town report noted a licensing framework has been established to allow larger production, processing and distribution of dried marijuana for medical purposes.
Grow operations in homes will be illegal and production of medical marijuana will only be allowed in operations run by commercial growers. The changes were good news to Patrick Gagne and Dr. Francis Dube of Cannacure Corporation needed to hear. They told council Monday they will now be able to move forward in securing a location in Fort Erie to begin production of medical marijuana, a process they are hopeful will be underway with two months. "Cannacure will be focusing on the medical benefits of marijuana. One of our main products will not have the 'euphoric' effects of the plant," Gagne explained.
Currently, Health Canada only allows licensed producers to sell dried medical marijuana. "We are expecting them to allow licensed producers to produce other cannabis products such as oils, creams and edible products," Gagne said. "When and if they do, this will give Cannacure the opportunity to work with other businesses within the community to develop other products that will help patients as young as 5 years old all the way to patients that are 95 years old," he added.
Gagne said the new facility will create jobs in the Niagara region. Canncure's business approach includes "keeping home", meaning product and business support won't be outsourced as the they will provide the assistance needed for smaller companies to get the job done. Gagne said Cannacure is projected to be 70% product production and 30% call centre within the next five years. With the call centre aspect of the business, patients will receive support, from initial product consultation to usage. Cannacure will work with medical professionals and offer products for hospice care facilities and retirement homes.
Ward 4 Coun. John Hill was "energized" to see such a unique opportunity presented in Fort Erie and appreciated Cannacure's "keeping it home" focus of economic growth. In it's first year, Gagne projected Cannacure will have a payroll base of about $750,000 expanding into $7 million at the end of its initial five-year growth plan. If successful in securing its ideal location, Cannacure will see a six-phase building growth that will utilize the facility's maximum potential building. Health Canada will oversee licensing and Cannacure will have to meet extensive security and quality control requirements according to town staff's report.
The town's bylaws will be amended to set out specific regulations and to ensure these facilities are treated similarly to greenhouse facilities, with five proposed changes. Changes consisted of parking additional; nighttime lighting, separation distance from sensitive land use, maximum processing and packaging area and the restriction on outside storage of goods and materials for grow operations.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Wellandtribune.ca
Author: Jennifer Chornley
Contact: Contact-us | Welland Tribune
Website: Fort Erie welcomes medical marijuana facilities | Welland Tribune
Under these regulations, authorized users could grow their own medical marijuana in their homes and gardens. However, a number of health and safety concerns such as improper ventilation, and fire hazards arose within municipalities across Canada, including Fort Erie. The town report noted a licensing framework has been established to allow larger production, processing and distribution of dried marijuana for medical purposes.
Grow operations in homes will be illegal and production of medical marijuana will only be allowed in operations run by commercial growers. The changes were good news to Patrick Gagne and Dr. Francis Dube of Cannacure Corporation needed to hear. They told council Monday they will now be able to move forward in securing a location in Fort Erie to begin production of medical marijuana, a process they are hopeful will be underway with two months. "Cannacure will be focusing on the medical benefits of marijuana. One of our main products will not have the 'euphoric' effects of the plant," Gagne explained.
Currently, Health Canada only allows licensed producers to sell dried medical marijuana. "We are expecting them to allow licensed producers to produce other cannabis products such as oils, creams and edible products," Gagne said. "When and if they do, this will give Cannacure the opportunity to work with other businesses within the community to develop other products that will help patients as young as 5 years old all the way to patients that are 95 years old," he added.
Gagne said the new facility will create jobs in the Niagara region. Canncure's business approach includes "keeping home", meaning product and business support won't be outsourced as the they will provide the assistance needed for smaller companies to get the job done. Gagne said Cannacure is projected to be 70% product production and 30% call centre within the next five years. With the call centre aspect of the business, patients will receive support, from initial product consultation to usage. Cannacure will work with medical professionals and offer products for hospice care facilities and retirement homes.
Ward 4 Coun. John Hill was "energized" to see such a unique opportunity presented in Fort Erie and appreciated Cannacure's "keeping it home" focus of economic growth. In it's first year, Gagne projected Cannacure will have a payroll base of about $750,000 expanding into $7 million at the end of its initial five-year growth plan. If successful in securing its ideal location, Cannacure will see a six-phase building growth that will utilize the facility's maximum potential building. Health Canada will oversee licensing and Cannacure will have to meet extensive security and quality control requirements according to town staff's report.
The town's bylaws will be amended to set out specific regulations and to ensure these facilities are treated similarly to greenhouse facilities, with five proposed changes. Changes consisted of parking additional; nighttime lighting, separation distance from sensitive land use, maximum processing and packaging area and the restriction on outside storage of goods and materials for grow operations.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Wellandtribune.ca
Author: Jennifer Chornley
Contact: Contact-us | Welland Tribune
Website: Fort Erie welcomes medical marijuana facilities | Welland Tribune
