Wellington wins
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im JPHyundaiNana
Senior boys’ basketball team takes first Island AAA title. Page 24
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www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 27, NO. 84
Tilray sees opportunity with federal ruling
I
court struck down laws passed by Conservatives.
By Tamara Cunningham
By John m c Kinley
THE NEwS bULLETiN
Nanaimo’s largest licensed pot producer sees opportunity in a federal court ruling that struck down medical marijuana regulations. The Federal Court of Canada declared the government’s medical marijuana regime, which prevents patients from growing at home, unconstitutional last week. It’s a decision that’s considered significant and even historic by lawyer Kirk Tousaw, who co-represented the case’s four plaintiffs, including Nanaimo’s Neil Allard. For Greg Engel, chief executive officer of Tilray, a large-scale producer of medical marijuana based in Nanaimo, there’s optimism the ruling will open up opportunity. In the case, Judge Michael Phelan ruled the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, which prevent people from growing their own medical marijuana, infringes on charter rights in what Tousaw said is the first time the issue of personal production of medical marijuana has been put before the courts for review. The judge suspended his ruling for six months to allow for a response by the federal government and in the meantime, only those patients protected under a previous 2014 injunction can
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Greg Engel, tilray cEo, is optimistic about the potential for the company’s future growth despite a federal court ruling that allows licensed medical marijuana users to grow marijuana at home instead of being restricted to purchasing product from government-approved growers.
continue to grow. There’s no uncertainty for Tilray, one of 29 licensed producers in Canada under the regulations, whose chief executive officer says that proliferation and licensing of marijuana dispensaries has more impact on the marketplace. When people could opt to grow their own pot under the federal government’s now-repealed system, only a small percentage did so, according to Engel, who said his company is focused on ensuring those who choose not to grow receive medi-
cines that are “safe and consistent and reliable.” He also says the company can offer 15 to 20 different varieties at any one time, and only this week launched cannabis oil, whereas home growers would grow a couple of types. What Engel sees as a positive step is that government has been given time to look at making changes to medical marijuana regulations, which is seen as an opportunity to evolve and modify regulation. There are restrictions for the company, including on
concentrations of THC. It also cannot produce cartridges for vaporizer pens. “We are optimistic that with the court mandating the government look at the regulations that it will actually open up the opportunities significantly for us in terms of what’s going to be available and what we can provide to patients,” he said. In the meantime, he says Tilray is in growth mode and has hired 15 employees since the company laid off workers last year. – files from Tom Fletcher/Black Press news@naanimobulletin.com
Free money? Yeah, right. It’s hard to overcome a reaction hammered into us by countless buyerbeware, too-good-to-be-true stories, but this news is both good and true. You can get free money – up to $2,000 – for your child’s education with no more effort than a bit of paperwork. In fact, Vancouver Island University will do most of the work for you. It’s called the Canada Learning Bond, and it’s a federal program that far too few people are aware of, or taking advantage of, according to Rolanda Murray. “My experience has been that all parents dream big for their children,” the VIU Canada Learning Bond coordinator said. “They just may not know how to navigate these situations.” You don’t have to spend any of your own money and you won’t be making any tedious long-term commitments. All you need is an application (which VIU will help you complete), a child born in 2004 or later, and a combined household income of no more than $45,000. The child gets $500 upon registration to use toward a post-secondary education – at VIU or any institution of his or her choice – and $100 each subsequent year until the child reaches 15. VIU president Ralph Nilson made his university the only one in Canada to have a full-time person on staff dedicated to encouraging and helping people sign up. He was inspired after learning that just 11 per cent of the eligible children in the community had registered. “Access to education is a university value and a personal value,” Murray said. “He just decided VIU can make an impact.” see ‘EDUCATION’ /4