Health Canada to Commission Medical Cannabis Supplier

Resulting from a series of court rulings, Ottawa supplies cannabis for medical marijuana patients in Canada. According to the London Free Press April 15, 2008 article,("Weed Grower Sought To Be Feds' Official Supplier") ' The department served notice yesterday it soon will invite firms to bid on a contract to cultivate and distribute medical marijuana, which is now being done in Flin Flon, Man., by Prairie Plant Systems Inc. The winning firm will be expected to deliver a steady stream of government-approved dope to certified medical users starting in the fall. Health Canada posted a notice on a government tenders website saying it would put out a formal request for proposals in the spring of 2008, without specifying a date."

The article states, "The marijuana program licenses certified medical users to grow their own pot, to have someone grow it for them or to buy it straight from Health Canada. The department has paid Prairie Plant Systems more than $10 million to cultivate government-certified dope in a mine shaft in Flin Flon, Man. The company couriers the weed directly to users in 30-gram packets.Health Canada first awarded Prairie Plant Systems the deal in late 2000 and has been extending it in six-month increments since 2006, says company president Brent Zettl. He added the company has to decide whether it will bid on the new contract, although he expects it will."

The article adds, "The winning firm could wind up in the advantageous position of one day being the sole supplier of medical marijuana. Health Canada has said it plans to eventually end its licensing of homegrown weed. That would force all medical users to buy their supplies directly from Ottawa, perhaps through pharmacy distribution."