Photo courtesy of supreme.ca.

Hub Staff

A budding career in cannabis production could be the future for some Saugeen Shores residents during the 7Acres Job Fair May 6 at the Plex in Port Elgin.

John Fowler, CEO of Supreme Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of which is 7Acres, a fully licensed producer for commercial cannabis production in Canada, said that the Tiverton cultivator is currently expanding to meet the proposed legalization deadline of July 1, 2018, put in place by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Our intention is to speed up the process and be fully constructed by that time to support as much of the demand that can be supplied out of Bruce County,” said Fowler, addressing Saugeen Shores Council April 24.

The CEO said that in 2015 7Acres began with five employees before expanding to 50 and will now grow to over 120 by the end of the year. He added that they’ve been very fortunate to be in Bruce County. “There’s lots of people looking for work and a good family wage and looking where they can build a career in a new industry.”

Fowler said that medical marijuana is in high demand in Canada and that it is currently a 7-10 billion dollar industry in the underground economy. Fowler stated that Canadians use cannabis more per capita than almost every other county in the world. “So prohibition isn't working. At least this way if Canadians are going to use cannabis, they can have supply chain regulated cannabis. It can be safe, laboratory tested and produced in a facility where we have real jobs and we pay our taxes.”

At the May 6 Job Fair, which will get underway at 9 a.m. and run until 5 p.m., 7Acres will be looking for growers and sanitary technicians with selected applicants returning for interviews on May 7. Fowler said that 7Acres will be looking for good cover letters and that they want to hear about a “passion for the plant,” whether applicants have a horticultural background or know the benefits of medical marijuana.

Fowler said that 7Acres will be involved in the community and will have a local face at the Port Elgin Farmers’ Market every Wednesday throughout the summer months to help combat stigma. “We can be a great member of this community and even if the product we’re producing is stigmatized to some, it’s a very professional business, it’s very highly regulated and I think it’s a net positive for the community,” said Fowler.

Supreme Pharmaceuticals CEO John Fowler addressing Saugeen Shores Council April 24 in Council Chambers.