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Marijuana wasn't tested
By: Canadian Press, Edmonton Sun, 09/19/03

OTTAWA -- The Health Canada marijuana that's getting bad reviews from some patients hadn't been tested before 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 yesterday.

"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 and disgusting.

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.

Prairie Plant Systems was required to produce marijuana with 10.2% THC, the main active ingredient.

A Victoria patients-rights group said it sent samples of the marijuana to a lab that measured the THC at only 3%.

Zettl said his company hired three labs, each of whom verified the 10.2% THC.