cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Firm Mulls Legal Action Over Delays Medical Pot Firm Mulls Legal Action Over Delays Posted by CN Staff on April 26, 2003 at 08:05:44 PT By Brian Laghi Source: Globe and Mail Ottawa -- The company hired to grow marijuana for medical use is threatening legal action against Ottawa, as the process to supply the drug to sick Canadians bogs down.In a confidential letter to Health Minister Anne McLellan, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. president Brent Zettl says the government has negatively affected the company's ability to raise capital and to develop other lines of its business's enterprises. "This is also not to mention the demoralizing impact it has had on the staff that have worked diligently on this project," Mr. Zettl wrote in his letter.The federal government contracted with Prairie Plant Systems to grow marijuana for people in Canada who have the right to consume the drug for pain relief and other symptoms of chronic disease.However, the plan has run into several delays since the cabinet shuffle one year ago in which Ms. McLellan took over the Health Department from Allan Rock.A court ruling requires the federal government to make the drug available by July.In his letter, Mr. Zettl asks the minister for a response to inaccuracies Mr. Zettl believes were contained in a series of newspaper articles."Without a response which was the case for previous requests, I will have no choice but to consider other measures to protect the Company's reputation," says the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by The Globe and Mail. "This is particularly important to us in light of the fact that Health Canada has prohibited the Company speaking publicly on the project."In his letter, Mr. Zettl disputes suggestions that a crop being grown by his company at an abandoned Flin Flon mine is too potent to use.The cannabis contains 20 to 25 per cent THC, the active ingredient of marijuana that is said to ameliorate pain and other symptoms.Mr. Zettl says in his letter that Ottawa stipulated in its contract that the pot have a THC content of five per cent or more, with no upper limit.He adds that his company has shown it can produce a cannabis product with a THC content of 0.24 per cent to 25 per cent.The company has produced greater yields of the crop than the federal government says it is delivering, he wrote."It is a fact that more than enough material was produced . . . to satisfy all the planned clinical trials," he says. "This material is packaged and ready to ship, pending your department's final approval."Farah Mohamed, a spokesperson for Ms. McLellan, said yesterday that the department is not questioning the quality of the product but insists that it be safe and of high quality before clinical trials can begin.However, Toronto lawyer Alan Young said Ottawa has consistently made efforts to discredit the project since Ms. McLellan took the job."I think it's clear that the government is trying to discredit its own program," said Mr. Young, who is involved in court efforts to loosen restrictions on the drug. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Brian LaghiPublished: Saturday, April 26, 2003 - Page A16 Copyright: 2003 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Prairie Planet Systemhttp://www.prairieplant.com/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmFederal Marijuana Too Potent To Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16015.shtmlCanada Considers Abandoning Potent Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16012.shtmlOttawa Mum on Drug Minehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15162.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by WolfgangWylde on April 26, 2003 at 17:52:42 PT No offense to the folks at Praire Plant... ...but if you lay down with dogs, you're bound to get some fleas.But seriously folks, I can only conclude that the Canadian Government is just waiting for the Court to legalize and settle the issue for them, so they can plead ignorance to Uncle Sam when its all said and done. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Kegan on April 26, 2003 at 17:40:05 PT: Cornered They are backed into a corner. They got the supreme court telling them to "shit or get off the pot" - so to speak - Then they have the sick people demanding resultsThey have said they will decrim, but that is being critisized.And now this. The company hired to grow weed is about to sue because the government is fouling up their name.This is so sweet my teeth hurt. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on April 26, 2003 at 16:32:13 PT Stalling They can't stall forever. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by druid on April 26, 2003 at 09:44:54 PT wow Yet another possible court case against the Canadian Federal Gov't [ Post Comment ] Post Comment