Canada: Medical Pot Not Up To Snuff

The Windsor Star ^ | April 05, 2004 | Donald McArthur

[Wolfie]

Medical Pot Not Up To Snuff

Unless the government learns to grow better dope, a proposal to distribute Health Canada marijuana in pharmacies will go up in smoke, say local medical marijuana advocates.

"They have to improve their product or this project isn't going to go anywhere at all," said Fred Pritchard of Windsor's marijuana compassion club. "I can't believe the government pushes this garbage on sick people. We're going to make them sicker."

A 43-year-old Windsor woman authorized to smoke pot for medical reasons said she became sick after trying the Health Canada weed last fall and sent it back to the government in disgust.

"I had anxiety so bad and I had nausea so bad and I was crying," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "I'd been waiting so long and it was just such a big letdown. It's not fit for human consumption."

The federal government gave Prairie Plant Systems Inc. a five-year $5.7 million contract in December 2000 to grow marijuana in a former copper mine in Flin Flon, Man. The product has been blasted as inferior "schwag" and vilified for giving users nausea and headaches.

The physical difference between the government grass and marijuana Pritchard supplies to patients permitted to indulge for medical reasons couldn't be more marked.

The Flin Flon marijuana, distributed to patients in 30-gram bags for $150, comes in a "shake" or powder form, with brown flakes and what appear to be ground up stems. It is light-green in colour, resembles oregano or catnip, and has no discernible smell.

"It tastes like lumber," Pritchard said. "I don't know how anybody is going to get any relief from this."

Pritchard's marijuana consists of rich, moist, green buds and has an overpowering, sickly sweet smell. It is flecked with resin exuding glandular trichomes, the hairs or crystals used to make hashish.

Health Canada maintains its marijuana has a THC content of 10 per cent, on par with the average THC content of street marijuana seized by police. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive substance in marijuana that makes users feel high or stoned.

Pritchard doubts the 10 per cent figure, but hasn't conducted any tests.

Health Canada spokeswoman Catherine Saunders acknowledged the government has received significant "feedback" from users.

"The criticism is based on personal perceptions," she said. "We're exploring ways of modifying the manner in which the marijuana is physically prepared."

More than 700 Canadians are authorized to take marijuana for medical reasons but only 78 of them have been approved to receive Health Canada marijuana.

Saunders couldn't explain the lack of demand except to say "people aren't applying."

The government is considering a proposal that would allow those 78 patients to purchase Flin Flon marijuana in British Columbia pharmacies. If the pilot project is successful it could spread throughout the country.

[aruanan]

"I had anxiety so bad and I had nausea so bad and I was crying," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "I'd been waiting so long and it was just such a big letdown. It's not fit for human consumption."

They're probably just repackaging dope they've seized in raids, some of it, no doubt, laced with other stuff.

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[Monty22]

You have no evidence of that. Maybe it's just not a 'medicine' at all?

They're basically complaining that it doesn't get them high.

Boo hoo.

[Khurkris]

Dude...where my chronic...aaay?

[philman_36]

So much for the old homage that the government has the best bud, eh!
It's dirtweed! (puh, puh) How typical.

[Skooz]

"I'd been waiting so long and it was just such a big letdown. It's not fit for human consumption."

Almost exactly my words one time long ago after waiting all night to make a score. The pot was terrible. I was dissapointed because it took so much to get a buzz. I suspect she is, too.

[Solamente]

I'm still waiting for medical hash.

[mitchbert]

They're probably just repackaging dope they've seized in raids, some of it, no doubt, laced with other stuff.

No, they really are growing the stuff in an abandoned mine. We first heard of this last year when the first crop was released. It was apparantly just horrible to try and smoke and basically worthless.

They'd be far better off to just license carefully regulated hydroponic grow ops. Let some growers go legit and leave it to the experts.

[wingnutx]

Suprise! The government grows pot about as well as it does anything else.

Put me in the free-market camp.

[thoughtomator]

Unlikely. People who grow pot to sell need to please their customers. Governments don't.

[ClearCase_guy]

So much of this article is Grade A material on why government programs don't work. High School kids in Canada can get quality marijuana. But the government? All they can get their hands on is dirtweed. And this:

More than 700 Canadians are authorized to take marijuana for medical reasons but only 78 of them have been approved to receive Health Canada marijuana.

Why, sure! I'm authorized to get it -- but I'm not approved to get it. After I get muh government Approval, I'm gonna start working on my Validation. Once I'm Authorized, Approved, and Validated, I figure I'll get some of that medicine -- if I'm not dead first.

[Wolfie]

Its the same batch of dirtweed that the government tried to pass off once already. Making the stuff that's been rejected once already available in pharmacies is hardly a step forward. Leave it to government.

[thoughtomator]

Or more likely, the government program ruined it so that it's worthless for any purpose.

[Loyalist]

Cocaine has been proven to be a much more efficacious medicine than marijuana, yet we hear not a word from anyone about legalizing medicinal cocaine.

It's all about the power of the pot lobby.

[Skooz]

Welcome to socialized medicine.

[philman_36]

They're basically complaining that it doesn't get them high.
Did you even read the article or are you only capable of asinine similes?
A 43-year-old Windsor woman authorized to smoke pot for medical reasons said she became sick after trying the Health Canada weed last fall and sent it back to the government in disgust.
"I had anxiety so bad and I had nausea so bad and I was crying," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
They're basically complaining because it made them sick, anxious and nauseated, not that it didn't get them high. You can't get high on dirtweed/headache weed anyway as the THC content is too low.

Health Canada maintains its marijuana has a THC content of 10 per cent, on par with the average THC content of street marijuana seized by police.
Yeah, yeah I know...they maintain that their weed has 10% THC content. Let 'em prove it. Plenty of available tests out there to do so.
And there goes the other old facade of today's weed being stronger! If their dirtweed is comparable to what is being seized by police then there is a thriving market for decent weed, legal or illegal, just waiting for some enterprising individuals to move in on.
Just a tic...isn't that just what the black market is doing?

[philman_36]

Suprise! The government grows pot about as well as it does anything else.
ROTFLMAO!

[philman_36]

Making the stuff that's been rejected once already available in pharmacies is hardly a step forward.
EeeeeWWwwww
That's as bad as ABC gum...Already Been Chewed.

[philman_36]

Cocaine has been proven to be a much more efficacious medicine than marijuana, yet we hear not a word from anyone about legalizing medicinal cocaine.
An FYI...
URINE DRUG TEST FACT SHEET
Legal Use: Cocaine is still used as a local anesthetic. Medicinal cocaine use is rarely found outside hospital settings because of the high potential for abuse, the difficulty maintaining the license to store cocaine and the availability of suitable substitutes,. Cocaine is not contained in any prescription medications from a pharmacy or in any over-the-counter medications. As late as 1986 an herbal tea sold under the name of "Health Inca Tea" contained enough cocaine to cause positive urine test results. The DEA continues to seize herbal teas containing cocaine.
If ya can't trust urine specimen checkers then who can you trust? (strictly rhetorical)