On January 10th, Health Canada approved James E. Wagner Cultivation Ltd., or "JWC", as Canada's 38th authorized Licensed Producer of medical marijuana under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR"). While readers are used to our coverage of the publicly-listed Licensed Producers like Canopy Growth and Supreme Pharmaceuticals, you certainly don't want to ignore this community-owned L.P.
A few days ago, I was given the privilege to talk at length with JWC's CEO Nathan Woodworth as well as VP and Chief Compliance Officer Laura Foster about the newly approved L.P., and why they're worth keeping a close eye on.
First Crop
Approved for production on January 10th, JWC is in the process of growing their first crop to send off to Health Canada for testing and approval for sale. According to Woodworth, the initial marijuana plants should be ready for flowering in a few weeks, making harvest only two and a half months away.
Following harvest, JWC expects to wait approximately a month for initial test results before sending it off to Health Canada for the final say. As soon as this stage is complete, JWC will be ready to sell their top-quality marijuana to patients. With a 100 kg. vault limit until Health Canada's selling approval, JWC will be building an inventory of product to accommodate sales upon the anticipated green light.
Strain Variety
JWC's first marijuana crop is a high CBD strain, but JWC plans to produce medical marijuana with a wide variety of different genetics and cannabinoid profiles. JWC is currently in the process of meeting with suppliers of starting materials (seeds or live plants) to find other strains and phenotypes worth cultivating.
As a patient himself, treating chronic pain, Woodworth recognizes the fact that different conditions require different strains for optimal efficacy. It's not just JWC's strains that will bring variety to medical marijuana patients across Canada, but the proprietary growing method itself that will place their product among the ranks of their most established competitors.
Aeroponics
JWC is bringing variety to the growing methods we see used across the Licensed Producer spectrum. Besides Green Relief's aquaponic method, we see the standard hydroponic and geoponic methods across the board.
Surely there's some variety in terms of facility type (ie. hybrid greenhouse, fully indoor, etc.), but JWC is definitely the first L.P. using a proprietary aeroponic method to grow all of their small-batch medical marijuana.
What is aeroponics you may ask? Its a complex growing method where there is no growing medium like water or soil, but rather the plant's roots are suspended and sprayed with a nutrient-enriched water solution to be fed.
According to Woodworth, this provides JWC cultivators the highest level of control over every stage of the cannabis growing cycle, leading to a higher quality end product for their patients.
Community
Founded and financed by the surrounding Kitchener, Ontario community, it was clear in talking with management that a feeling of family was present at JWC. The more that Woodworth and Foster spoke about their products, employees and future patients, it became clear that no matter how large JWC gets there will always be a deep passion and caring for what they do.
As mentioned above, JWC's CEO uses medical marijuana as a part of a balanced treatment regimen for his chronic pain. Woodworth understands what patients want, and knows that medical marijuana is a huge part of many people's health care. JWC is making sure that health and care go hand in hand for their patients.
Rising Star
JWC is clearly a rising star in the Canadian Licensed Producer space. With a differentiated growing method and a family-like team of passionate individuals, it is hard to imagine a reason why JWC won't be the next hottest L.P.
As far as JWC's Health Canada sale approval goes, there's no reason to sweat. At their side is Ivan Ross Vrana, founder of Aslan Ross Consulting, guiding JWC through their Health Canada approvals with his 18+ years of Canadian government experience forming Canada's MMPR policies.
Upon this anticipated sales approval, JWC is already outfitted to accommodate expansion. With a 15,000 sq. ft. facility, they have ample room to build out three additional grow rooms.
When asked how JWC was intending to finance those expansions, Woodworth said that "JWC will be considering all methods of financing" when they get to that stage. Hearing that makes me very excited for what's to come.
More Information
For more information on James E Wagner Cultivation Ltd., be sure to check out their website at www.jwcmed.com. Also, don't forget to connect with JWC through social media on Facebook /JWCmed and Twitter @JWCmed.
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