VICTORIA MAN TO PITCH POT ON REALITY TV SHOW

A Victoria man might soon learn if there is smoke where there is
fire.

Ian Layfield, an entrepreneur in the mail-order marijuana business, is
in Toronto this week to pitch his product to the sharp-toothed judges
on the CBC's Dragons' Den. Tomorrow, he hopes to persuade the panel of
successful business people to invest in medicinal-marijuana
distribution via mail.

"I think we have a very viable company and we would benefit from
having at least one of the Dragons partner with us to make sure this
company becomes the success we all want it to be," said Layfield, who
uses the locally grown marijuana daily to treat arthritis.

Layfield launched the company, Canada's Medicinal Marihuana Store,
last November to distribute products to people registered with Health
Canada to legally use the substance.

He said he initially went to an audition for the show in April at the
University of Victoria to help a friend, but while he was there, he
read over the forms and decided his idea might have potential.

He had his work cut out for him. "The person doing the interview kind
of laughed and said there wasn't much of a chance of me being able to
get on [because] the Dragons just don't go for marijuana," he said.

But he hopes to change that. Unlike past pot-related pitchers on
Dragons' Den, Layfield said he's been working with Health Canada to
ensure his company remains on the right side of the law.

Still, Layfield said one Dragon in particular might be harder to
please than the others. Jim Treliving was an RCMP officer in B.C. and
Alberta before he went into business as owner of a Boston Pizza
franchise. Treliving now owns the company.

"He's the gentleman I have to win over the most," Layfield said. "He
is going to have this idea that this is illegal." Molly Duignan, a
Dragons' Den producer, said past marijuana-related pitches include a
medicinal-marijuana macaroon and a line of hemp clothing.

Another pair of Vancouver Island residents was also in Toronto this
week to face the Dragons. Laurie and Kaydee Sutherland are the
mother-daughter duo behind Cheesecake 101, a multi-flavoured
cheesecake company. Kaydee is from Victoria, while Laurie is from
Campbell River.

Duignan said the show tapes many segments, but not all will make it to
air when the show returns this fall.