MMPR Grow op: Small Scale

[maximum]

At the moment I am looking for other people in the Edmonton area that are seeking growing space. I am putting up a new building south of Edmonton. I'm building extra bays for additional licensed growers to cover financing costs.

There are other benefits like security system and sharing infrastructure with each other. This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to be a licensed producer in the area. Rent will be reasonable, with a lease.

Contact me at [email protected] to discuss.

I would be willing to move if this is the best option for me down the road. Have you discussed with anyone the legality of subdividing the location up into multiple grows from the same building?

edit: what is the square footage of the bays?

 

[rotorbuds]

Anyone doing something like this near Calgary?

 

[CdnSimon]

It is looking like a 60x80 building or thereabouts right now. 2 storey in the parts of the building that the occupants request it.
We would like to divide it into 4 bays. So they will be approximately 60x20, with 2 storeys that provides about 2400 sqft.

It is pretty easy to find tenants with oilfield trucks, metal work, etc...there is a shortage of commercial space around urban areas. But I would prefer other growers, for the opportunities to share processing space, strains, workforce etc. so I am hoping I can link up with small growers. It would be great to accommodate people down the road, but unfortunately, as these things go, to get financing and provide security for the tenants that we start out with, we will be looking for leases of 3 years minimum. It makes it a dilemma for anyone waiting to see how it goes, then deciding later...and a typical chicken and egg problem.

Of course nothing is proceeding until we have an application approved to the extent that we feel OK to start building.

 

[Nocollins2k]

Has Anyone applied for R&D permit?

 

[oakley1984]

Just out of curiosity... you seem to have very large dreams a well laid out plan and the drive to succeed. But what will you do when Health Canada flat out refuses to cover prescription costs and NOBODY is interested in your product due to the elevated cost vs self production?

 

[redi jedi]

Just out of curiosity... you seem to have very large dreams a well laid out plan and the drive to succeed. But what will you do when Health Canada flat out refuses to cover prescription costs and NOBODY is interested in your product due to the elevated cost vs self production?

The same thing every DG does now...sell to the black market. It will never be a matter of nobody interested in the product, just a lack of truly sick people that can afford to buy it.

 

[oakley1984]

The same thing every DG does now...sell to the black market. It will never be a matter of nobody interested in the product, just a lack of truly sick people that can afford to buy it.

with the way the proposed system is coming in, that will be impossible, every gram of product needs to be accounted for On video.

 

[redi jedi]

with the way the proposed system is coming in, that will be impossible, every gram of product needs to be accounted for On video.[/QUOTE
Really?...show me where this requirement is stated in the new regulations?

Even if this was the case...think you could tell the difference from a 20lb pile of bud to a 18lb pile of bud on a video?....doubt it.

 

[oakley1984]

http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-12-15/html/reg4-eng.html

And i quote.

"The proposed MMPR also set out physical security requirements for the entire site, as well as for restricted-access areas. Restricted-access areas would include all areas where a licensed activity is conducted with marihuana and cannabis other than marihuana (i.e. a lab, the production room, the area where dried marihuana is packaged and labelled). Access to these areas would have to be restricted only to individuals whose presence is required because of their work responsibilities. Licensed producers would have to put systems in place to ensure that access is controlled at all times, as well as 24-7 visual monitoring systems to detect unlawful conduct. The restricted areas would also have to be secured by an intrusion detection system that would detect attempted or actual unauthorized access to the area. The same principles of visual monitoring and intrusion detection would apply to the perimeter of the entire site. Licensed producers would also have to ensure the site and its restricted areas are designed in a manner that prevents unauthorized entry. Should an applicant for a licence fail to demonstrate that they have put in place appropriate physical security measures as outlined in the proposed MMPR, the production licence would be refused."


Any other questions?

 

[R.Raider]

Amazing thread, good work guys. I too am interested in a small scale commercial op.

 

[redi jedi]

http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-12-15/html/reg4-eng.html

And i quote.

"The proposed MMPR also set out physical security requirements for the entire site, as well as for restricted-access areas. Restricted-access areas would include all areas where a licensed activity is conducted with marihuana and cannabis other than marihuana (i.e. a lab, the production room, the area where dried marihuana is packaged and labelled). Access to these areas would have to be restricted only to individuals whose presence is required because of their work responsibilities. Licensed producers would have to put systems in place to ensure that access is controlled at all times, as well as 24-7 visual monitoring systems to detect unlawful conduct. The restricted areas would also have to be secured by an intrusion detection system that would detect attempted or actual unauthorized access to the area. The same principles of visual monitoring and intrusion detection would apply to the perimeter of the entire site. Licensed producers would also have to ensure the site and its restricted areas are designed in a manner that prevents unauthorized entry. Should an applicant for a licence fail to demonstrate that they have put in place appropriate physical security measures as outlined in the proposed MMPR, the production licence would be refused."


Any other questions?

I still dont see anything about "every gram of product needs to be accounted for on video"

 

[rotorbuds]

doesn't this state that the facility needs to be monitored by cctv, the grow room and outside. mainly to prevent break-in from internal and external parameters? this doesn't state that during the dry/weigh/distribution that you need to record empirical evidence of excess destruction.

please correct me if i'm wrong. i'm also looking for some education on the proposed HC changes, which i think are crap and we all need to lobby against.

