Area mom touts benefits of pot during medicinal grow facility visit

A Napanee-area mother is hoping more doctors will start prescribing cannabis to patients who need it, after it’s had near-miraculous results for her six-year-old son.

Kelly’s son Gage suffers from a medical condition that makes him have up to hundreds of seizures per day, but after treating him with cannabis, he can go up to three days without an episode.

She tells Quinte News, people have to change the way they think about the plant, because it has incredible results.

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Part of changing that mindset is getting cannabis classified fully as a medicine, which is the main goal behind the operation at ABcann, as the federal government overhauls its marijuana legislation.

ABcann scientists have developed a computer-based production technique, which ensures the chemical compound in each plant strain is identical, meaning each will have the same effect on patients every time.

ABcann CEO Ken Clement tells Quinte News that consistency will go a long way in having cannabis fully classified as medicine by the federal government

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When asked about moving into the recreational market, if it becomes legal, Clement says it’s not something ABcann has on its radar, although it could end up licensing its technology to other growers for that purpose.

ABCann employs 50 people and has been operating in Napanee since 2014, selling directly to patients, but Clement says there are plans to expand the facility in the near future and bring on more staff as well.

ABCann was giving tours to media as the federal government continues to overhaul its marijuana legislation.