FED'S DOPE DEAL HAS JOINT JUMPING

The title of Canada's official marijuana pusher is being hotly contested
this month from coast to coast.

Ever since Health Canada released the terms of a five-year contract it
plans to give a Canadian supplier of marijuana this summer, requests for
more information have been coming in like green buds in the spring.

Potential dope growers include the Oaks Farms, in Daysland, Alta, east of
Camrose; McGill and Guelph universities, SNC-Lavalin, GW Pharmaceuticals,
British Columbia's Ministry of Forestry, the village of Masset, B.C., and
something called the Molecular Delivery Corporation in California.

In total, the department has received 195 orders for its 65-page
information packages, at a cost of more than $50 a request, from potential
bidders for the contract, estimated by some at around $5 million.

The contract would see the production of 100,000 cigarettes and 85 kilos of
marijuana in the first year. The weed has to be grown, cultivated, dried,
prepared and delivered to the government.

The marijuana will be used for clinical research trials to gather
scientific evidence on whether it's safe and effective for patients to
smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Suzanne Joly, of Lavalin, was quick to dismiss the engineering firm's
interest, saying the large Quebec corporation receives bidding packages for
all federal contracts.

GW Pharmaceuticals, of England, which grows marijuana for its own
government, has been sent more information and already has had its
facilities visited by federal government officials.

David Dunphy, of Green Wonder Gardening Inc. in Dartmouth, N.S., says his
company's bid is almost ready.

He acknowledges he has some experience growing "weed" in British Columbia
and promises to deliver quality marijuana that is just as good as "B.C. gold."

Dunphy, who currently grows cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, said the
marijuana would be grown indoors, allowing total control of all variables
such as humidity and temperature.

Clinton Mutch, a spokesman for Masset's economic development office, says
the village of 1,400 is looking to diversify its economy since fishing and
logging in the area are drying up.

Brian Bender, of the Alfred College of the university of Guelph, said the
agriculture university is still looking at putting in a bid before the June
6 deadline and is looking for partners such as McGill.

"We have the location and the expertise but the time is limited to put in
such an extensive bid. It would be good for our college in terms of
prestige but I don't know if we have enough time." said Bender, who
estimates security requirements would cost at least $225,000.

He said the college's location in Alfred, near Ottawa, is an ideal place to
grow marijuana considering how close it is to the RCMP headquarters, Health
Canada and the Medical Research Centre.

The government is calling for security cameras, infrared sensors and barbed
wire fences as well as personnel who have had no record since 1985 of any
drug offences in Canada or any other country.

Hull lawyer Pierre Bourget, who is putting together a bid for a hydroponics
equipment firm in Gatineau, said he has heard through the grapevine that
"guys in the Hull jail" have been looking at making a bid.

"Their chances aren't very good but it shows you how it has people
talking," said Bourget.

The B.C. Ministry of Forestry is backing away from making a bid because it
was decided there were too many "pitfalls."

"Already the internal jokes were starting around here, like having to hire
someone named Bud," said Anthony Willington at the ministry's Surrey Nursery.

He said among the pitfalls was the potential for embarrassment for the
provinces's politicians, turning the ministry into "a laughingstock."