MEDICAL MARIJUANA DONE 'PROPERLY'

East Hamilton Facility Will Act As a Broker Between Growers And
Patients

Scott Gilbert's medical marijuana centre won't stock any cannabis, but
will make easy to produce and procure it.

That's if you have a permit from Health Canada, a mistake he learned
the hard way.

Gilbert, 28, is awaiting trial on seven drug-related charges,
including five for trafficking, after police seized an estimated
$100,000 in marijuana and cash from a Guelph compassion club and five
other related addresses last spring.

"I've certainly learned a lot in terms of the legal process and the
implications of what's involved in working for a club that doesn't
comply with the regulations," said Gilbert, founder of the Hamilton
Medical Marijuana Centre (HMMC) on King Street East.

Gilbert's centre will act as a broker for marijuana permit holders and
licensed growers, for a fee.

It's a new model for a business that largely resides in a grey area.
Unlike most medical marijuana centres, the Hamilton office will not
have or sell any cannabis on site.

Gilbert said he chose Hamilton because the city doesn't have any
compassion clubs or centres like the ones in Toronto and Guelph.

"I wanted to take it as an opportunity to do this project properly
from the beginning. This means meeting with the police, various levels
of the city and obtaining the necessary consultations," Gilbert said.

He disclosed his criminal charges to Hamilton police, but failed to
mention them in a news release Friday. They stem from a May 6, 2010
arrest after undercover officers were able to obtain licences to
possess medicinal marijuana from the Medical Cannabis Club of Guelph.

The club doesn't have the authorization to issue such licences,
federal prosecutors say.

Gilbert and two co-accused are set to appear in a Guelph court for a
preliminary hearing in January.

Gilbert said he believes that generally, compassion clubs will confirm
by phone with a doctor that a patient has a condition requiring
medical marijuana before selling them any product.

In the Guelph case, Gilbert said a police officer posed as a "doctor"
on the phone and at least three "patients" who were really undercover
investigators were able to obtain a medical marijuana licence through
the centre, leading to the arrest of four staff members. (Charges
against one person have since been dropped.)

At the time, Gilbert was a licensed grower.

"I can't take that risk anymore. I won't actually begin transactions
until Health Canada independently sends me a permit that says I'm
allowed to provide (it)," said Gilbert.

"There's enough patients that could use the service and I wanted a
clean slate."

The Hamilton centre, located between Wentworth Street and Sherman
Avenue, will contract with growers, pay them hourly wages and help
them obtain the licence to grow the plant in one of HMMC's leased facilities.

Locations of grow-op facilities will be kept confidential, but
Hamilton police will be kept in the loop. Gilbert indicated they would
be in industrial condos, and house an average of 60 plants per
address. With multiple addresses at each site, Gilbert estimates his
33-patient model will result in 500 marijuana plants over 2,000 square
feet.

During his time as a licensed grower in Guelph, where he went to
university, Gilbert helped a friend suffering from HIV and hepatitis
C. He worked at the city's compassion club, assisting patients with
the 33-page form from Health Canada.

Federal regulations allow people medically authorized for marijuana
use to obtain cannabis in one of three ways: purchasing it through
Health Canada; obtaining a licence to produce the plant for
themselves; or obtaining a licence to designate someone else to
produce the plant for them.

Rather than sell the product, HMMC will give growers access to a safe
space to grow. Other compassion centres connect patients and growers,
but do not provide a monitored space and supplies.

HMMC's opening coincides with proposed regulation changes by Health
Canada that would phase out personal and designated production and
initiate commercial production.

Hamilton Police Service says it is aware of the new
centre.

"HPS will be monitoring the activity at the centre and will also be
monitoring changes to Health Canada regulations," said spokesperson
Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings.

Councillor Bernie Morelli said he was just notified of the new centre,
which is in his Ward 3, Wednesday night and is looking into the zoning
of the space. He said he doesn't have enough information and added he
will be meeting with Gilbert as soon as possible.

"Clearly we have a number of challenges in our neighbourhood, and I
want to make sure we avoid any more potential ones," Morelli said.

Gilbert feels he's found a way to stay within Health Canada rules and
his pending court case won't be a problem.

"Although I'm on charges, I don't believe they're going to have any
impact on my ability to continue serving the needs of patients,"
Gilbert said.

Health Canada said it does not comment on specific care centre
models.

[sidebar]

Cost of marijuana at HMMC:

* Average dose: 3 grams/day

* HMMC price: $5/gram

* Average street price: $10/gram

* Average cost per patient: $450/month

* Cost per ounce: $188 (with tax)

* Service charge: $5 per order

* Order size: Maximum 30-day supply

Job posting from HMMC:

* Wage: $15/hour

* Hours: 2-40 hours or 1-6 days per month (depending on time of harvest)

* High school diploma required

* Average crop: 15 plants per permit