Page 46 - CCCA 247020 Magazine Spring 2016

{ InsIde edge }

in-house in An

industrY oF Firsts

By Mark Zekulin

just over two and half years ago, I took a gamble when I became a cannabis policy into debate. By the time
I fnally understand the regulatory frame-
founding employee and General Counsel of a little would-be medical
work, it will probably have changed.
marijuana producer named Tweed. I was looking to move out of Again. But it is exciting trying to keep up
private practice into something more dynamic, and this seemed like and get ahead—understanding the law,
policies and business not only as they ex-
opportunity knocking—a start-up company in a start-up sector, flled ist now but also as they will be in a year.
with unknowns and controversy. Well, I got dynamic and then some! And nobody really knows the answer, so
we must work through it together.
Now add in that this sector is centered
weed and its parent company, Canopy and our site and fles are reviewed every on one of the most popular recreational
Growth Corporation, now employ month. Key staff must be cleared by se- drugs, bringing with it the associated con-
talmost 200 people across three sites, curity to go to work, and everything is troversy and the constant gaze of media.
with licensed production capacity of over under the watchful eyes of cameras. We In-house counsel at other companies
500,000 square feet. We are publicly trad- produce a pharma-quality plant that is must think of the law within a business
ed on the TSX Venture, and operate under treated as a controlled substance but sold framework: How can we abide by the reg-
two distinct cannabis brands. It has been a directly to the end user. Suffce to say, ulations while ensuring we are doing what
whirlwind, and we are just getting started. nothing is easy. is best for the company? Well, with can-
When you think of the marijuana in- As in-house counsel for a corpora- nabis, I must place the emphasis on what
dustry, you picture hippy farmers. How- tion and entire industry that is just over is best for the customers. Most are sick and
ever, it is one of the fastest growing and two years old, the focus is on how every- require access to their medicine through
most interesting sectors in Canada. As one thing is new—to us, our competitors, the us. So this job includes marketing (as a
of its frst in-house counsel, I have the rare regulators and the public. That is both controlled substance, it needs lawyer ap-
opportunity to share what it is like. daunting and exciting. I think I have it proval), as well as convincing customers,
We are exceptionally highly regulated. under control, and then the government doctors, regulators and the public that we
Every plant and every gram of product introduces a new component, such as oil are operating not only within the law, but
is traced. Nothing can be done without regulations, which brings new questions also with the most stringent safeguards in
a standard operating procedure govern- and challenges. Then, when I think I am place to ensure the product that reaches
“ It is exciting trying to keep up and get even faster in the years to come. Here’s to
ing it. Inspectors show up unannounced, on top of that, a federal election brings the customer is safe.
The industry has grown rapidly (pun
intended) and will undoubtedly evolve

future growth! ❚
ahead—understanding the law, policies
” da’s largest licensed producer of
Mark Zekulin is President and
and business not only as they exist now
General Counsel at Tweed, Cana-
but also as they will be in a year.
legal medical cannabis.

46 CCCa MaGazInE | SPRInG 2016 PRInTEMPS