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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


The Hot New Crop: Marijuana

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Health Canada has launched a new initiative that will see the nation's supply of medical marijuana coming from large, carefully monitored indoor farms rather than the small homegrown operations it had previously relied on. In fact, The Canadian Press reports, private-dwelling production will soon be banned altogether.

Profits are expected to be, err, high: $1.3 billion by 2024 according to federal projections. As of press time, 156 firms had already applied for official producer status and two companies had received licenses – Saskatoon's Prairie Plant Systems and its subsidiary CanniMed Ltd. One of the would-be growers is Ontario-based Tweed Inc., which plans to grow weed in an abandoned chocolate factory in Smiths Falls.

Growers will be able to set their own prices, leading some to worry that prices will rise and drive low-income users who previously grew their own toward the black market. Critics also foresee difficulties obtaining prescriptions, which CBC News reports will be required as of April 1, 2014. There is a dearth of clinical trials on marijuana, and Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Louis Francescutti predicts most doctors will not prescribe something so untested.

Nevertheless, Health Canada and would-be growers are seeing green. The number of people who use medicinal marijuana is expected to reach up to 450,000 by 2024 from 34,500 now. Licensed growers will also be in a good position should the drug ever be legalized. Sophie Galarneau, media relations director at Health Canada, told Canadian Press "we're fairly confident that we'll have a healthy commercial industry in time." BF

Current Issue

March 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Farmer Planting Decisions for 2025 Taking Shape

Thursday, March 13, 2025

As farmers across Canada prepare for the 2025 crop year, Statistics Canada says their planting decisions reflect a complex mix of factors including moisture conditions, crop rotation considerations, and market prices. Nationally, farmers are expected to plant more wheat, corn for... Read this article online

Grain Growers of Sounding the Alarm Over U.S. Tariffs

Monday, March 10, 2025

Not surprisingly, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is raising concerns over the United States' decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian grain and grain products, a move that could jeopardize the livelihoods of family-run grain farms and lead to higher food prices for American... Read this article online

International Women’s Day – Angela Cammaert

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, Farms.com is asking women in ag about what they’d tell their younger selves about being a farmer, to give a piece of advice to young women entering the ag sector, and to highlight a woman in agriculture they consider a mentor or... Read this article online

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