cannabisnews.com: Government Ganja Mined in Flin Flon





Government Ganja Mined in Flin Flon
Posted by CN Staff on May 01, 2003 at 01:45:32 PT
By Frank Landry, Legislature Reporter
Source: Winnipeg Sun 
Psssst -- want some government-sanctioned bud? Health Canada officials believe for the first time they've harvested at least two batches of research-grade marijuana from deep within the country's only official pot mine, located in Flin Flon, about 650 km northwest of Winnipeg. Final tests are being done on the cannabis before it's offered to scientists for clinical research trials. 
"The reality is, a researcher in the near future will not only be able to access the product from the United States, but they will be able to access a product made available by Health Canada," said Cindy Cripps-Prawak, director of the country's Office of Cannabis Medical Access. The marijuana grown in Flin Flon is strictly for research purposes. Patients approved by Health Canada to smoke pot must grow their own or have someone else grow it for them, a position that led to a lawsuit launched last year by chronic pain sufferers who are demanding the federal government provide a safe, reliable and affordable supply. Located in an old copper mine hundreds of metres below the surface, the Flin Flon pot mine has produced more than 244 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana since last year. Most of the pot has not met strict research standards. But it's believed two batches of weed harvested in December 2002 and this past February meet "good manufacturing guidelines" -- a guarantee each plant is grown and processed under identical conditions to ensure consistency. The plants are being tested for qualities such as potency and microbiological content, Cripps-Prawak said. So far, only two clinical trials on pot have been approved in Canada -- both using seeds brought in from the United States. Health Canada has put a call out looking for scientists who want to conduct clinical trials using the local cannabis. Dr. Mark Ware, a leading marijuana researcher in Montreal, said it doesn't really matter where the pot he uses comes from. But he's looking forward to getting a crack at the Canadian supply. "This is a Canadian project. It would be useful to think we could use Canadian product," said Ware, who will be leading a study at the McGill University this year looking at the potential benefits of smoking marijuana to relieve pain. Marijuana's active agent, THC, has been found to relieve pain, nausea and muscle spasms. Dr. Harold Kalant, a pharmacologist at the University of Toronto, said it may be difficult finding scientists who will want the pot. Researchers are staying away from using marijuana in clinical trials for health reasons, he said. "Smoking cannabis is not a recommended way of administering the drug," Kalant said. Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)Author: Frank Landry, Legislature ReporterPublished:  Thursday, May 1, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: editor wpgsun.com Website: http://www.fyiwinnipeg.com/winsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Prairie Planet Systemhttp://www.prairieplant.com/Ottawa Must Decide What To Do About Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16100.shtmlCanada Rethinks Medical Marijuana Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16079.shtmlMedical Pot Firm Mulls Legal Action Over Delayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16063.shtml
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