INSURANCE WOES FORCE MAN TO DISMANTLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION

REGINA -- A licensed medicinal marijuana grower has dismantled his
operation and is planning to leave the province, saying he is tired of
dealing with companies that won't insure his operation.

Tim Selenski, 24, was licensed through Health Canada almost a year ago
to grow marijuana for a Regina man who is allowed to possess the drug
for medical reasons.

Until last week, Selenski was growing his fi rst medicinal marijuana
crop out of his home, next to his cannabis specialty shop, Head to
Head Novelties.

He is licensed to grow up to 15 plants for distribution to the
patient. Because of the nature of the product, Selenski said he has
taken numerous security measures to protect the operation, including
cameras, alarms, guard dogs and a tall chain link fence.

"I'm a small jail here," he said.

Even so, when he tried to have the equipment needed for the grow
operation insured for about $3,000, he was told by his primary insurer
to dismantle the operation within 30 days or risk losing his insurance
on his shop and home as well, he said.

"And that's on my house, store, everything," said Selenski. "There's
$120,000 worth of equity in my life that I've built up. Just to throw
away for 10 plants, it wasn't worth it."

The insurance company, Saskatchewan Mutual Insurance Co., did not
provide an immediate response Wednesday. Media inquiries were
forwarded to head office for reply.

After being refused by that company, Selenski said he took his request
to 11 other companies, all of which similarly refused to insure the
grow operation. One of those companies was Saskatchewan Government
Insurance (SGI), he said.

SGI spokesperson Barbara Cross said in general the corporation doesn't
cover marijuana grow operations at this time, even if it is a licensed
operation, because it is considered too high-risk.

Because of the insurance problems, Selenski dismantled his grow
operation last week, cutting down and getting rid of the plants.