 

[maximum]

I still dont see anything about "every gram of product needs to be accounted for on video"

Even if video of weigh in was a requirement I would just imagine that people would mis-calibrate the scales.

 

[redi jedi]

maximum,

Have you given any thought to what means of record keeping you will use?

 

[CdnSimon]

There are a lot of other places where people are debating merits and failures of the MMPR, which I am following with great interest. So if the comments about diversion and prescriptions etc. are meant to stir the pot and put down aspiring legal growers, maybe there are better places to start that debate!

I do not intend to allow any product to go to the black market. If I did, I would not jump through regulatory hoops and make an effort to do a full-fledged legal business. I see this crop as a valuable, and profitable one, which can help people and make me a living. My background is in food crops and greenhouses, not black market grow ops, and from where I stand this is a good business.

Medical MJ should not be the $10/g that the local club charges, neither should it be $8.80...the price *should* ultimately reflect the cost of production, and a free market, just like any other crop. The more legal growers we have in healthy competition and the more progressive society gets about MMJ, benefits, prescriptions, the more affordable it will be. But it will not be an overnight revolution that is $1/gram outdoor free grown utopia, unfortunately. It will be small steps, hard work, and risk taken on by entrepreneurs that are willing to try it out.

Why anyone would think that there won't be any market for $8.80/g is beyond me...when there are loads of dispensaries and black market dealers that are the current suppliers. Many buyers will see an advantage to purchasing product that is regulated for quality, contaminants, and ingredients to the same extent as commercial drugs, and that is legally obtainable.

Obviously after expenses, security, taxes, your average licensed producer will be making far less profit than a black market dealer, and many grey-market dispensaries. I really hope that we don't end up with a situation where the political types are putting down the LPs that are trying to be successful in this situation. No one feels this is perfect, every LP would be able to make more money illegally if they wanted to, so give it a chance to work and at least a whole lot of people will have access that did not before. Not all patients are well connected in underground circles, many will be hugely relieved to have a legal supply outside of HC, for quality and clean product.

 

[R.Raider]

http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-12-15/html/reg4-eng.html

And i quote.

"The proposed MMPR also set out physical security requirements for the entire site, as well as for restricted-access areas. Restricted-access areas would include all areas where a licensed activity is conducted with marihuana and cannabis other than marihuana (i.e. a lab, the production room, the area where dried marihuana is packaged and labelled). Access to these areas would have to be restricted only to individuals whose presence is required because of their work responsibilities. Licensed producers would have to put systems in place to ensure that access is controlled at all times, as well as 24-7 visual monitoring systems to detect unlawful conduct. The restricted areas would also have to be secured by an intrusion detection system that would detect attempted or actual unauthorized access to the area. The same principles of visual monitoring and intrusion detection would apply to the perimeter of the entire site. Licensed producers would also have to ensure the site and its restricted areas are designed in a manner that prevents unauthorized entry. Should an applicant for a licence fail to demonstrate that they have put in place appropriate physical security measures as outlined in the proposed MMPR, the production licence would be refused."


Any other questions?

Do these "Restricted-access areas(i.e. a lab, the production room, the area where dried marihuana is packaged and labelled)" have to be at the same location as the grow or can they be at a different location?

 

[maximum]

maximum,

Have you given any thought to what means of record keeping you will use?

I was hoping the final release for the mmpr would enlighten me a little bit about methods they might require. I was expecting them to release the info already. What are they waiting for? Its driving me crazy.

 

[Beaches Compassion]

I am interested in setting up something similar in Toronto...anyone know a lawyer I can consult with?

 

[romulanlover]

Sounds like your a man on a mission Simon, I like that. A prominent cannabis lawyer advised me to cool my jets on leasing or purchasing prior to the final regulations being published, as obscure requirements such as wall thickness, proximity to schools and municipal zoning are enough render a property useless for LP purposes. You on the same page or got any thoughts on this?

 

[CdnSimon]

R.Raider: If you have different facilities (buildings) where different activities are being conducted, you have to detail the locations and floor plans, security measures etc. for each one. You will be covered by 1 license, if it is 1 business in multiple areas.

Maximum: I hear you man, enough waiting let's get the final draft! Re. records. I assume you will have to keep all records normally related to a retail business. Strict records of all sales: buyers, product, quantity, shipping date, payment receipt. For that, start with a standard set of books that a CA would set up for you, or use Quickbooks or similar. Then there is the stuff described in the MMPR regs, namely all of the requirements for selling: a copy of the prescription, a record of amounts over time so that you don't exceed their script over multiple orders. I would also record all activities in the grow areas: number of plants, growing time, strain etc. might not be mandatory but would be useful to keep track of; but certainly harvest weights, thc/cbd test results, microbe and contaminant test results that are in the technical production guide. I'll just be using spreadsheets to keep records as I go, on everything that doesn't fit into Quickbooks...make sure you don't lose records, keep those backups going, because you will surely have to report it all and stand up to an audit at some point.

Romulanlover: definitely true. I am in a lucky situation where I have a landowner on board, who will let me build a building to spec, AFTER the regs are published, and probably after the license comes in. Nothing major happens until then of course! HURRY UP HC