LOCAL MEDICAL POT STUDY APPROVED

Duncan's Eric Nash and Wendy Little are taking medicinal marijuana to
the next level with Health Canada's approval to research
cannabis-based medicines.

Phytocan is the first company in Canada to develop a cannabis-based
product," said operations manager Wendy Little.
With the help of a local PhD specialist in plant extracts, whose
identity cannot be revealed due to security issues, Phytocan will
begin a 12- to 18-month initial phase to create a standardized product.

Geared toward specific conditions such as HIV, AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, cancer and epilepsy, and pain management, the project will
research different forms - specifically powder and liquid.

Whatever the body can absorb as quickly as possible," said Phytocan
president Eric Nash.

There's a resurgence in plant-based medicines and people tending to
shy away from synthetic (medications)," said Nash.

American's Bayer and GW have released a liquid cannabis-based oral
spray called Sativex into Canadian pharmacies, which will provide
market competition once Phytocan releases a product.

Ours will be certified organic - different in that regard," said
Nash, adding the marijuana source for Phytocan's research is Island
Harvest, Nash and Little's organic facility for marijuana.

While the pair was previously legally allowed to sell to multiple
clients for medicinal purposes, they have once again been restricted
to two clients. During a consultation in Ottawa, Nash was advised by
Health Canada to move into cannabis-based products to give people
more access to medicinal marijuana.

Nash and Little have received support from many people, said Nash,
including MP Jean Crowder, former MP Reed Elley, MLA Doug Routley and
former MLA Graham Bruce, as well Duncan council.

In a letter to Health Canada minister Ujjal Dosanjh, chief medical
health officer of B.C., Dr. F. J. Blatherwick advises that the
medical health officers will release an updated report in the fall on
the need to legalize cannabis and treat it as a medical product.
Crowder, Bruce and Duncan council expressed approval of the research
project in letters, especially with the economic benefits for the community.

Nash said the research will be completed locally, and that during
production stages, all packaging, labeling and manufacturing will
create jobs in the community.

With the support of local businesses as stakeholders and Health
Canada's conditional approval, Phytocan is ready to get the ball
rolling on marijuana safety and efficacy research.

Patients want the Island Harvest product and Phytocan is a way of
getting it to more people," said Little.