HOPEFULS PROMISE BETTER MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

(CP) - Organic growers from Vancouver Island hope to bag the new
federal contract to grow and distribute medical marijuana across
Canada with the promise of supplying better, cheaper and different
varieties of weed.

Public Works Canada has extended the deadline for bids on the
contract currently held by Prairie Plant Systems Inc., which operates
a grow operation deep within a mine in northern Manitoba.

No reason for the extension has been given. Companies that hope to
win the contract say they are waiting for more information from
Ottawa to complete their bids by the new Sept. 29 deadline.

Eric Nash, co-owner of Island Harvest in British Columbia, said he is
eager to submit a proposal to supply high-grade strains of sativa and
indica marijuana to registered users, some of whom have been unhappy
with the quality of the government-approved pot from the mine.