First Patients Disappointed in Gov't Marijuana

[boulder]

Ottawa -- Some of the first patients to smoke Health Canada's government-approved marijuana say it's "disgusting" and want their money back.

 

"It's totally unsuitable for human consumption," said Jim Wakeford, 58, an AIDS patient in Gibsons, B.C. "It gave me a slight buzziness for about three to five minutes, and that was it. I got no other effect from it."

 

Barrie Dalley, a 52-year-old Toronto man who uses marijuana to combat the nausea associated with AIDS, said the Health Canada dope actually made him sick to his stomach.

 

"I threw up," Dalley said Monday. "It made me nauseous because I had to use so much of it. It was so weak in potency that I really threw up."

 

Both men are returning their 30-gram bags, and Dalley is demanding his money back, $150 plus taxes. Wakeford is returning his unpaid bill with a letter of complaint.

 

A third AIDS patient says he's also unhappy with the product, which is supposed to contain 10.2 per cent THC, the main active ingredient.

 

"I'm still smoking it - I would prefer better, but it's all I've got," said Jari Dvorak, 62, in Toronto. "I think Health Canada certainly should do better with the quality."

 

All three are among a handful of patients who have registered with Health Canada to buy dope directly from the government to alleviate their medical symptoms.

 

The department was compelled to begin direct distribution in July, following an Ontario court order earlier this year that said needy patients should not be forced to get their cannabis on the streets or from authorized growers, who themselves obtain seeds or cuttings illegally.

 

The marijuana is being grown for Health Canada deep underground, in a vacant mine section in Flin Flon, Man., by Prairie Plant Systems on a $5.75-million contract. The department originally intended that the product go first to accredited researchers to demonstrate whether or not cannabis is medically effective.

 

Health Minister Anne McLellan has said she opposes the direct distribution of government cannabis to patients and that the program will end if the department wins its appeal of the Ontario court decision.

 

The government dope also came under fire Monday from Canadians for Safe Access, a patients' rights group that is pressing for supplies of safe, effective marijuana.

 

Laboratory tests indicate the Health Canada product has only about three per cent THC - not the 10.2 per cent advertised - and contains contaminants such as lead and arsenic, said spokesman Philippe Lucas of Vicoria.

 

"This particular product wouldn't hold a candle to street level cannabis," he said in an interview.

 

But Lucas declined to identify the three labs that did the testing, other than to indicate they're in Vancouver, saying he fears the facilities might suffer repercussions from Health Canada because they were not authorized to possess the cannabis.

 

He also would not say how the group obtained the sample of government dope.

 

Lucas, who smokes marijuana to cope with his hepatitis C infection, said the lab results also showed that the cannabis provided at a Victoria compassion club for patients registers at more than 12 per cent and is freer from contaminants.

 

He said the government cannabis was too finely ground up with stems and leaves, calling it "shwag" or "bunk," street terminology for the lowest grade of marijuana.

 

"It's high time for Minister McLellan to acknowledge Health Canada's total failure and ineptitude in its handling of therapuetic cannabis research, distribution and cultivation," Lucas said in a statement.

 

Health Canada spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday

Source: Canadian Press

[Mr Nice Guy]

Time to make a fuckload of hash?

 

[Guest Field_of_Light]

Govt supplied and they cant get it right....what r they growing...big bud?

[Guest Babybear]

so were they growing hydro or just bush under lights?

 

gov can never be as good growers as the no offical growppl hehe

 

if they got weed activist to help them the process could quicken mabie an give the med users decent gear

 

I know personaly that weed is best thing for motion sickness an vomitiong

[pipeman]

I know personaly that weed is best thing for motion sickness an vomitiong

hey you reckon it would help with sea sickness? I get sea sick real easy. might try getting high next time, just gotta be careful not to fall off the boat

[white_cluster]

Govt supplied and they cant get it right....what r they growing...big bud?

Steve Tuck from Hillbilly dreams supplied the genetics for the flin flon venture.

 

He is a shifty motherfucker, uses Marc Emery as an excuse for his shitty seeds. Supposedbly an activist, hes just a fucking criminal though. He had so many strains ready to sell like a year or so after getting out of jail.

 

But I dunno if the genetics are to be blamed eh, he's meant to have some real nice clones Trainwreck and shit like that. His seeds are meant to be real unstable, most hate them but some find real nice individuals.

 

I think Prarie Plant Systems are the problem, the buds we're probably very premature and harvested for high THC levels low CBD levels tested by chromatography of samples to harvest. Instead of when the plants are actually ready and the buds have a less pure THC content.

 

THC levels are all bullshit, usually it is the THC content of the resin. Sometimes the THC levels of the bud. I'd say the 10% test was done of the resin. the 3% test of the bud. Most hydroponic crops are not flushed and I'd say flin flon did that too.

 

I cant understand why a huge business experienced in growing huge quantities of good med MJ like Trichome Technologies wasnt paid to do this instead of setting up some fucking crazy bunker.

[Kash]

My friend has just recieved her forms of aplication to be part of an australian research program into the effects of MJ on pain.

Apparently they give the participants gear and forms to fill out, to rate the gear.

She has a well documented history of chronic pain in various parts of her body.

Ill let you know more as she tells me.

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

 

Kash

[Guest weekprik]

I read about that Kash, apparently they are giving some a placebo, others will be getting tablet, No one will be getting weed, it will be tablets and stuff

 

But this is just what I read, Im not up with the current info ;(

 

Pipeman, Ive not tried it for seasick but I also get seasick, normally I cant fish off a moving jetty or whatever, Anyways last week I spent 12 hours fishing off a floating jetty and normally I would get sick,

I smoke 4 rolled joints over that period and the only time I felt sick was when we first arrived and were setting up,

 

 

So I reakon it would work, let us know if you get a chance to try it.

Edited September 17, 2003 by weekprik

[Kash]

hey,

it might be that...but im sure they mentioned weed as well man...so it may be sprays, tabs,caps,weed etc etc ..her friend is best friends with one of the chief scientists...so shes more or less gauranteed a place in the program...

 

 

regards

 

Kash

[Guest weekprik]

Cool, can u keep us up to date with how its going,

 

Im dead keen interested in the results of this,

I reakon they would have to use weed as well, or surely the information would not be as right as it should be?