As medical marijuana producers operate under two sets of regulations — at least for the time being — the budding industry has been left somewhat fractured, according to David Brown.
The spokesman for Lift Cannabis Co., which opened voting August 12 for Canada’s first-ever medical marijuana industry awards, said honouring companies and figures in this sector would help clear the way for a stronger business community.
Categories include favourite licensed producers, favourite medical clinics and Cannabis Crusader — an award honouring advocates in the marijuana world.
“There’s honestly just not a real central database or centralized conversation going on in the industry right now so our hope is to sort of start that conversation and get people looking at the industry as a whole,” Brown said.
In March, a federal court decision allowed for growers operating under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) to extend their licence for another year following the introduction of the new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR).
The MMPR would have forced growers operating under the MMAR to destroy their stockpiles, dismantle their equipment and buy only from major facilities through mail order.
“The MMPR is just a very new system and I think a lot of people are not fully aware of it,” Brown said.
“Our intent is to help, sort of, bring together that community, draw attention to a lot of the changes in the new system, and specifically with the Cannabis Crusaders award, to draw attention to some of the people who are pushing the industry forward.”
Voting ends September 23 and winners will be announced October 1. Votes can be cast at Lift’s website.
