cannabisnews.com: Health Canada Medical Marijuana Could Be Better Health Canada Medical Marijuana Could Be Better Posted by CN Staff on September 18, 2003 at 14:30:30 PT By Dean Beeby, Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Ottawa -- The Health Canada marijuana that's getting bad reviews from some patients was not tested by users and could be improved, says the grower. "The individuals who tried this product are the first humans ever to use it," Brent Zettl of Saskatoon's Prairie Plant Systems said Thursday. "This is a very early-stage product. . . . We haven't hit the mark yet on this medicine." Zettl, whose company grows government marijuana on contract in Flin Flon, Man., was responding to complaints this week from patients who called the dope weak, disgusting and not fit for human consumption. Prairie Plant Systems began shipping the marijuana Aug. 13 to a small group of Health Canada-approved patients who require the drug to alleviate symptoms such as nausea. The 30-gram packages of dried leaves and buds, which sell for $150, were originally intended to be used in clinical trials. But an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the department either to change its marijuana regulations by July 9 or begin supplying pot itself directly to needy patients. Health Canada appealed that order but until there's a final ruling, the department has been forced to distribute its marijuana directly to 10 patients, two of whom are getting seeds only. Another 39 patients have also applied. "It would have been better to have had this go through the clinical trials first," said Zettl. "Through the clinical trials, there would have been patient feedback." Prairie Plant Systems was required to produce marijuana with 10.2 per cent THC, the main active ingredient, though some patients complained that it seems weaker. A Victoria patients-rights group said this week that it sent samples of government marijuana to an independent lab that measured the THC at only three per cent, though the group refused to identify the lab or say how it got the samples. Zettl said his company hired three labs, each of whom verified the 10.2 per cent THC content and declared the product well within Health Canada guidelines for contaminants such as lead, arsenic and microbes. "The material has been tested and retested," he said. "We jumped through a lot of hoops." Patients also complained that the marijuana was too finely ground, though Zettl said that was to ensure that clinical doses were standard. "The coarser the material, the higher the probability that the dosing will wander," he said. The only other current users of Health Canada marijuana are 32 patients enrolled in a $235,000 clinical study at Montreal General Hospital. The project, directed by McGill University's Dr. Mark Ware, will determine how smoked marijuana can alleviate pain. Ware declined an interview Thursday, and Zettl said he has received no feedback from the study about the quality of the product. A Health Canada official said the department has received one telephone call from a patient complaining about the quality of the dope, and has been told to expect a letter from another dissatisfied customer. But Richard Viau said it's too early to say whether the department will make changes to the product. "We'll have to see what the feedback is and then determine if there's any actions to be taken," said Viau, director of the drug analysis service. He added he is confident of the Prairie Plant System lab results which were reviewed by Health Canada. Prairie Plant Systems is currently using four strains of marijuana, whose flowering tops or buds range in THC content from 11 per cent to 30 per cent. The company mixes dried leaves, which have lower THC, with buds to lower the overall THC to meet Health Canada's specifications. The company's $5.75-million contract with Health Canada ends in 2005. Complete Title: Health Canada Medical Marijuana Could Be Better, Supplier Agrees Source: Canadian Press Author: Dean Beeby, Canadian Press Published: Thursday, September 18, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Canadians for Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccess.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmGovernment Cannabis Unfit for Humanshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17321.shtmlGovernment Pot's The Pits: Patients http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17316.shtml U.S., Canada Spar Over Anti-Drug Policies http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17315.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on September 20, 2003 at 17:08:22 PT: Bad Buds in Canadian Copper Mine! Don't you think that medical patients in Canada would appreciate some real genuine high quality "medijuana" (TM) from the Big Island of Hawaii? I am in touch with one of the original team who set up Prairie Plants operation and they confirmed that the limits put on Brent Zettl, prevented him from producing good buds! I even offered to supply him with "volcanic organic (TM)" genetics to use in his copper mine grow op, but he didn't accept the gracious and legal offering from our church and Institute. Maybe with the help of the public's opinion and our heavenly Father, we can progress and accomplish the worthy goal of being the first authorized central cultivation facilty of high-grade cannabis in the USA. I am praying. P.S. Quality Matters!" Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on September 18, 2003 at 14:50:49 PT The politics of treating patients like morons "Patients also complained that the marijuana was too finely ground, though Zettl said that was to ensure that clinical doses were standard."The coarser the material, the higher the probability that the dosing will wander," he said. "Patients ultimately are resonsible themselves for getting their dose right. With marijuana, patients are able to titrate their own dose, on their own.They don't need this demeaning treatment from Zettl.This is not a lethal drug.Nobody is going to overdose and die and have their family sue you, Mr. Zettl. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by DeVoHawk on September 18, 2003 at 14:40:58 PT To Skew the results of the anticipated studies "The company mixes dried leaves, which have lower THC, with buds to lower the overall THC to meet Health Canada's specifications". [ Post Comment ] Post Comment