cannabisnews.com: Health Canada prefers Colombian Marijuana Health Canada prefers Colombian Marijuana Posted by FoM on June 08, 2000 at 05:29:50 PT By Jack Aubry, The Ottawa Citizen Source: Ottawa Citizen It's official: the Canadian government's marijuana of preference is Colombian. Not B.C. Bud; not Alberta Gold -- Colombian. The revelation of the government's favourite weed was smoked out -- so to speak -- by potential bidders lining up for a lucrative contract to provide Health Canada with research-grade marijuana for medicinal purposes. One of the most common questions asked by those interested in the $5-million contract was where the ministry would obtain seeds for the first year. In a 10-page letter to bidders this week, which extended the deadline for responses to June 21 from June 6, ministry officials provided answers to 14 frequently asked questions. "Health Canada will obtain Mexican-Colombian hybrid seeds, if necessary, from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the U.S.A.," it responded to questions about the seed source. An official for the department said bidders may provide their own seeds for the pilot project, but the department could provide the hybrid seeds, if necessary. Smoke connoisseurs of the '60s will remember Colombian Gold. Before homegrown took off in Canada, some believed the only acceptable marijuana on the street was from the tiny country in South America. Becoming a drug cliche in the '70s, Colombian marijuana was featured in comedy films such as Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke. There has been great interest in the five-year Health Canada contract, with 241 potential bidders shelling out about $65 each for the department's tender package. The contract winner will become the legal marijuana producer, with the tightly guarded weed being used purely for research and medicinal purposes. Right now, marijuana is not approved for therapeutic use by any country in the world. Some interested bidders were amused by the Colombian connection, but noted that the seeds probably produced marijuana plants with the low -levels of THC required for the project. Gary Halls of Prince George, B.C., said pure Colombian weed has actually been degraded and killed off over the years because of "mass pollination" and interbreeding. It's reputation as a potent weed has been battered and numerous B.C. strains are much more quality weeds, said Mr. Halls. He cited a Russian seed strain and B.C. Skunk as his preference when it comes to seeds for the project. Jay Blair of Joint Hempstock Inc. in Toronto said strains produced near the equator, such as Nigeria and Colombia, produce marijuana that has a high content of the chemical cannabidiol (CBD), which can have negative effects on users such as making them groggy or grumpy. He said his bid may propose to use seeds from the Netherlands or Afghanistan, for example, which have very low rates of CBD. The winning bidder will set up the first legal marijuana-growing, processing and storage facility in the country. Only one contract will be recommended for award and several bidders believe that the expertise in the marijuana field lies on the West Coast. Health Minister Allan Rock has said that he has smoked, and even inhaled, the still-banned substance but he has yet to reveal what he exactly was smoking in his university years in the '60s. Was it Colombian? Published: June 8, 2000Copyright 2000 Ottawa Citizen Related Articles & Web Site:Health Canadahttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/Government Swamped With Bids To Grow Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5856.shtmlTop Brains To Buzz About Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5833.shtmlB.C. To Ottawa: This Bud's for You http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5634.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Haze on February 21, 2001 at 02:37:53 PT Blah what strange people you all are. The first country in the world to get a real govt funded dope growing program and you all are bitching. Not a brain between the lot of ya. Listen amte, nobody else in the world gives a dog turd about where the seeds come from. It's a horticultural operation so they can change the varieties, as indeed they will, as often as they please. The variety isn't an issue, just getting a govt funded program is the issue. Sheesh. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by CongressmanSuet on June 08, 2000 at 22:10:31 PT: Yea, jump up and down... the Canadians are doing a study, but hey they are using dirt weed, and are doomed to a predictable result, no it doesnt help that much. This is what is expected. Its time to decide which is better. Living in what is supposed to be a "free" country, thats what they always told me, and leaving this idiot hole for a better, more enlightened place. It depends on how strong you feel about these issues, I presume, and what your particular course of action will be...stay and fight, or live in peace...how many lives do you have, I think I might have only this one... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 08, 2000 at 13:56:34 PT Wouldn't it be nice if... That makes sense too. I didn't read the details of the contract but that would solve that particular problem. It would really be something when someone gets the contract if they could set up a paid tour of the farm while in production. I know security would need to be very high but tours of a farm could generate good revenue I think. I know I would try to vacation near where it is being legally grown just to see it!Just wishing today!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by r.earing on June 08, 2000 at 13:38:14 PT: will be greenhouse grown It will be greenhouse grown due to security measures imposed in the contract,so day length, humidity etc.should all be irrelevent.It MAY produce upgraded strains of the present Colombian, which if memory serves, was generally sativa dominant hybrid.Sativa dominant plants are GENERALLY a more "head high" and shorter acting than indica dominant strains.It is a strange choice for a "functional pain control" type plant. It is apt to leave naive users kinda scared of using their approved medicine. I'd use a Kush, NL or Hashplant if I was doing the pickin'. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 08, 2000 at 11:05:40 PT Hard article to understand That makes perfect sense. How could the seeds adapt, in one generation, from down in the deep southern portions of the U.S. where it is very warm and the air very moist to a climate like Canadas? Good observation in my opinion.Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by drfist on June 08, 2000 at 10:05:29 PT A failure in the making Seed from that far south may not flower or finish in time to make good buds in the north in Canada. I assume they know this and want a failure to prove it won't work. Canada seed banks have so many cultivars adapted to Canada. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by roll it up on June 08, 2000 at 09:54:09 PT Colombian weed from NIDA I can't believe that NIDA is a source for cannabis seeds. Even though they are one of the few facilities that has been doing cannabis research, they still suck! Cannada needs great sources for medi-cannabis not Mississippi sw [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: