NO BUSTS FOR THIS GROW-OP

Some local residents are turning to an old-fashioned remedy to treat
medical problems, such as severe pain. That remedy is medical marijuana and
it's grown in the area -- legally.

Jane and John Doe (not real names for security reasons) have a government
licence to grow medical marijuana. Jane says they completed a 15-page
application and had a criminal record check before the licence for
production was issued. They have one client who also has a licence for
possession, but Jane says the requirement to get that licence -- a
physician willing to prescribe it -- is proving difficult.

It doesn't hurt the doctor in any way, she says. It's no different than
prescribing Tylenol 3 with codeine, she adds, but there are fewer
side-effects with medical marijuana.

"We're hoping doctors will try to get with the modern times and realize
there are benefits [to medical marijuana] instead of throwing synthetic
stuff to patients"

The Does are only allowed to sell their crop to the person with the licence
and there are strict regulations to control the drug. They grow 15 plants
and are allowed to have up to 670 grams in storage at any given time. They
are only allowed to sell their client 90 grams a month.

Jane says they need to take weights and measurements of the wet and dry
product and everything above those numbers that need to be destroyed. The
initial costs to set up the grow-op were substantial. A certified
contractor and certified electrician installed the proper equipment and
infrastructure. Security is extensive and hydro costs are high.

The grow-op is surrounded with a fence and there is a guard dog and closed
circuit cameras that will contact the Does if they're not home and somebody
is snooping around the property. The amount they charge for the product is
also regulated by the government and John says this project is not going to
make them rich.

"We dished out a lot of money to get set up that we still have to recover."

Some people still frown on the idea of medical marijuana, but Jane says she
believes in the health benefits and notes people usually smoke or ingest it
before bed to help them relax.

Health Canada accepts applications to use the product from people with
multiple sclerosis, spinal-cord injury or disease, cancer, AIDS, HIV
infection, severe arthritis and epilepsy as well as people needing
compassionate end-of-life care.