Portugal Cove farmer hopes to grow medical marijuana

A farmer in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's is hoping he will be able to start growing medicinal marijuana on his property.

Ian McDonald, owner of Bickerstaffe Farms and Nurseries Ltd., said he's starting to grow hydroponic vegetables on his farm, and now he wants to add pot.

McDonald said while he's waiting to get certain government approvals, he wanted to let people know what he's hoping to do so he could get some feedback.

"We wanted to have it out on the street so that people could discuss it, and so far it's been very positive," he said.

McDonald said he would need to get approval from the provincial and municipal governments first, along with the federal government.

Ottawa is changing the law to allow more commercial production of medical marijuana on April 1, so McDonald will have to wait until then to hear more from the federal government.